Patent Publication Number: US-10780019-B2

Title: Vibrating glass massager

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to massage apparatus, and in particular, to vibrating massagers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     By way of background, there are many shapes and sizes of vibrator devices for massaging/stimulating various areas of the human anatomy. Typically, such devices have been constructed with a rigid polymer or metal housing having a vibration motor inside a vibrating end of the housing, and control/power supply components inside a base end of the housing. The base end of the housing is sometimes covered with a soft silicone rubber sleeve. 
     It is to improvements in the field of vibrating massagers that the present disclosure is directed. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to a vibrating massager whose vibrating end is formed from a non-polymeric, non-metallic material. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vibrating glass massager includes a glass vibration head having a base end, a free end, and a wall defining a hollow interior compartment that is closed at the vibration head free end and open at the vibration head base end. A vibration motor assembly is disposed in the vibration head interior compartment. A resilient vibration transmitting interface is disposed between the vibration motor assembly and the vibration head wall. A non-glass base includes a base housing. The base housing and the vibration head base end are joined in interlocking relationship at a head-base connection interface. A power source and a control circuit are disposed in the base housing. The control circuit is electrically connected to the power source and to the vibration motor assembly. The glass vibration head is operable to deliver vibrations received from the vibration motor assembly via the vibration transmitting interface. 
     In an embodiment, the vibration motor assembly may include a motor disposed within a vibration motor housing. 
     In an embodiment, the vibration transmitting interface may include one or more resilient shock absorbers disposed between the vibration motor assembly and the vibration head wall. 
     In an embodiment, the vibration transmitting interface may include one or more resilient shock absorbers disposed between a side portion of the vibration motor assembly and a side portion the vibration head wall, and a shock absorber disposed between an end of the vibration motor assembly and the closed end of the vibration head interior compartment. 
     In an embodiment, the vibration transmitting interface may include one or more foam elements disposed between the vibration motor assembly and a side portion of the vibration head wall. 
     In an embodiment, the vibration transmitting interface may include one or more foam elements disposed between the vibration motor assembly and a side portion of the vibration head wall, and may further include cotton wadding disposed between the vibration motor assembly and the closed end of the vibration head interior compartment. 
     In an embodiment, the head-housing connection interface may include a ring flange formed on the vibration head base end, a corresponding ring channel formed on the base housing that receives the ring flange, and a gasket member between the ring flange and the channel. 
     In an embodiment, an opaque coating may be provided on an interior of the vibration head wall. 
     In an embodiment, a resilient cover may be provided on the base housing. 
     In an embodiment, the vibration head interior compartment may include a nonlinear curvature extending from the vibration head base end to the vibration head free end, and the primary vibration head motor assembly may be spaced from the primary vibration head wall. 
     In an embodiment, a secondary non-glass vibration head may extend from the base, a secondary vibration motor assembly may be provided in the secondary vibration head and the secondary vibration motor assembly may be electrically connected to the control circuit. 
     In an embodiment, a resilient cover may be provided on the base housing, and the resilient cover may define the secondary vibration head. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and advantages will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view showing an example vibrating glass massager constructed in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the example massager of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded side view showing individual components of the example massager of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  3 A- 3 A in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded side view of a glass vibration head of the massager of  FIG. 1  following installation of a vibration motor assembly and related components in the glass vibration head; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded side view of a glass vibration head of the massager of  FIG. 1  prior to installation of a vibration motor assembly and related components in the glass vibration head; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded side view of the massager of  FIG. 1  prior to a glass vibration head of the massager being mounted to a base of the massager; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded side view of the massager of  FIG. 1  during a glass vibration head of the massager being mounted to a base of the massager; and 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded side view of the glass massager of  FIG. 1  following a glass vibration head of the massager being mounted to a base of the massager. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to the Drawing Figures, which are not necessarily to scale,  FIGS. 1-2  illustrate an example vibrating glass massager  2  representing one possible embodiment of the present disclosure. The massager  2  includes a molded glass vibration head  4  having a base end  6  and a free end  8 . Any suitable type of glass may be used, including but not limited to borosilicate glass. With additional reference to  FIG. 4 , the vibration head  4  has a wall  10  that defines a hollow interior compartment  12  of the vibration head. The interior compartment  12  is closed at the vibration head free end  8  and open at the vibration head base end  8 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , a electric vibration motor assembly  14  is disposed in the vibration head interior compartment  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the vibration motor assembly  14  may include a vibration motor  16  disposed within a vibration motor housing  18 . The vibration motor  16  may be a vibration-inducing electric motor of conventional design. The vibration motor housing  18  may be formed from two motor housing halves  18 A and  18 B made from plastic or the like. In an embodiment, the vibration motor housing  18  may include an enlarged end portion  20  that is sized to receive the vibration motor  14 , and an elongated stem portion  22  of reduced size for housing electrical wiring (not shown) that provides power to the vibration motor  16 . The enlarged end portion  20  of the vibration motor housing  18  may be rounded, such that the end portion  20  is generally bullet shaped. 
