Patent Publication Number: US-6663580-B1

Title: Massaging device with rotating beaters

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to massaging devices. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Numerous devices, for massaging a person&#39;s body are known. Most are provided with the familiar vibrating head for soothing and relaxing muscles with vibrations. A different massaging device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,765 to Adams for breaking down cellulite or lumpy fat tissue to smooth out the skin. It is comprised of a motorized rotating head, and a set of rotating beaters attached to the head in radial positions. The beaters are each comprised of a flexible sheet wrapped around a resilient foam core. When the head is activated, the spinning beaters beat and stretch the skin to break down the cellulite. The foam cores are exposed at the ends of the beaters. Since soft foam is tacky or slightly sticky, short body hair may get caught by the exposed foam and pulled out when the beaters are rotating, and long hair on the head may also get caught by the exposed foam and become wrapped around the beaters. The exposed foam cores thus present a possible safety hazard. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the objectives of the present massaging device are: 
     to relax muscles; 
     to reduce cellulite; 
     to provide user replaceable beaters; 
     to provide an adjustable handle for comfort; and 
     to avoid pulling on body hair for safety. 
     The present massaging device includes a motor, and a rotatable head attached to the motor. A hinged handle is attached to the motor for providing an adjustable grip. Resilient beaters are arranged radially around the head. The beaters are respectively connected to keys by narrowed necks. The keys are detachably secured in longitudinal slots on the head, so that the beaters are detachable from the head. When the head is set spinning by the motor, the beaters are rotated for massaging the body to relax muscles or reduce cellulite. The beaters are easily removable from the slots for exchanging them with replacement beaters. Each beater is comprised of a resilient core, such as foam, completely enclosed by a flexible non-tacky cover, such as a neoprene or vinyl sheet. Although many resilient materials, such as foam, tend to be sticky enough to grab hair if exposed, the beaters do not grab hair because the resilient cores are completely enclosed by the non-tacky covers. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the present massaging device. 
     FIG. 2 is a side perspective view thereof with a beater detached and a handle pivoted. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view thereof with one beater shown in section. 
     FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a beater taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred embodiment of the present massaging device is shown in a side perspective view in FIG.  1 . It is comprised of a motor  10 , and a rotatable head  11  attached to motor  10 . Internal batteries or an AC power cord may be provided to power motor  10 . A hinged handle  12  is attached to motor  10  for providing an adjustable grip. Resilient beaters  13  are arranged radially around head  11 . Four beaters  13  are shown in this example, but more or fewer may be provided. Beaters  13  are respectively connected to keys  14  by narrowed necks  15 . Keys  14  are detachably secured in longitudinal slots  16  on head  11 , so that beaters  13  are detachable from head  11 . Beaters  13  are preferably comprised of cylinders which are parallel to head  11 . The ends of beaters  13  are preferably hemispherical for comfort. Alternatively, beaters  13  may be of another shape. When head  11  is set spinning by motor  10 , beaters  13  are rotated for massaging the body to relax muscles or reduce cellulite. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, each beater  13  is easily removable from its slot  16  for exchanging it with a replacement beater. Handle  12  is shown pivoted to another position for comfort. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each beater  13  is comprised of a resilient core  17  completely enclosed by a flexible non-tacky cover  18 . Resilient core  17  may be comprised of any suitable resilient material, such as foam. Although many resilient materials, such as foam, tend to be sticky enough to grab hair if exposed, beater  13  does not grab hair because resilient core  17  is completely enclosed by non-tacky cover  18  all around its sides as shown in FIG. 3, and its ends as shown in FIG.  4 . Non-tacky cover  18  is preferably comprised of a neoprene or vinyl sheet, and should also be smooth to avoid abrading the skin. 
     Although the cores of key  14  and neck  15  are shown as being integral with resilient core  17 , they may be made of a more rigid and durable material than resilient core  17 , such as flexible plastic. Therefore, resilient cores  17  are only necessary in beaters  13 . 
     Accordingly, the present massaging device is suitable for massaging the body to relax muscles or reduce cellulite. It provides user-replaceable beaters. It provides an adjustable handle for comfort. Most importantly, it positively avoids pulling on body hair for safety. 
     Although the above description is specific, it should not be considered as a limitation on the scope of the invention, but only as an example of the preferred embodiment. Many variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, different attachment methods, fasteners, materials, dimensions, etc. can be used unless specifically indicated otherwise. The relative positions of the elements can vary, and the shapes of the elements can vary. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the examples given.