Patent Publication Number: US-2017367923-A1

Title: A multi-purpose apparatus for treating an animal

Description:
FIELD 
     The invention relates to a multi-purpose apparatus for treating an animal. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various apparatuses for treating animals are well-known. Typically these are separate apparatuses, each designed for their specific task. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention seeks to provide an improved multi-purpose apparatus for treating an animal. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus as specified in claim  1 . 
     The multi-purpose apparatus provides a tool for treating an animal with a novel combination of features. The apparatus may be used for massaging the animal with a massage head, or, alternatively, for grooming the animal with a curry brush. Both the massage head and the curry brush are curved to follow contours of the animal. Furthermore, the apparatus includes at least two vibrators controlled such that they generate a variable beat frequency to the massage head. The combination of these features provides several advantages. The same apparatus may be used both for massaging and grooming the animal. The apparatus provides better massage and grooming results as it is curved to follow the contours of the animal. And, finally, the variable beat frequency enhances massage and grooming results of the animal, and makes the massage and grooming more effective for the animal and easier for the user. When grooming or massaging large animals such as horses, the variable beat frequency makes the work less tiring for the user. The grooming results are improved as the variable beat frequency removes dirt and dead skin cells from the depths of the coat of the animal, thus providing a deep cleansing effect. 
    
    
     
       LIST OF DRAWINGS 
       Example embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which 
         FIG. 1  illustrates example embodiments of an apparatus; 
         FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 14 and 15  illustrate example embodiments relating to the use of the apparatus; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example embodiment of generating a beat frequency; 
         FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, 6G, 7, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 10C, 11, 12, 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D  illustrate further example embodiments of the apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The following embodiments are only examples. Although the specification may refer to “an” embodiment in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Furthermore, words “comprising” and “including” should be understood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of only those features that have been mentioned and such embodiments may contain also features/structures that have not been specifically mentioned. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates example embodiments of a multi-purpose apparatus  100  for treating an animal  200  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 . 
     The apparatus  100  comprises at least two vibrators  106 ,  108 ,  110 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the number of the vibrators  106 ,  108 ,  110 , may vary from 2 to N, where N is any integer greater than two. 
     In an example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10C , the vibrator  106 ,  108 ,  110  comprises an electric motor  1012  with an unbalanced mass  1014  coupled with a driveshaft  1016  of the electric motor  1012 . The vibrator  106 ,  108 ,  110  generates vibrations (mechanical oscillations) as the unbalanced mass  1014  is rotated by the driveshaft  1016 . The vibrations may be generated in x and/or y and/or z directions, as deemed fit in the designing phase of the apparatus  100 . Furthermore, these directions may also be controlled at least to some degree during the use of the apparatus  100 . In an example embodiment, the frequency range of the vibrations is from 0 to 2 kHz, for example. 
     The apparatus  100  also comprises a massage head  118 , curved  204  to follow contours  202  of the animal  200 , and coupled with the at least two vibrators  106 ,  108 ,  110 . 
     The apparatus  100  also comprises a controller  104  configured to control the at least two vibrators  106 ,  108 ,  110  such that they generate a variable beat frequency  504 , illustrated in  FIG. 5 , to the massage head  118 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , two sine waves  500 ,  502  illustrate oscillations produced by the two vibrators  106 ,  108 , and the variable beat frequency  504  is the sum of the two sine waves  500 ,  502 . As can be seen, when the two sine waves  500 ,  502  are in-phase  506 ,  510 , the resulting variable beat frequency  504  has a larger amplitude wave as a result of the amplification. When the two sine waves  500 ,  502  are out-of-phase  508 , the resulting variable beat frequency  504  has a smaller amplitude wave as a result of the cancellation 
     The variable beat frequency  504  generates a variety of perceived sensations on the treated animal  200 . The sensation varies depending on the amplitude and frequency of the variable beat frequency  504 . Additionally, by varying a pattern of the variable beat frequency  504 , a variety of different treatments may be realized. 
