Patent Abstract:
A vibratory massaging device having a spaced plurality of proximity sensors distributed on a massaging surface of the device, and a control circuit operative for controlling vibratory intensities in response to activation of particular ones of the sensors being close to a user&#39;s body parts being massaged. The device can be configured as a dildo, including both main and secondary vibrators, the secondary vibrator being within an arm portion that is configured for clitoral stimulation. At least one of the vibrators is automatically driven at increased intensity as penetration increases.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/266,495 titled “Interactive Massaging Device”, filed on Apr. 30, 2014 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/858,286 titled “Interactive Massaging Device,” filed Apr. 8, 2013 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,747,337 issued on Jun. 10, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/606,966, filed Sep. 7, 2012, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/723,426 titled “Interactive Massaging Device,” filed Mar. 12, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,308,667 issued on Nov. 13, 2012, all the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to massaging apparatus, and more particularly to sexual stimulation devices. 
     Sexual stimulation devices of the prior art include dildos that have vibratory elements such as disclosed in U.S. Application Publication No 2002/1013415 and International Publication No. WO 2007/041853. It is also known to provide controls for various modes of operation. However, it is believed that none of this class of devices of the prior art has proven entirely satisfactory, for a variety of reasons. For example, manipulation of controls by the user to produce changes in operation tends to detract from desired effects to be obtained from the device. 
     Thus there is a need for a massaging apparatus that provides improved stimulation without requiring a user to manipulate controls for producing changes in operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention meets this need by providing a vibratory massaging device that automatically changes in operation in response to proximity and/or contact between body parts to be massaged and particular locations on the device. In one aspect of the invention, the device includes a housing; a vibrator supported in the housing; a spaced plurality of proximity sensors supported in the housing; and a control circuit connected between the proximity sensors and the vibrator for driving the vibrator at plural predetermined levels in response to particular ones of the proximity sensors coming into close proximity with user&#39;s body parts being massaged by the device. The device can further include means for receiving a battery element within the device for powering the vibrator and the control circuit, and a removable cap for enclosing the battery element within the device. The device can further include the battery element, which can itself include a battery pack. The device can also include a control button supported by the cap for activation of the control circuit. 
     The massaging device can be formed having a main outside surface defining a substantially cylindrical shape, being rounded at one end thereof, the proximity sensors being positioned proximate the outside surface and longitudinally disposed. The device can further include a sleeve covering the housing and defining the main outside surface. The means for receiving a battery element can include the removable cap forming a rounded end portion of the device opposite the one end, and the control button being coaxially located by the cap. 
     The control circuit is preferably operative for powering the vibrator at a first, low intensity when a first one of the proximity sensors is activated, and at a second, medium intensity when a second one of the proximity sensors is activated for enhanced massaging effectiveness in response to operator manipulation. More preferably, the control circuit is further operative for powering the vibrator at a third, higher intensity when a third one of the sensors is activated. 
     Preferably the main outside surface has a shape of an erect penis for forming vibratory dildo. Preferably the vibrator is a main vibrator, the elastic sleeve further including a laterally projecting arm portion, the dildo further having a secondary vibrator enclosed in the arm portion, the control circuit being further operative for powering the secondary vibrator. Preferably the dildo includes mode control means for operator control of plural modes of operation of the control circuit. The mode control means can include a mode actuator, the control circuit being responsive to successive operations of the mode actuator for activation in each corresponding mode. The modes can include a first mode of operation wherein both vibrators are inactive unless at least one of the proximity sensors is activated, and a second mode, at least one of the vibrators being activated otherwise; and a second mode wherein at least one of the vibrators is activated at a higher intensity than that in which it is activated in the first mode. There can be first and second ones of the proximity sensors, the first proximity sensor being located between the second proximity sensor and a head extremity of the sleeve, the second mode being activated in response to the second sensor. Preferably there can be a third one of the proximity sensors, the third proximity sensor being located beyond the second proximity sensor from the head extremity of the sleeve, a third mode being activated at an even higher intensity than that of the second mode in response to the third sensor. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  is a lateral sectional view of a massaging device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a control circuit for the dildo of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the control circuit of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a lateral side sectional view showing an alternative configuration of the device of  FIG. 1  in the form of a dildo; 
         FIG. 5  is a front side view of the dildo of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a control circuit for the dildo of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of the control circuit of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 8  are graphic representations of the intensity levels generated by the different modes of operation of the massaging device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is directed to a massaging device that is particularly effective in stimulating body parts such as female genitalia. With reference to  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, a massaging device  10  includes a motorized vibrator  12  mounted in an elongate housing  13 , a screw-on cap  14  detachably connected to the housing and having a control button  15  projecting therefrom, a battery pack  16  inserted within the housing, a control module  18  and a sensor module  20  mounted in the housing and including a sensor circuit board  21  supporting a longitudinally distributed plurality of sensor elements  22  according to the present invention, the elements being individually designated  22 A,  22 B, and  22 C, the element  22 C being closest to the control button  15 , the element  22 A being closest to the opposite end of the device  10 . The housing  13  is also covered with a sleeve  24 , and the assembly is sealed with an elastic O-ring  25  interposed between the sleeve and the cap  14 . In the exemplary configuration shown in the drawings, the device  10  has a cylindrical shape with spherically rounded ends, the control button  15  projecting from one end of the device. 
