Patent Publication Number: US-7717867-B2

Title: Massage apparatus with positional set-up actuator

Description:
FIELD 
   The present document relates to a massage apparatus having multiple massage actuators, and more particularly to a massage apparatus having a massage actuator that may be positionable relative to another fixed massage actuator. 
   SUMMARY 
   In an embodiment, the massage apparatus may include a main body, the main body being operatively associated with a first massage actuator and a second massage actuator, a hollow prosthetic member adapted to be engaged to the main unit and encase the first massage actuator, the hollow prosthetic member defining a plurality of annular protrusions, and a detachable connecting ribbon engaged to the second massage actuator, the detachable connecting ribbon being adapted for engagement with one or more of the plurality of annular protrusions, wherein the detachable connecting ribbon is engageable with the plurality of annular protrusions such that the position of the second massage actuator may be changed relative to the first massage actuator. 
   In another embodiment, the massage apparatus may include a main body, the main body operatively associated with a first massage actuator and a second massage actuator, the main unit in operative engagement with a removable battery compartment, the removable battery compartment including a control panel that controls the operation of massage apparatus when the removable battery compartment is operatively engaged to the main unit, a hollow prosthetic member adapted to encase the first massage actuator, the hollow prosthetic member defining a plurality of annular protrusions, and a detachable connecting ribbon engageable to the second massage actuator, the detachable connecting ribbon includes a strap adapted for engagement with the plurality of annular protrusions, wherein the strap may be engaged to any portion of the plurality of protrusions such that the position of the second massage actuator may be changed relative to the main body. 
   In yet another embodiment, a method of positioning a massage actuator on a massage apparatus may include: 
   a) providing a massage apparatus including a main body, the main body being operatively associated with a first massage actuator and a second massage actuator, a hollow prosthetic member adapted to be engaged to the main unit and encase the first massage actuator, the hollow prosthetic member defining a plurality of annular protrusions, and a detachable connecting ribbon including a strap, the strap being engaged to a portion of the plurality of annular protrusions for maintaining the second massage actuator in a first position; 
   b) disengaging the detachable connecting ribbon from the portion of the plurality of annular protrusions; and 
   c) engaging the detachable connecting ribbon to another portion of the plurality of annular protrusions for maintaining the second massage actuator in a second position. 
   Implementation of the above embodiments may include one or more of the following features: 
   The main body defines a chamber adapted to operatively engage a removable battery compartment, the removable battery compartment including at least one battery for providing power to the massage apparatus and a control panel for controlling the operation of the first and second massage actuators when the removable battery compartment is operatively engaged to the main unit. 
   The detachable connecting ribbon includes a strap, the strap having a VELCRO or hook-and-loop tape portion for engaging the detachable connecting ribbon to the plurality of annular protrusions. 
   The detachable connecting ribbon further includes a carrying base, the carrying base having a connection member defining a slot adapted to engage the strap, the carrying base further including a seat adapted to engage the second massage actuator. 
   The second massage actuator is a vibration massage actuator, the second massage actuator including an electric motor, the electric motor having a rotating shaft operatively engaged to an eccentric mass for spinning the eccentric mass. 
   The electric motor is encased inside an upper shell engaged to a lower shell, the upper shell and the lower shell being adapted to be encased inside another prosthetic member. 
   The second massage actuator is operative engaged to a cable for operatively associating the first massage actuator to the control panel. 
   The first massage actuator is a squirming/vibration massage actuator. 
   The first massage actuator further includes a driving unit, the driving unit including a motor having a rotatable motor shaft operatively engaged for spinning an eccentric mass, the motor being operatively engaged to a gearbox for operating the first massage actuator. 
   The main body is engaged to a hollow tube that surrounds the first massage actuator. 
   The main unit defines a chamber adapted to receive the removable battery compartment. 
   Disengaging the detachable connecting ribbon includes disengaging the strap from the portion of the plurality of protrusions. 
