Patent Publication Number: US-2013253386-A1

Title: Massage apparatus with a configurable stimulator sleeve

Description:
FIELD 
     This document relates to a massage apparatus, and in particular to a massage apparatus having a flexible stimulator sleeve that is configurable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Typically, a massage apparatus may include a vibrator body that encases a vibrator component that generates vibrations at different predetermined strengths and patterns. Such massage apparatuses may also have a proximal portion that includes a control panel for controlling the operation of the massage apparatus and a solid distal portion defining a solid elongated tapered or spherical shape. Although these types of massage apparatuses perform well for their intended purpose, the fixed configuration of the solid distal portion limits the area in which the massage apparatus may be able to apply vibrations directly to particular areas of the female sexual organ, for example the clitoris. As such, there is a need in the art for a massage apparatus that provides an improvement to these massage apparatuses in which a configurable stimulator sleeve that is engaged to the body of the massage apparatus and is manually configurable to assume different types of configurations and appearances for enhancing the individual&#39;s experience with the massage apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an embodiment, a massage apparatus may include a vibrator component defining a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the vibrator component generates a vibration effect. A configurable stimulator sleeve may include a sleeve body including a proximal portion defining an opening in communication with an internal channel formed within the sleeve body which is configured to receive the vibrator component for generating a vibration effect and a flexible distal portion made from a flexible material to allow the flexible distal portion to assume one or more different configurations. 
     In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a massage apparatus may include:
         forming a configurable stimulator sleeve having a sleeve body defining a flexible distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the flexible distal portion defines a top part, a bottom part, a first side part, and a second side part that collectively form an opening, and wherein the proximal portion is formed with an opening in communication with a channel defined along a length of the sleeve body, wherein the flexible distal portion is configured to assume one or more different configurations;   assembling a vibrator component having a vibrator motor for generating a vibration effect, a control interface for controlling the operation of the vibrator motor, and a power source in operative communication with the control interface and the vibrator motor for controlling the operation of the massage apparatus; and   disposing the vibrator component within the channel of the configurable stimulator sleeve.       

     In yet another embodiment, a method of using a massage apparatus may include:
         providing a massage apparatus comprising:
           a vibrator component defining a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the vibrator component includes a vibration means for generating a vibration effect; and   a configurable stimulator sleeve having a sleeve body defining a flexible distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the distal end forms a top part, a bottom part, a first side part, and a second side part that collectively define an opening, and wherein the proximal portion forms an opening in communication with a channel defined along a length of the sleeve body, wherein the proximal portion defines an opening in communication the chamber, wherein the flexible distal portion has a non-configured state and a configured state, wherein the configured state the flexible distal portion is configured to assume one or more different configurations; and   
           configuring the flexible distal portion such that the top part, the bottom part, the first side part, the second side part and the opening assume a configured state.       

     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 an exploded view of the massage apparatus showing the vibrator component and configurable stimulator sleeve; 
         FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the massage apparatus showing the internal components of the vibrator component; 
         FIGS. 4A-4G  illustrate a sequence for manipulating the configurable stimulator sleeve to assume different configurations; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart that illustrates one method for manufacturing the massage apparatus; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart that illustrates one method for using the configurable stimulator sleeve. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the various views of the drawings. The headings used in the figures should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A massage apparatus having a vibrator component engaged to a configurable stimulator sleeve and related method of manipulating the configurable stimulator sleeve to assume different configurations is disclosed. The ability to configure the configurable stimulator sleeve into different configurations permits the massage apparatus to provide direct vibratory stimulation to different anatomical portions of an individual based on a particular configuration assumed by the configurable stimulator sleeve. 
     Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the massage apparatus is illustrated and generally indicated as  100  in  FIGS. 1-4 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the massage apparatus  100  includes a vibrator component  102  for providing a vibration effect engaged to a flexible stimulator sleeve  104  that may be manipulated by an individual to assume and retain different configurations. The vibrator component  102  defines a solid proximal portion  106  having a control interface  132  for controlling the vibrator functions of the vibrator component  102  and an elongated distal portion  108  configured to engage and be disposed within the configurable stimulator sleeve  104  such that the vibration effects generated by the vibrator component  102  are imparted through the configurable stimulator sleeve  104 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment the configurable stimulator sleeve  104  defines an elongated tubular-shaped sleeve body  110  defining a distal portion  114  and a proximal portion  118  as well as a front surface  154  ( FIGS. 4A-C ) and a rear surface  156  ( FIGS. 4B and 4C ). The end of the proximal portion  118  of the configurable stimulator sleeve  104  defines an opening  160  in communication with an internal channel  120  configured to receive and engage the distal portion  108  of the vibrator component  102  when assembling the massage apparatus  100 . The flexible distal portion  114  of the configurable stimulator sleeve  104  defines a top part  144 , a bottom part  146 , a first side part  148 , and a second side part  150  that collectively form an opening  116  which is configurable to assume different configurations. When the flexible distal portion  114  is in the normal, non-configured state the opening  116  may have a generally circular-shaped configuration, a generally oval-shaped configuration, a generally irregular-shaped configuration, a generally symmetrically-shaped configuration, a generally asymmetrical configuration, and a combination thereof. As further shown, the bottom part  146  of the distal portion  114  communicates with the proximal portion  118  of the sleeve body  110  through a flexible neck portion  152  that may be bent at various orientations when manually manipulated. Moreover, the configurable stimulator sleeve  104  may be made from a flexible material, for example silicone, that is sufficiently elastic and flexible to permit the distal portion  114  to assume different configurations when manipulated, such as by an individual. These different configurations that may be assumed by the flexible distal portion  114  are manually configured by an individual to apply vibrations generated by the vibrator component  102  directly to different anatomical portions of the individual&#39;s sexual organ, such the clitoris and surrounding tissue of the vaginal area. In other embodiments, the flexible stimulator sleeve  104  may be made from a rubber-like material, an elastic-like material, a flexible metallic material, a flexible memory-retaining metallic material, and a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the flexible neck portion  152  may be bent in various orientations, while the top part  144 , bottom part  146 , first side part  148 , and second side part  150  of the flexible distal portion  114  may bent at various orientations to assume and retain different configurations. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exploded view of the vibrator component  102  is illustrated. The distal portion  108  of the vibrator component  102  defines an interior chamber  129  configured to house the various parts of the vibrator component  102 . As shown, the vibrator component  102  includes a vibrator motor  122  having a rotating shaft (not shown) that rotates an eccentric mass  131  for generating the vibration effect during operation of the vibrator component  102 . The vibrator motor  122  further includes positive and negative electrical leads  130  that extend outwardly from the vibrator motor  122  and are in operative communication with a battery  126  for providing power to the vibrator motor  122 . In addition, a motor sleeve  124  is configured to house the vibrator motor  122  within the internal chamber  129  of the vibrator component  102 . In some embodiments, a retaining ring  136  is configured to engage a flange  170  formed around the circumference of the distal portion  108  during the assembly of the vibrator component  102 . A sealing element  134 , such as a rubber O-ring, may be engaged with the retaining ring  136  to provide a water-tight seal when the vibrator component  102  is assembled. In some embodiments, the vibrator component  102  defines a shoulder  154  between the proximal portion  106  and the distal portion  108  that is configured to abut the end of the sleeve body  110  when the distal portion  108  is received within the chamber  120  of the flexible stimulator sleeve  104 . 