     The control button  15  operates a “push-on/push-off” power switch  26  that is mounted on a switch structure  19  within the cap  15  for activating the device  10 . Also included is appropriate wiring or other conductors (not shown) between the vibrator  12 , the battery pack  16 , the control module  18 , the sensor module  20 , and the control switch  26 . When activated, the device assumes an idle state unless and until a user&#39;s body part comes into close proximity with one of the sensor elements  22 . As more particularly described in connection with  FIGS. 2 and 3  below, proximity with the sensor element  22 A only produces a first or low level of activation of the vibrator  12 ; proximity with the sensor element  22 B (but not  22 C) produces a second or medium level of activation; and proximity with the sensor element  22 C produces a third or high level of activation of the vibrator  12 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an alternative configuration of the massaging device, designated dildo  30 , includes counterparts of the motorized vibrator  12 , the housing, designated  13 ′, control button, designated power button  15 ′, the battery pack, designated  16 ′, the control module, designated  18 ′ and the control circuit board, designated  19 ′, the sensor module, designated  20 ′ and the sensor circuit board, designated  21 ′ with counterparts of the sensor elements, designated  22 ′ (individually  22 ′A,  22 ′B, and  22 ′C), and a momentary counterpart of the power switch, designated  26 ′. The battery pack  16 ′ is supported within a handle  32  and retained in place by a screw-in cap  34 . The power button  15 ′ projects through the handle  32 , the control module  18 ′ being located within the handle. 
     An elastic counterpart of the sleeve, designated  36  has a main portion  37  covering the housing  13 ′ and having the form of an erect penis with a head portion  38 , and an arm portion  39  projecting to one side in a shape and dimension preferably facilitating contact with the clitoris of a user of the dildo, the arm portion enclosing a motorized secondary vibrator  40  that is locatingly supported within an arm cavity  42  of the arm portion  39 . Each of the sensor elements  22 ′ is biasingly pressed against the sleeve by a sensor spring  42 , the element  22 ′A being closest to the head portion  38  of the sleeve  36 , the element  22 C being farthest therefrom. As described above in connection with the massager  10 , appropriate wiring or other conductors (not shown) connect the battery pack  16 ′, the control module  18 ′, the sensor module  20 , and the vibrators  12  and  40 . 
     The exemplary configuration of the dildo  30  of  FIGS. 2 and 3  further includes a mode switch actuator  44  protruding the handle  32  for operation by a user and having a mode switch  46  that is mounted directly on the control circuit board  19 ′. A plurality of intensity indicators  48  also project through the handle, being supported by the control circuit board. The mode switch  46  sequentially selects a plurality of vibration modes, selectively modifying operation of the vibrators  12  and  40  in combination with response to the sensors  22 ′ as described above for the massaging device  10 . 
     Suitable materials for the housings  13  and  13 ′, and the handle  32  include ABS. Suitable materials for the battery packs  16  and  16 ′ include polypropylene; and suitable materials for the sleeve  36  (and the control button  15  of  FIG. 1 ) include elastic plastic materials such as TPE. A suitable battery complement is four type AAA alkaline batteries. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a control circuit  50  of the dildo  30  is formed by a combination of the control module  18 ′ and the sensor module  20 ′. As shown in FIG.  6 , the control circuit  50  includes a body touch detector  52  that operates in combination with a signal detector  54  that signals a microprocessor  56 , the microprocessor controlling a main driver  58  for powering the main vibrator  12 , and a secondary driver  59  for powering the secondary vibrator  40 . 
     The touch detector  52  includes the sensor elements  22 ′A,  22 ′B, and  22 ′C, the elements  22 ′ each having a coupling capacitor  60  connected to a common pulse output  62  of the signal detector  54 , and a grounded blocking diode  63  connected for maintaining a positive potential at the sensor element  22 ′. That potential is fed through a signal filter that includes a charging resistor  64 , a filter capacitor  65 , and a discharge resistor  66 , the resulting filtered touch signal  67  being fed to a corresponding input of the detector  54 . The touch signals are individually designated  67 A,  67 B, and  67 C in  FIG. 7 , corresponding respectively to the sensor elements  22 ′A,  22 ′B, and  22 ′C. The signal detector  54  monitors each of the touch signals  67 , periodically communicating status signals to the microprocessor  56 . When any of the sensor elements comes into close proximity to a user&#39;s body part, capacitive coupling alters (increases) loading of the associated coupling capacitor, correspondingly changing (decreasing) the resulting touch signal sufficiently to change the relevant status signal. 
     In addition to the above-described communication with the signal detector  54 , the microprocessor is responsive to the power switch  26 ′ and the mode switch  46  for signaling the main and secondary drivers  58  and  59  as further described below, the microprocessor having separate outputs for driving each of the indicators  48 . 
     In an exemplary configuration of the dildo  30 , the control circuit  50 , upon activation by the power switch  26 ′, is responsive to the mode switch  46  for controlling the secondary vibrator  40  as described herein, the main vibrator  12  being responsive to proximity of the sensor elements  22 ′ as described above regarding the sensor elements  22  of the massaging device  10 . In this configuration, successive activations of the mode switch  46  produces eight intensity modes of operation of the secondary vibrator  40  as set forth below in Table 1. It will be understood that other modes of operation of the secondary vibrator  40  are within the scope of the present invention. Corresponding variations in operation intensity levels of the main vibrator  12  are possible also, an exemplary schedule being indicated below in Table 2. In table 2, “Sensor A” excludes activation of the sensor elements  22 ′B and  22 ′C; “Sensor B” excludes activation of the sensor element  22 ′C. In both tables the activation levels are relative and arbitrary as is consistent with effective levels known to those skilled in the art. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Secondary Vibrator Modes 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Mode 
                 Level 
                 Shape 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 0 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 1 
                 Flat 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 2 
                 Flat 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 3 
                 Flat 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 3/0 
                 Sinusoid 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 3/0 
                 Medium Square 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 3/0 
                 Medium/Slow Square 
               
