Abstract:
A massage apparatus capable of exchanging massage actuators is disclosed. The massage apparatus may include a power-driving unit adapted to operatively engage or operatively disengage with an actuator unit having at least one massage actuator such that another actuator unit may be operatively engaged with the power-driving unit.

Description:
FIELD  
       [0001]     The present document relates to a massage apparatus, and more particularly to a massage apparatus capable of engaging and disengaging a massage actuator.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     In one embodiment, a massage apparatus comprises a power-driving unit, the power-driving unit being operatively engaged to a removable battery compartment for providing a power source for the massage apparatus, and an actuator unit adapted to be operatively engaged to the power-driving unit, wherein the actuator unit is adapted to be engaged or disengaged from the power-driving unit such that another actuator unit may be operatively engaged to the power-driving unit.  
         [0003]     In another embodiment, a massage apparatus comprises a power-driving unit adapted for operative engagement with an actuator unit, the actuator unit including at least one massage actuator for providing a vibration function when driven by the power-driving unit, the actuator unit including a power-transmitting shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the power-transmitting shaft being operatively engaged to the at least one massage actuator and the proximal end of the power-transmitting shaft being operatively engaged to the power-driving unit, wherein the actuator unit is adapted to be engaged or disengaged from the power-driving unit by engaging or disengaging the power-transmitting shaft from the power-driving unit such that another actuator unit may be operatively engaged to the power-driving unit.  
         [0004]     In yet another embodiment, a method of engaging and disengaging a massage actuator for a massage apparatus comprises:  
         [0005]     a) providing a massage apparatus comprising a power-driving unit adapted for operative engagement with an actuator unit, the actuator unit including at least one massage actuator, the actuator unit including a power-transmitting shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being operatively engaged to the at least one massage actuator and the proximal end being operatively engaged to the power-driving unit.  
         [0006]     b) disengaging the proximal end of the power-transmitting shaft from the power-driving unit;  
         [0007]     c) providing another actuator unit, the another actuator unit including at least one massage actuator having a power-transmitting shaft defining a proximal end adapted to be engaged to the power-driving unit; and  
         [0008]     d) engaging the proximal end of the power-transmitting shaft to the power-driving unit.  
         [0009]     In one embodiment, a massage apparatus comprises a power-driving unit, the power-driving unit being in operative engagement with an actuator unit, the actuator unit having at least one massage actuator, wherein the actuator unit is adapted to be engaged or disengaged from the power-driving unit such that another actuator unit may be operatively engaged to the power-driving unit.  
         [0010]     Implementations of the above embodiments may include one or more of the following features:  
         [0011]     The actuator unit is adapted to be encased inside an actuator cover.  
         [0012]     The actuator cover defines a hollow main sleeve in communication with a hollow secondary sleeve, wherein the at least one massage actuator is adapted to be disposed inside the hollow main sleeve.  
         [0013]     The actuator unit includes at least one massage actuator with the at least one massage actuator including a first massage component adapted to provide a squirming action when made operational.  
         [0014]     The at least one massage actuator includes a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end with the first massage component being operatively engaged to the distal end of the shaft such that the first massage component freely rotates about the distal end.  
         [0015]     The shaft has a first axis and the first massage component has a second axis that is in misalignment with the first axis of the shaft such that rotation of the shaft generates the squirming action by the first massage component.  
         [0016]     The actuator unit further includes a power-transmitting shaft having a distal end and a proximal end with the distal end of the power-transmitting shaft defining a circular portion and the proximal end of the power-transmitting shaft defining a center square hole.  
         [0017]     The power-driving unit comprises a motor gearbox assembly having a motor including a shaft that defines square-shaped end adapted to operatively engage the center square hole of the power-transmitting shaft such that the power-transmitting shaft may be rotated.  
         [0018]     The actuator unit may be engaged or disengaged from the power-driving unit by engaging or disengaging the power-transmitting shaft from the shaft of the motor.  
         [0019]     The at least one massage actuator comprises a second massage component with the second massage component being operatively associated with the actuator unit for providing a vibration function.  
         [0020]     The second massage component includes a motor operatively engaged to a shaft rotatably engaged to an eccentric mass that is spun by the shaft when rotated by the motor.  
         [0021]     The power-driving unit comprises a control panel with the control panel being adapted to control the operation of the at least one massage actuator.  
         [0022]     The power-driving unit is adapted to engage a sealing element for providing a water-tight seal between the actuator unit and the power-driving unit.  