     The apparatus also comprises a housing  102  accommodating the at least two vibrators  106 ,  108 ,  110 , the massage head  118 , and the controller  104 . 
     Furthermore, the massage head  118  is adapted and dimensioned such that an interchangeable curry brush  124  curved  204  to follow the contours  202  of the animal  200  is coupleable with the massage head  118 . In an example embodiment, the curry brush  124  comprises teeth (arranged in rows or in some other form). The density of the teeth may be varied depending on the type of the animal  200 , or depending on the desired effect. The animal  200  is groomed with the curry brush  124  in order to help loosen dirt and hair, and stimulate the skin to produce natural oils, for example. 
     In such a way, the apparatus becomes a multi-purpose apparatus  100 . The curved massage head  118  may be used to massage the animal  200 . The curved interchangeable curry brush  124  coupled with the massage head  118  may be used to groom the animal  200 . 
     The massage head  118  and the curry brush  124  are “curved”  204  to follow the contours  202  of the animal  200 . In an example embodiment, the contours  202  of the animal  200  refer to “terrain” of the animal  200 , determined by a musculoskeletal system of the animal  200 . Naturally, this terrain varies depending on the treated body part, but the curvature  204  may be designed such that it generally fits: if the treated animal  200  is a horse, for example, the curvature  204  is made to fit the large muscle groups on the back, sides and neck, for example. 
     The curvature  204  may be rigid or flexible, depending on the material: if it is rigid, the curvature  204  remains the same during the treatment, but if it is flexible, the user  400  may flex the massage head  118  and/or the curry brush  124  such that the curvature  204  is increased in order to follow the contours  202  even more closely. This means that the flexible curvature  204  is steplessly adjustable. The rigid curvature  204  may also be adjustable, but stepwise, meaning that the massage head  118  and/or the curry brush  124  comprises sections that may be pivotably lockable in relation to each other. 
       FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 14 and 15  illustrate the concave curvature  204  in more detail. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate how a user  400  treats a dog  200  with the apparatus  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the concave curvature  204  follows contours  202  of the animal  200  so that the concave curvature  204  becomes in contact with a musculoskeletal system of the animal  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10A , the massage head  118  is coupled with the at least two vibrators  106 ,  108 ,  110  so that two vibrators  106 ,  108  are positioned at opposite ends of the concave curvature ( 204 ). In  FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 14 and 15 , the opposite ends of the curvature  204  are marked with reference numerals  1300  and  1302 . 
     In an example embodiment, the concave curvature  204  is flexible. If we compare  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the concave curvature  204  is increased in  FIG. 14 , whereas in  FIG. 15  the concave curvature  204  is decreased. This is also shown in  FIGS. 13A and 13B : in  FIG. 13A , the concave curvature  204  is in its default position, whereas in  FIG. 13B , the concave curvature  204  is steeper. 
       FIG. 13B  also illustrates that both opposite ends  1300 ,  1302  may be flexed. In  FIG. 13C  only the other end  1300  is flexed, and in  FIG. 13D , the opposite end  1302  is flexed. Accordingly, the apparatus  100  may be designed and manufactured so that both ends  1300 ,  1302  are flexible, or, alternatively, so that only one of the ends  1300 / 1302  is flexible. 
     As was explained earlier, the concave curvature  204  may be flexible and steplessly adjustable so that a user  400  may flex the massage head  118  such that the curvature  204  is increased in order to follow the contours  202  even more closely. This effect is clearly shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     Or, alternatively, the concave curvature  204  is rigid and stepwise adjustable as the massage head  118  comprises sections  1300 ,  1302  that are pivotably lockable in relation to each other so that the user  400  may adjust the massage head  118  such that the curvature  204  is increased in order to follow the contours  202  even more closely. 
     The combination of the explained features provides the multi-purpose apparatus with enhanced effectivity. The treated animal  200  also receives medical benefits, such as at least one of the following: an improved skin/hair health, an improved relaxation (muscular, psychological, and neurological, possibly in the form of psycho-physical animal therapy), and an improved drainage of the lymph carrying waste products away from the tissues back toward the heart. 