               
                   
                 8 
                 2/0 
                 Fast Square 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Main Vibrator Modes 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Level 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Mode 
                 No Sensor 
                 Sensor A 
                 Sensor B 
                 Sensor C 
                 Shape 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 0 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 Flat 
               
               
                 2 
                 0 
                 2 
                 3 
                 4 
                 Flat 
               
               
                 3 
                 0 
                 1 
                 3 
                 5 
                 Flat 
               
               
                 4 
                 1 
                 2 
                 4 
                 5 
                 Flat 
               
               
                 5 
                 2/0 
                 3/0 
                 4/0 
                 5/0 
                 Sinusoid 
               
               
                 6 
                 0 
                 1/0 
                 3/0 
                 5/0 
                 Medium Sq. 
               
               
                 7 
                 0 
                 1/0 
                 3/0 
                 5/0 
                 Med./Slow Sq. 
               
               
                 8 
                 0 
                 1/0 
                 3/0 
                 5/0 
                 Fast Square 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The indicators  48  are driven by the control circuit  50  at low intensity in Modes 1 and 2, medium intensity in Mode 3, high intensity in Mode 3, variable intensity in Mode 4, and blinking in Modes 5-8 synchronously with activation of the secondary vibrator  40 . It will be understood that other and various indications in the different modes are possible. 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , there are shown graphical illustrations of intensity represented by a waveform, wherein the shape of the waveform represents the level of intensity generated by the different modes of operation of the massaging device, such as those corresponding to the vibrator modes of Tables 1 and 2. 
     A suitable device for the signal detector  54  is available as ACM3890 from Shizhenshi ACME Micro Electronics of Shenzhen, China. The device is operational with a crystal input at 16 MHz, generating the pulse output  62  at a rate of 500 Hz. A suitable device for the microprocessor  56  is available as ACM3831-3, also from ACME. A suitable 3.3 volt regulator  68  for providing VCC to the detector  54  is available as HT7133 from Holtek Semiconductor Inc. of Hsinshu, Taiwan. The regulator  68  is fed by a power driver  69  in response to activation of the microprocessor  56  by the power switch  26 ′ as described above. The control circuit  50  includes additional conventional circuitry for powering the signal detector  54  as well as the microprocessor  56  in a suitable manner known to those skilled in the art. 
     Further regarding the massaging device  10  of  FIG. 1 , and with particular reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a simplified counterpart of control circuit, designated  50 ′ is formed by a combination of the control module  18  and the sensor module  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the control circuit  50 ′ includes counterparts of the body touch detector  52  and the signal detector  54  for signaling a counterpart of the microprocessor, designated  56 ′, the microprocessor controlling a counterpart of the main driver  58  for powering the vibrator  12 . A suitable device for the microprocessor  56 ′ is available as ACM3831-2, also from ACME. The power switch  26  directly powers the control circuit  50 ; accordingly, the power driver  69  is implemented as a constant conduit to the regulator  68  when the power switch  26  is activated. 
     The touch detector  52  includes the sensor elements  22 A,  22 B, and  22 C, the elements  22  each having the coupling capacitor  60  connected to the common pulse output  62  of the signal detector  54 , with counterparts of the blocking diode  63 , the signal filter including the charging resistor  64 , the filter capacitor  65 , and the discharge resistor  66 , for generating the touch signal  67  for feeding the detector  54  as described above in connection with  FIG. 7 . The signal detector  54  monitors each of the touch signals  67 A,  67 B, and  67 C, periodically communicating status signals to the microprocessor  56 ′, also as described above. The control circuit  50 ′ also includes conventional circuitry for powering the signal detector  54  and the microprocessor  56 ′ in a suitable manner known to those skilled in the art. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the power switch and the mode switch can be combined, the control circuit cycling through a substantially unpowered state and the various modes in response to successive operations of the mode switch. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0