   Engaging the detachable connecting ribbon includes engaging the strap to another portion of the plurality of protrusions. 
   Additional objectives, advantages and novel features will be set forth in the description which follows or will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and detailed description which follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the massage apparatus; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the massage apparatus engaged to prosthetic members; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the massage apparatus; and 
       FIG. 4  is a partially exploded perspective view of the massage apparatus showing the removable battery compartment. 
   

   Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings, a massage apparatus is illustrated and generally indicated as  10  in  FIGS. 1-4 . In one embodiment, massage apparatus  10  may comprise a main unit  14  operatively associated with a vibration massage actuator  16  and a squirming/vibration massage actuator  18  for providing various massage applications. Main unit  14  may comprise a body  66  operatively engaged to a driving unit  30  disposed inside a hollow tube  24  for operating squirming/vibration massage actuator  18 . In addition, the body  66  may define an open end  50  in communication with a chamber (not shown) adapted to receive a removable battery compartment  26  therein. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , vibration massage actuator  16  may be operatively associated to main unit  14  through a cable  52  that extends through a carrying base  42  of a detachable connecting ribbon  22  that may attach vibration massage actuator  16  along different portions of the massage apparatus  10 . The detachable connecting ribbon  22  may include a strap  59  having a VELCRO or hook-and-loop tape portion  44  adapted to engage another portion of strap  59  for securing the detachable connecting ribbon  22  around another portion of massage apparatus  10  as shall be discussed in greater detail below. 
   The removable battery compartment  26  may be operatively engaged within the main unit  14  for providing control and power functionalities to the massage apparatus  10 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , removable battery compartment  26  may include a control panel  60  for controlling the respective operations of the vibration massage actuator  16  and the squirming/vibration massage actuator  18  when the removable battery compartment  26  is operatively engaged inside body  66  of main unit  14 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the removable battery compartment  26  may include a battery cartridge  56  having a distal end  99  and a proximal end  101  with compartments  108  defined between ends  99  and  101  for receiving batteries  28  that provide power to the massage apparatus  10 . 
   In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , massage apparatus  10  may be adapted to engage a hollow prosthetic member  12  such that the squirming/vibration massage actuator  18  may be disposed inside prosthetic member  12 . As further shown, prosthetic member  12  may define a plurality of annular protrusions  54  around the outer circumference of the prosthetic member  12  which provides a surface for engaging the detachable connecting ribbon  22  to different portions of prosthetic member  12 . In addition, a hollow prosthetic member  20  may be adapted to encase vibration massage apparatus  16 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 4 , control panel  60  may be made operational when the removable battery compartment  26  is operatively engaged inside main unit  14  as shall be discussed below. Control panel  60  provides a means for operating the various functionalities of massage apparatus  10  and may comprise a base cover  58  engaged to the proximal end  101  of removable battery compartment  26 . Base cover  58  may include a resilient panel plate  62  externally fixed to the end face of base cover  58 . 
   As further shown, panel plate  62  defines a plurality of indentations  72  for holding key caps  86  in registration with respective push button switches  82  for controlling the various operations of the vibration massage actuator  16  and squirming/vibration massage actuator  18  when actuated. The resilience of the panel plate  62  allows each respective push button switch  82  to be actuated while also providing a seal that protects the control panel  60  from external damage. 
   Push button switches  82  may be operatively mounted on a printed circuit board  64  such that actuation of push button switches  82  will operate respective functionalities of the vibration massage actuator  16  and squirming/vibration massage actuator  18 . A pair of spring contact metal plates  80  and printed circuit board  64  may be secured between base cover  58  and the proximal end  101  of battery cartridge  56  by screws  100  such that push button switches  82  extend through respective holes  102  defined by base cover  58 . 
   A pair of springs  94  in combination with a respective pair of metal contact plates  96  may be fixed between the distal end  99  of removable battery compartment  26  and a printed circuit board  74  mounted on the battery cartridge  56  by screws  98 . Printed circuit board  74  provides a means of locating the contract plates for detachably electrically connecting, when the battery cartridge assembly is inserted into and locked onto body  66 , to respectively registrate plates  88  which are connected to the motors&#39; poles disposed inside body  66 . 