     In an example embodiment, the controller  104  is implemented as an electronics module, which comprises one or more processors, and one or more memories including computer program code. The one or more memories and the computer program code are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the controller  104  to control functions of the apparatus  100 . 
     The term ‘processor’ refers to a device that is capable of processing data. Depending on the processing power needed, the apparatus  100  may comprise several processors such as parallel processors or a multicore processor. When designing the implementation of the processor, a person skilled in the art will consider the requirements set for the size and power consumption of the apparatus  100 , the necessary processing capacity, production costs, and production volumes, for example. The processor and the memory may be implemented by an electronic circuitry. 
     The term ‘memory’ refers to a device that is capable of storing data run-time (=working memory) or permanently (=non-volatile memory). The working memory and the non-volatile memory may be implemented by a random-access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), a flash memory, a solid state disk (SSD), PROM (programmable read-only memory), a suitable semiconductor, or any other means of implementing an electrical computer memory. 
     In an example embodiment, a system clock constantly generates a stream of electrical pulses, which cause the various transferring operations within the apparatus  100  to take place in an orderly manner and with specific timing. 
     In an example embodiment, the processor may be implemented as a microprocessor implementing functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on an integrated circuit. The CPU is a logic machine executing a computer program code. The computer program code may be coded as a computer program using a programming language, which may be a high-level programming language, such as C++, C, or Java, or a low-level programming language, such as a machine language, or an assembler. The CPU may comprise a set of registers, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), and a control unit (CU). The control unit is controlled by a sequence of the computer program code transferred to the CPU from the (working) memory. The control unit may contain a number of microinstructions for basic operations. The implementation of the microinstructions may vary, depending on the CPU design. The microprocessor may also have an operating system (a dedicated operating system of an embedded system, a real-time operating system, or even a general-purpose operating system), which may provide the computer program code with system services. 
     A non-exhaustive list of implementation techniques for the processor and the memory includes, but is not limited to: logic components, standard integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), system-on-a-chip (SoC), application-specific standard products (ASSP), microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, special-purpose computer chips, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and other suitable electronics structures. 
     The computer program code may be implemented by software and/or hardware. In an example embodiment, the software may be written by a suitable programming language, and the resulting executable code may be stored on the memory and run by the processor. 
     In an example embodiment, the functionality of the hardware may be designed by a suitable hardware description language (such as Verilog or VHDL), and transformed into a gate-level netlist (describing standard cells and the electrical connections between them), and after further phases the chip implementing the processor, memory and the code of the controller  104  may be fabricated with photo masks describing the circuitry. 
     In an example embodiment, the processor and the memory of the apparatus  100  are a part of a microcontroller, which may also comprise an USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface  128  and/or a wireless transceiver  112 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10A , a printed circuit board  1000  may accommodate the controller  104  and some user interface  116  elements. 
     In an example embodiment, the apparatus  100  further comprises an interface  112 ,  128  to receive a program  132 ,  126  for the controller  104  to control the at least two vibrators  106 ,  108 ,  110  in order to offer a predetermined grooming treatment for the animal  200  with the apparatus  100 , or a predetermined massage treatment for the animal  200  with the apparatus  100 . 
     In an example embodiment, the apparatus  100  further comprises a temperature sensor  120  to measure temperature of a skin of the animal  200  treated with the apparatus  100 , and the controller  104  is further configured to control the variable beat frequency  504  on the basis of the measured temperature such that at least one of the following is controlled: a frequency of the variable beat frequency  504 , an amplitude of the variable beat frequency  504 . In an example embodiment, the temperature sensor  120  is implemented as a thermistor (such as a negative temperature coefficient NTC thermistor), or an infra-red sensor, for example. 
     In an example embodiment, the apparatus  100  further comprises a pressure sensor  122  to measure a pressure subjected to a skin of the animal  200  treated with the apparatus  100 , and the controller  104  is further configured to control the variable beat frequency  504  on the basis of the measured pressure such that at least one of the following is controlled: a frequency of the variable beat frequency  504 , an amplitude of the variable beat frequency  504 . In an example embodiment, the pressure sensor  122  is implemented as a pressure or force sensing element, for example. 