     As further shown, the proximal portion  106  of the vibrator component  102  defines an open-ended chamber  174  configured to house the components that control the operation of the massage apparatus  100 , and in particular the operation of the vibrator motor  122 . A circuit board  128  is in operative association with the control interface  132  for controlling the operation of the vibrator motor  122 . In some embodiments, the circuit board  128  turns the vibrator motor  122  between the OFF and ON operational states when the control interface  132  is actuated by an individual. The circuit board  128  may also allow the vibrator motor  122  to generate vibrations of varying intensity, sequences and patterns. For example, the circuit board  128  may control the vibrator motor  122  to generate vibration intensities of LOW, MODERATE and HIGH intensity as well as different sequences of vibration intensities. In addition, the circuit board  128  may allow the vibrator component  102  to generate vibration patterns that begin at LOW vibration intensity, transition to MODERATE vibration intensity, and then achieve HIGH vibration intensity over a predetermined time period and pattern arrangements during the operation of the vibrator component  102 . Other vibration patterns produced by the vibrator motor  122  may vary in intensity, sequence of intensity, vibration activity, and duration of each vibration activity; however, the vibration patterns, intensities and durations produced by the vibrator component  102  are not limited in this regard. 
     When assembling the vibrator component  102 , the circuit board  128  may be engaged to a seat  138  that is configured to couple with a platform  140  that is disposed within the chamber  174  of the proximal portion  106  of the vibrator component  102 . In some embodiments, a locking ring  142  may be disposed within a bushing  144  adjacent or proximate the proximal portion  106  of the vibrator component  102  with the locking ring  142  being configured to engage and secure with a slot and groove arrangement  172  defined round the circumference of the distal portion of the vibrator component  102 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a flow chart is illustrated that shows one method for manufacturing the massage apparatus  100 . At block  1000 , forming a configurable stimulator sleeve  104  having a sleeve body  110  defining a flexible distal portion  114  and a proximal portion  118 , wherein the flexible distal portion  114  forms a top part  144 , a bottom part  146 , a first side part  148 , and a second side part  150  that collectively form an opening  116  configurable to assume one or more configurations, and wherein the proximal portion  118  forms an opening  160  in communication with a channel  120  defined along a length of the sleeve body  110 . At block  1002 , assembling a vibrator component  102  having a vibrator motor  122  for generating a vibration effect, a control interface  132  for controlling the operation of the vibrator motor  122 , and a power source, such as a battery  126 , in operative communication with the control interface  132  and the vibrator motor  122 . At block  1004 , engaging the vibrator component  102  to the configurable stimulator sleeve  104  by inserting the vibrator component  102  within the channel  120  of the configurable stimulator sleeve  104 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a flow chart is illustrated that shows one method for configuring the flexible distal portion  114  of the configurable stimulator sleeve  104  to different configurations such that each particular configuration is configured to directly stimulate different anatomical parts of an individual when the configured flexible distal portion  114  is applied to a portion of the female sexual organ, such as the clitoris or surrounding vaginal tissue. At block  2000 , taking a flexible distal portion  114  ( FIG. 4A ) in the non-configured state and stretching the top part  144  of the flexible distal portion  114  ( FIG. 4B ) along an axis  902  at an angle  904  relative to the longitudinal axis  900  of the sleeve body  110  and then bending the top part  144  of the distal portion  114  in the A direction. At block  2002 , continuing to bend the top part  144  from axis  902  towards the front surface  154  of the neck portion  152  in the B direction ( FIG. 4C ). At block  2004 , the top part  144  ( FIG. 4D ) is bent until the rear surface  156  of the distal portion  114  is adjacent or proximate the front surface  154  of the neck portion  152  and the top part  144  forms a slight dimple  180  such that the flexible distal portion  114 , collectively forms a generally heart-shaped configuration and appearance as shown in  FIG. 4D . At block  2006 , the distal portion  114  which is in the generally-heart shaped configuration shown in  FIG. 4D  is further stretched and bent in the C direction ( FIG. 4E ) and then the D and E directions ( FIG. 4F ) until the rear surface  156  of the top part  144  is proximate or adjacent to the rear surface  156  of the neck portion  152  such that the bottom part  146  forms a dimple  182 , and the opening  116  forms a generally curved-shaped slot  158  such that the flexible distal portion  114  is now configured to assume a substantially mouth-shaped configuration and appearance as illustrated in  FIG. 4G  from the generally heart-shaped configuration shown in  FIG. 4D . 
     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 teachings of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.