   Battery cartridge  56  may define an indentation  104  for engaging a wire harness  76  for providing an electrical circuit connection for metal contact plate  96  to another metal contact plate (not shown) disposed at the proximal end  101  with batteries  28 . A stacker  78  may cover the wire harness  76  in order to provide a protective covering for wire harness  76 . 
   As further shown, a plurality of metal contact plates  88  may be mounted on a printed circuit board  70  that provides a means of locating contact plates  88  and circuit connecting between the contact plates and motors. The plurality of contact plates  88  may be positioned to be in corresponding registration with respective metal contact plates  96  and springs  94  when the massage apparatus  10  is assembled. In assembly, the printed circuit board  70  may be mounted inside body  66 . 
   In one embodiment, body  66  of main unit  14  may define a plurality of L-shaped indentations  90  equally spaced around open end  50 , while the base cover  58  of the removable battery compartment  26  may define a plurality of corresponding protrusions  84  equally spaced along the inner circumference thereof. As such, the plurality of protrusions  84  may be engaged to the plurality of corresponding indentations  90  when the removable battery compartment  26  is operatively engaged with main unit  14 . 
   When the battery cartridge  56  of the removable battery compartment  26  is fully inserted inside the main unit  14  the plurality of protrusions  84  engage respective indentations  90  such that the user may then twist the removable battery compartment  26  in an opposite direction relative to the main unit  14 . As the user rotates the removable battery compartment  26 , removable battery compartment  26  becomes locked inside the main unit  14  and the control panel  60  made operational with the massage apparatus  10 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment the main unit  14  may define a boss portion  85  adapted to retain a name plate  92  for identifying the manufacturer and/or product if desired. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , main unit  14  may further define a flange portion  68  adjacent an upper opening  97  such that a hollow tube  24  may be engaged to the main unit  14  and encases driving unit  30  that operates the squirming/vibration massage actuator  18 . In one embodiment, driving unit  30  may be an electric motor  53  operatively engaged to a gearbox  55  for providing the squirming and vibration motion of the squirming/vibration massage actuator  18 . 
   In addition, the electric motor  53  may include an eccentric mass  91  that is spun by electric motor  53  through a rotatable motor shaft (not shown) such that a squirming and vibration action is generated by spinning of the eccentric mass  91  which is imparted to the hollow tube  24 . As further shown, a rotor guard  37  may be disposed at the lower end of electric motor  53  which surrounds the eccentric mass  91  and provides a separation of the eccentric mass  91  from power cables (not shown) that are connected to respective poles  67 . In this manner, the rotation of the eccentric mass  91  does not contact or is otherwise interfered with by the power cables. 
   The vibration massage actuator  16  may include an electric motor  36  operatively engaged to an eccentric mass  38  through a motor shaft  40  that spins the eccentric mass  38  in a manner that generates a vibration function when operational. In addition, the motor  36  may be encased inside an upper shell  32  engaged to a lower shell  34 . 
   The lower shell  34  may define an aperture  89  that allows cable  52  to communicate with the control panel  60 . The lower shell  34  may be adapted to be seated inside carrying base  42  of the detachable connecting ribbon  22 . As further shown, the carrying base  42  may include a seat  51  adapted to engage the vibration massage actuator  16 . In addition, the carrying base  42  may further include a connection member  41  defining a slot  46  adapted to engage strap  59 . 
   In one embodiment, the vibration massage actuator  16  may be placed in different positions relative to the squirming/vibration massage actuator  18  by engaging strap  59  of the detachable connecting ribbon  22  around different annular protrusions  54  defined along prosthetic member  12 . In this manner, the position of the vibration massage actuator  16  may be changed relative to the fixed position of the squirming/vibration massage actuator  18  as desired by the user. 
   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 the claims appended hereto.