     In these two aforementioned example embodiments, the measured temperature or the measured pressure may indicate whether the treatment is too forceful or weak, and the amplitude and/or the frequency may be altered in order to achieve the desired intensity for the treatment. 
     Naturally, these two aforementioned example embodiments may be combined, meaning that both the measured temperature and the measured pressure indicate the intensity level of the treatment and possibly required changes. 
     The user interface  116  may give indications (with signal tones or lighting of a led, for example) to the user if a preset force and/or a preset temperature are exceeded. 
     With the measured temperature and/or measured pressure, a treatment program may be controlled. For example: the treatment is started with a basic program, and after the measured skin temperature is elevated (by a preset amount or over a preset threshold), the frequency and/or amplitude are increased. Another example: if the measured pressure increases, the alternation between the in-phase  506  and out-of-phase  508  of the variable beat frequency  504  is shortened, meaning that the rhythm of the treatment becomes faster. 
     With the measured temperature and/or measured pressure, a treatment program may be chosen: the treatment is started with a basic program, and after the measured skin temperature is elevated, another program with a faster and a varying rhythm is applied. 
     In an example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the apparatus  100  further comprises a strap  300  attachable with the housing  102  such that the apparatus  100  is attachable to the animal  200 , and a wireless radio transceiver  112  to exchange control data  132  with an external apparatus  130 , and the controller  104  is controlled by the control data  132  in order to control a massage treatment of the animal  200  with the apparatus  100 . The strap  300  may be made of flexible (synthetic) material and it may comprise a suitable fastener for adjusting the length and tightness such as a Velcro fastener. With this example embodiment, the user may remote-control the massage treatment of the animal  200 . For example, the user attaches the apparatus  100  to the horse  200  with the strap  300 , and as the horse  200  remains in a stall, the user may go in to a house, and do housework, and occasionally check with the external apparatus (a mobile telephone, a laptop computer, or a tablet computer, for example)  130  how the massage treatment is progressing, and, if necessary, control the massage treatment by changing the frequency and/or amplitude of the variable beat frequency  504 . 
     In an example embodiment, the apparatus  100  further comprises a user interface  116 , which implements the exchange of graphical, textual and/or auditory information with the user  400 . The user interface  116  may be realized with various techniques, such as a display, means for producing sound, a keyboard, and/or a keypad, for example. The display may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example, but it may also be implemented by any appropriate technique, such as EL (electroluminescence), LED (light emitting diode), or organic light-emitting diode (OLED). The display may also incorporate other user interaction means, such as touch input, or haptic feedback, i.e. the display may be a multi-touch display. The means for producing sound may be a loudspeaker or a simpler means for producing beeps or other sound signals. The keyboard/keypad may comprise a complete (QWERTY) keyboard, a mere numeric keypad or only a few push buttons and/or rotary buttons. In addition, the user interface  116  may comprise other user interface components, for example various means for focusing a cursor (mouse, track ball, arrow keys, touch sensitive area etc.) or elements enabling audio control. 
     The housing  102  may be made of any suitable material such as plastic or metal. 
     Also the massage head  118  may be made of plastic, metal or some other suitable material, but it may also include natural material, such as wood, cotton, wool, rubber, textile, silicone, hemp, loofah (sponge) or some other product of the nature. The massage head  118  may also be made such that it tolerates the use of massage oil or liniment. 
     The body of the curry brush  124  may also be made of plastic, metal, or some other suitable material such as wood. The brushes of the curry brush  124  may be made of man-made material such as plastic, but they may also be made of natural material such as rubber or silicon, for example. In some cases stiff bristles may also be used, such as pig&#39;s bristle or boar&#39;s bristle, for example. 
       FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F and 6G  show different views of an example embodiment of the apparatus  100 : the housing  102  and the curry brush  124  are clearly shown. Also the USB-port (covered by a shield)  128  is shown. The cross-section view of  FIG. 6D  also shows one of the vibrators  106 . As a part of the user interface  116 ,  FIG. 6A  shows three buttons, and  FIG. 6B  shows a led. In an example embodiment, the buttons  116  are such that the first button is a mode selection switch (the modes being arranged as a loop, each mode defined by the amplitude and frequency of the variable beat frequency, for example), the second button is a power on/off switch, and the third button is a power setting switch (with a scale from 0 to 5, for example). 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an example embodiment of the apparatus  100 , which shows the housing  102  and the massage head  118 . 
     In an example embodiment, the massage head  118  is further adapted and dimensioned to be used for massaging the animal  200 . 
     In an example embodiment, the massage head  118  may comprise ridges  700  designed to enhance the massage effect. 
       FIG. 8A  illustrates an example embodiment of the apparatus  100 , which shows the housing  102 , the massage head  118 , and the separate curry brush  124 . 
     As can be seen, the curry brush  124  comprises pins  800 , and the massage head  118  comprises slots  802 . The pins  800  and slots  802  attach the curry brush  124  to the massage head  118 . 
     In an example embodiment, the pin  800  and the counterpart slot  802  form a snap-fit joint. In a snap-fit joint, the pin  800  and the counterpart slot  802  comprise locating and locking features. The locking features move aside for engagement with a mating part, followed by a return of the locking feature toward its original position. The locating features are inflexible, providing strength and stability. Naturally, the curry brush  124  may be removably coupled with the massage head  118  in another suitable way as well. For example, the curry brush  124  and the massage head  118  may be coupled with each other, alternatively, or additionally, by using magnets providing the required fixing force. 
       FIG. 8B  illustrates an example embodiment of the apparatus  100 , which now shows the curry brush  124  having been coupled with the massage head  118 . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate an example embodiment, wherein the massage head  118  is further adapted and dimensioned such that another curved interchangeable part  900  is coupleable with the massage head  118 . 
     The other curved interchangeable part  900  comprises at least one of the following: another massaging head for the animal ( 200 ), a relaxing head for the animal  200 , an acupuncture treatment head for the animal  200 , a hair polishing head for the animal  200 . 
     In  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the other curved interchangeable part  900  comprises rounded studs  902 , which may enhance the massage effect. 
       FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C  illustrate an example embodiment, wherein the at least two vibrators  106 ,  108 ,  110  are coupled with the housing  102  by a flexible and/or floating coupling such that the at least two vibrators  106 ,  108 ,  110  sway in relation to the housing  102  when in use. The swaying may further enhance the massage/grooming effect, and especially the variable beat frequency  504 . 
     In an example embodiment, the flexible and/or floating coupling comprises at least one of the following: a double-sided adhesive tape coupling the vibrator  106 ,  108 ,  110  with the housing  102 , and/or a cavity  1002 ,  1010  formed in the housing  102  to accommodate the vibrator  106 ,  108 ,  110  with a backlash. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 10B and 10C , the structures  1000  and  1008  form the cavities  1002  and  1010 . The recesses  1004 ,  1006  may be dimensioned such that they allow the vibrator to move  108  with the backlash, meaning that the fit is not very tight, but rather a loose one. Similar recesses may be in the structure  1008  as shown. 
     In an example embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 11 , the apparatus  100  further comprises a handle  402  adapted and dimensioned such that it is capable of accommodating one hand of a person  400  treating the animal  200  with the apparatus  100 . 
     In an example embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 12 , the apparatus  100  further comprises a battery  114  to feed electric power to the at least two vibrators  106 ,  108 ,  110  and the controller  104 . The housing  102  may comprise a battery compartment, such as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , wherein a detachable cover  1200  includes the battery compartment. The battery  114  may be a rechargeable battery, which may be charged  142  by an external power source  140 , such as a battery charger. Alternatively, the battery  114  may be charged via the USB interface  128 . 
     It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the example embodiments described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.