         [0023]     The removable battery compartment includes a battery carrier adapted to engage a battery cover.  
         [0024]     The battery carrier defines a plurality of compartments with each of the plurality of compartments being adapted to operatively engage a respective battery therein.  
         [0025]     Additional features will be set forth in the description which follows, and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following more detailed description and drawings in which like elements of the invention are similarly numbered throughout.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the massage apparatus;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of the main components of the massage apparatus;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the actuator unit for the massage apparatus;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the driving unit for the massage apparatus; and  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the removable battery compartment. 
     
    
       [0031]     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]     Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of a massage apparatus is illustrated and generally indicated as  10  in  FIGS. 1-5 . In one embodiment, the massage apparatus  10  may include a power-driving unit  16  adapted to be operatively engaged to an actuator unit  17 . The power-driving unit  16  drives and controls the operation of the actuator unit  17  for providing one or more massage functions. A removable battery compartment  28  may be adapted to operatively engage the power-driving unit  16  for providing a power source.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the power-driving unit  16  may be adapted to be engaged and disengaged from the actuator unit  17 . In addition, the actuator unit  17  includes an actuator housing  30  and is adapted to be encased inside an actuator cover  12 . In one embodiment, the actuator cover  12  includes a body  22  that may be made from a hollow, resilient material that is adapted to encase the power-driving unit  16  and form an external resilient outer layer that applies a squirming and/or vibration functions of the massage apparatus  10  to the user. As shown, the body  22  of actuator cover  12  may define a hollow main sleeve  24  in communication with a hollow secondary sleeve  26  extending outwardly from main sleeve  24  of actuator cover  12 .  
         [0034]     In one embodiment, the power-driving unit  16  may be operatively associated with a first massage component  18  for providing a squirming massage function and a second massage component  20  that may provide a vibrating massage function. The main sleeve  24  of the actuator cover  12  defines an internal chamber (not shown) adapted to receive the first massage component  18  therein, while the secondary sleeve  26  has an internal chamber (not shown) adapted to receive the second massage component  20  therein. When the first massage component  18  is made operational a squirming action is generated that imparts a different massage function than the second massage component  20  which utilizes a different mechanical arrangement to produce a different massaging action as shall be discussed in greater detail below.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first massage component  18  may include an electric motor (not shown) that rotates a motor shaft having an eccentric mass mounted thereon. Operation of the electric motor causes the eccentric mass to spin due to the rotation of the motor shaft which generates a high frequency vibration action. In addition, the first massage component  18  may include a cylindrical portion  50  extruded axially from the massage component  18  adapted to engage a shaft  48  defining a distal end  75  and a proximal end  77 . The cylindrical portion  50  defines a center hole  67  adapted to operatively engage the distal end  75  of shaft  48  such that the first massage component  18  freely rotates about shaft  48  and the first massage component  18  is axially restricted to move along shaft  48 .  
         [0036]     Shaft  48  may be operatively engaged to first massage component  18  such that shaft  48  has a first axis and the first massage component  18  has a second axis. Because there is a misalignment between the first and second axes rotation of shaft  48  generates a squirming action when the first massage component  18  is actuated.  
         [0037]     As further shown, the proximal end  77  of shaft  48  may define a knurling portion  68  that is operatively engaged in an interference fitting to a center hold (not shown) defined by a circular portion  144  defined at a distal end of a power-transmitting shaft  54 . In addition, the power-transmitting shaft  54  may further define a center square hole  145  at the proximal end of the power-transmitting shaft  54 . A retaining ring  66  may be adapted to engage circular portion  144  in an interference fitting in order to retain the proximal end  77  of shaft  48  inside the actuator housing  30  of actuator unit  17 .  
         [0038]     A flange end cap  56  may cover one end of the actuator housing  30  for supporting retaining ring  66 , while a holding plate  46  may be disposed at the opposing end of actuator housing  30 . As shown, holding plate  46  may have a generally cylindrical body defining a key portion  63  extruded radially along the circumference of plate  46  and a plurality of through-holes  79  that may be defined through and evenly distributed about the body of plate  46  in one embodiment.  
         [0039]     In addition, loaded springs  81  having contact poles  83 A and  83 B may be located at respective opposing ends. of each spring  81 . In assembly, the contact pole  83 A of each loaded spring  81  may be inserted through a respective hole  79  and may be soldered to electrical wires  60 ,  62  ( FIG. 1 ) which are operatively associated to the first and second massage components  18  and  20 , respectively, in order to provide power and control functions. Actuator housing  30  may define an aperture  90  adapted to permit entry of electrical wire  62  into actuator unit  17 .  
         [0040]     As further shown, a flange plug  52  may include a center hole  103  defining internal threads  101  and a plurality of stepped-through holes  105  evenly distributed along the body of plug  52 . Further, the flange plug  52  may define a key portion  58  extruded radially along the circumference of plug  52 . During assembly, the contact pole  83 B of each spring  81  may be adapted to be inserted into one of the stepped-through holes  105  at one end thereof such that the contact pole  83 B extends a certain length from each hole  105 , thereby establishing a spring loaded contact point.  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , power-driving unit  16  may include a control panel  23  operatively associated with the first and second massage components  18 ,  20  as well as a gearbox assembly  32  for controlling the operation of the massage apparatus  10 . The control panel  23  may include a printed circuit board  80  operatively connected to a plurality of push buttons  86  that control various control functions of the massage apparatus  10 . A plurality of push button caps  87 , which may be made of a rigid material, are loosely carried by a clamping plate  78  that secures the printed circuit board  80  to the body of the power-driving unit  16  using screws (not shown) or other attachment means.  
         [0042]     A push button cover  76  may be made of a resilient material that defines a plurality of cavities  99  which may be sized and shaped to accommodate push button caps  87  placed over the clamping plate  78 . The control panel  23  may further include a panel  74  adapted to encase the push button cover  76 . As further shown, the panel  74  defines apertures  107  adapted to accommodate each cavity  99 .  
         [0043]     The power-driving unit  16  may further include motor gearbox assembly  32  disposed within a gearbox holding frame  34  for driving the first massage component  18 . Specifically, the motor gearbox assembly  32  may include a motor (not shown) that drives a rotatable shaft  42  defining a square-shaped end  69  adapted to operatively engage the center square hole  145  and rotate power-transmitting shaft  54 .  
         [0044]     The gearbox holding frame  34  may include a body  40  that defines a chamber  65  adapted to receive the motor gearbox assembly  32 . As shown, the body  40  may define external threads  108  at one end and a notch  102  defined at the opposing end of frame  34 . Body  40  may also include a flange portion  104  having a semi-circular configuration defining a plurality of through-hole slots  106 . Contact plates  92  may be engaged through the through-hole slots  106  along the face of flange portion  104 .  
         [0045]     In addition, an end cap  70  having a location key  88  may be adapted to engage the gearbox holding frame  34 . This is accomplished by the engagement of the location key  88  with notch  102  such that the motor gearbox assembly  32  is retained within the gearbox holding frame  34 .  
         [0046]     As further shown, the power-driving unit  16  may include a circular slot  98  adapted to engage a sealing element  82  for providing a water-tight seal between the actuator housing  30  and the power-driving unit  16 . Three pairs of through-hole slots  100  are defined by body  40  for engagement with three respective contact plates  84 . Body  40  may further include a plurality of protrusions  96  located on either side of body  40  which are adapted to provide an ergonomic and non-slippery gripping surface for the user. In addition, body  40  may define external threads  94  and a shoulder  95  adapted to engage a sealing element  72  for providing a water-tight seal between body  40  and battery cover  38  ( FIG. 5 ).  
         [0047]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the massage apparatus  10  may further include a removable battery compartment  28  that is adapted to be operatively engaged with body  40  of the power-driving unit  16  for providing a power source to massage apparatus  10 . Removable battery compartment  28  may include a battery carrier  36  adapted to engage battery cover  38 . The battery cover  38  may define internal threads  118  adapted to engage the external threads  94  of the power-driving unit  16  in order to secure the battery cover  38  to body  40 . In addition, the battery cover  38  includes a boss  120  that defines a center hole  150 , while the battery carrier  36  defines a compartment  71  each adapted to engage the gearbox holding frame  34  ( FIG. 2 ) therein. The battery carrier  36  may define an outer circumferential space to engage batteries  64 .  
         [0048]     As further shown, battery carrier  36  may define a cylindrical portion  44  adapted for locating screw  122 , while spring clips  114 ,  116  may be adapted for locating respective spring contacts  110 . The battery carrier  36  may include a side slot  91  for locating spring contacts  112 . In assembly, the battery carrier  36  is secured by screw  122  along the center hole  150  of boss  120  defined by battery cover  38  such that the battery cover  38  is rotatable relative to battery carrier  36 .  
         [0049]     It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined in th claims appended hereto.