     A vibration-transmitting interface  23  is disposed between the vibration motor assembly  14  and the vibration head wall  12  so that vibrations generated by the vibration motor  16  are imparted to the vibration head  4 , causing the latter to vibrate. The vibration transmitting interface  23  may include one or more resilient shock absorbers  24  disposed between the vibration motor housing  18  and the vibration head wall  10 .  FIGS. 3-5  illustrate two resilient shock absorbers configured as foam elements  24 A and  24 B that mount to the vibration motor housing  18 . The foam element  24 A is shaped as a foam ring member that mounts onto the stem portion  22  of the vibration motor housing  18 . Although one foam element  24 A is shown in the illustrated embodiment, additional instances of this foam element could be added if desired. The foam element  24 B is shaped as a closed-ended foam cap member that mounts onto (and substantially covers) the enlarged end portion  20  of the vibration motor housing. 
     It will be seen in  FIG. 4  that the vibration head interior compartment  12  may include a nonlinear curvature extending from the vibration head base end  6  to the vibration head free end  8 . Within this curved compartment, the vibration motor assembly  14  may be spaced from the primary vibration head wall  10 , but the resilient shock absorbers  24  will fill this space. In particular, the foam element  24 A is disposed to fill the space between the stem portion  22  of the vibration motor assembly  18  and a side portion of the vibration head wall  10 . The foam element  24 B is disposed to fill the space between the enlarged stem portion  22  of the vibration motor assembly  18  and the side portion of the vibration head wall  10 . In this way, the vibration motor housing  22  will be maintained in a fixed position, and will not rattle around inside the vibration head  4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , an additional shock absorber, which can be embodied as a resilient wad  24 C made of cotton or other fibrous material, may be placed in the vibration head interior compartment  12  so as to be disposed between the enlarged end portion  20  of the vibration motor housing  18  and the closed end the interior compartment.  FIG. 3A  further shows that the inside of the vibration head wall  10  may be coated with a liner  26  that may serve as another component of the vibration transmitting interface  16 . The liner  36  may be constituted as a thin polymeric material layer that may be opaque and somewhat resilient. The opacity of the liner  36  may be advantageous when the glass used to form the vibration head  4  is transparent or translucent and it is desired to hide the components therein. The resiliency of the liner  36  may be advantageous because it can provide additional shock absorption between the vibration motor  4  and the vibration head wall  10 . 
     Returning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the massager  2  further includes a non-glass base  28 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the base  28  may include a base housing  30  that can be formed from base housing halves  30 A and  30 B made from plastic or the like. A power source  32  and a control circuit  34  are disposed in the base housing  30 . The power source  32  may be implemented as a rechargeable battery. The control circuit  34  includes a circuit board  36  that mount the control circuit&#39;s electrical components. The control circuit  34  is electrically connected, such as via wiring (not shown), to receive power from the power source  32  and deliver such power to the vibration motor  4  in a controlled manner. Respective power and mode control buttons  38  and  40  may be provided as part of the control circuit  34 , allowing a user to control power to the vibration motor  14  in order to selectively change its mode of operation. A battery recharging receptacle  42  may be also be provided in the housing  30  so that the battery  38  can be recharged. The battery recharging receptacle  42  is electrically connected to the circuit board  36 , and may constitute part of the control circuit  34 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 6-8 , the base housing  32  and the vibration head base end may be joined in interlocking relationship at a head-base connection interface  44 . The connection interface  44  may include a ring flange  46  formed on the vibration head base end  6  and a corresponding ring channel  48  formed on the base housing that receives the ring flange. The ring flange  46  may be additionally seen in  FIGS. 3-5 . As shown by these figures, the ring flange  46  may be tapered such that it is wider on one side of the vibration head base end  6  that on the other side thereof. Similarly, as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the ring channel  48  may be correspondingly tapered to match the taper of the ring flange  46 . As can be seen  FIGS. 3 and 6-7 , and a compressible gasket member  50  may be placed between the ring flange  46  and the ring channel  48  to ensure a tight fitting connection. The gasket member  50  may be formed in any suitable manner, with windings of a polymeric tape, such as plumbers tape, being one option. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1-3 , a resilient cover  52  made from silicone rubber or the like may be provided to cover the base housing  30 . The resilient cover  52  may be formed as a silicone sheath. It covers the entirety of the base housing  30  and may be formed with an arm portion that defines a secondary vibration head  54 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the secondary vibration head  54  extends from the base  28  housing. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the secondary vibration head  54  may have a secondary vibration motor assembly  56  disposed therein that is electrically connected to the control circuit  34 . The secondary vibration motor assembly  56  may include a secondary vibration motor  58  disposed within a secondary vibration motor housing  60  that includes two motor housing halves  60 A and  60 B made from plastic or the like. 
     During operation of the massager  2 , the glass vibration head  4  serves as a primary vibration head that receives vibrations from the vibration motor assembly  18  via the vibration transmitting interface  23 . These vibrations may be used to massage a first human body portion. The secondary vibration head  54  receives vibrations from the secondary vibration motor assembly  56 . These vibrations may be used to massage a second human body portion. 
     Accordingly, a vibrating glass massager has been disclosed. Although various embodiments have been described, it should be apparent that many variations and alternative embodiments could be implemented. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be in any way limited except in accordance with the spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents.