Abstract:
A massage device with a waterproof and removable battery compartment that enables at least one battery to be removed or installed from the device is disclosed. The massage device comprises a body with middle, proximal, and distal portions. The removable battery compartment enables battery(s) to be installed or removed from the proximal portion of the body while providing a waterproof capability. In the preferred embodiment, the removable battery compartment is installed by a simple twist and slide motion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a battery powered massage device, and more particularly to a battery powered massage device that is waterproof.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Battery powered massage devices used for sexual stimulation are well known in the art. A prior art battery powered massage device may comprise a body having a distal portion in communication with a proximal portion. The distal portion can include a vibratory element powered by batteries stored in the proximal portion of the body. Although prior art battery powered massage devices offer the usual advantage in that such devices do not require an electrical chord to be connected to an electrical outlet, operation of such devices may be hindered by the constant need for the user to replace one or more batteries that power the device. Replacing the batteries may be a cumbersome task because each and every battery must be individually installed at the proper orientation into an integral battery compartment that is accessed through a door of the massage device.  
         [0003]     In addition, it may be desirable that such battery operated massage devices be capable of operation in wet environments such as swimming pools, showers, and bathtubs. However, most prior art battery powered massage devices are not waterproof, nor is there any provision for a removable battery compartment that provides a water-tight seal when engaged to the device.  
         [0004]     Therefore, there is a need in the art for a battery powered massage device that enables one or more batteries to be installed or removed simultaneously from the massage device using a removable battery compartment. There also is a further need in the art for a battery powered massage device that has a removable battery compartment that provides a water-tight seal upon engagement with the device.  
       OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a battery powered massage device with a removable battery compartment.  
         [0006]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery powered massage device that is waterproof.  
         [0007]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof battery powered massage device that includes a removable battery compartment that provides a water-tight seal upon engagement with the device.  
         [0008]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a battery powered massage device with a removable battery compartment that is secured to the body of the massage device by a twist and slide motion.  
         [0009]     These and other objects of the present invention are realized in an embodiment of the present invention, described by way of example and not by way of limitation, which provides for a massage device comprising a body, a motor encased in the body and operatively engaged to an element of the body with the motor adapted for driving the element, and a removable battery compartment engaged to the body. The removable battery compartment contains at least one battery for providing power to the motor.  
         [0010]     According to another aspect, the present invention comprises a waterproof massage device comprising a body, the body operatively associated with a first element and a second element, a removable battery compartment engageable within the body, said removable battery compartment including a sealing member that forms a water-tight seal between said removable battery compartment and the body, and at least one battery disposed within the removable battery compartment for providing power to drive the first and second elements.  
         [0011]     According to yet another aspect, the present invention comprises a removable battery compartment comprising a body including opposing distal and proximal end portions connected by a lateral element which collectively define a cavity adapted to receive at least one battery therein; at least one connection point capable of transmitting power from at least one battery, and a sealing member that forms a water tight seal when the removable battery compartment is engaged to the device.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the massage device according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the massage device according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an opposite partial cross sectional side view of the massage device illustrating the removable battery compartment according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the massage device according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is an opposite partial cross sectional side view of the massage device with a prosthetic member placed over the rotating element and a rigid sleeve placed around the vibratory element according to the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5A  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 5  illustrating the sealing member according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is cross sectional view of the massage device taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2  illustrating the removable battery compartment according to the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is an end view of the proximal section of the massage device taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1  according to the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the removable battery compartment according to the present invention; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the removable battery compartment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a battery powered massage device according to the present invention is illustrated and generally indicated as  10  in  FIG. 1 . The massage device  10  includes a removable battery compartment  20  ( FIG. 8 ) that provides a water-tight seal with device  10  when engaged thereto.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , massage device  10  comprises a body  12  having a middle portion  14  interposed between a distal portion  16  and a proximal portion  18 . The middle portion  14  comprises a sleeve  15  encasing a motor  22  operatively associated with a gearbox  23 . Gearbox  23  is operatively engaged to a rotating element  24  to spin element  24  about a primary axis  34 A ( FIG. 9 ) when actuated by a user. The middle portion  14  further includes a vibratory element  26  operatively associated to the batteries  21  disposed inside the removable battery compartment  20  by an electrical cord  28 . The rotating element  24  and vibratory element  26  are powered by at least one battery  21 , and preferably by a plurality of batteries  21  disposed in the removable battery compartment  20  operatively engageable with proximal portion  18  of the massage device  10 .  
         [0024]     Proximal portion  18  comprises a circular housing  17  that defines a hollow cavity  17 A with an open end  17 B that is adapted to slidably receive removable battery compartment  20 . Circular housing  17  further includes a set of tabs  52  to secure removable battery compartment  20  to hollow cavity  17 A as explained in greater detail below. In the preferred embodiment, a sealing member  60 , preferably made of a resilient material, such as an O-ring, is positioned between removable battery compartment  20  and proximal portion  18  to ensure that fluid, such as water, cannot enter hollow cavity  17 A as illustrated in  FIG. 5A .  
         [0025]     Proximal portion  18  further defines a raised platform  19  which is secured to circular housing  17  by a plurality of screws  39  that engage a plurality of apertures  37 . Raised platform  19  includes a user interface  38  which enables the user to control the speed and direction of rotating element  24  and degree of vibration of vibratory element  26 . As further shown, a gasket  44  is positioned between raised platform  19  and circular housing  17  to provide a water-tight seal. A malleable plastic sheet  43  is placed on the top side of raised platform  19  to protect the user interface  38  from damage.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , rotating element  24  spins about primary axis  34 A when actuated by the user and comprises a hexagonal member  30  concentrically surrounding a rod  32 . A sleeve  33  co-axially surrounds rod  32  for protecting rod  32 . As further shown, rod  32  includes a rod  32 A connected to a tip portion  35  set at an angle from primary axis  34 A enabling tip portion  35  to spin about a secondary axis  34 B such that a prosthetic member  36  engaged to distal portion  16  is caused to vibrate during operation of massage device  10 . In the preferred embodiment, a circular plate  31  concentrically surrounds rod  32  and provides structural support for the hollow prosthetic member  36  when engaged to distal portion  16 .  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , hollow prosthetic member  36  can be placed over distal portion  14   24  and slidably engaged to hexagonal member  30  to completely encase rotating element  24 . When the rotating element  24  is activated the tip portion  35  spins about secondary axis  34 B and vibrates prosthetic member  36 . In the preferred embodiment, a dildo (not shown) may be used as the prosthetic member  36 ; however, any number of different shapes and sizes of hollow prosthetic members may be used in the present invention.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 , and  5 , the user can further enhance the massaging effect by operating vibratory element  26  which is operatively connected to middle portion  14  by electrical cord  28 . Vibratory element  26  consists of a cylindrical-shaped body  27  that encases a motor  25  which is operatively associated with a vibratory component  28  (not shown). Motor  25  drives the vibratory component  28  to cause body  27  to vibrate when vibratory element  26  is actuated.  
         [0029]     According to another aspect of the present invention shown in  FIG. 5 , vibratory element  26  and electrical cord  28  are adapted to be encased within a rigid sleeve  40  that is attached to middle portion  14 . Rigid sleeve  40  is a tube-shaped extension that may be vibrated by the action of vibratory element  26  when actuated. In operation, rigid sleeve  40  can provide a massaging effect to one area of the user&#39;s body while prosthetic member  36  massages another area of the user&#39;s body.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 , and  6 - 9 , removable battery compartment  20  comprises a housing  54  with opposing distal and proximal end portions  100  and  101  with the distal end portion  100  being engageable to a cap member  57  and the proximal end portion  101  being engaged to a terminal plate  56 . In the preferred embodiment, a sealing member  60  is provided at cap member  57  for providing a water-tight seal between cap  57  and opening  17 B of proximal portion  18  such that fluid is prevented from entering hollow cavity  17 A when removable battery compartment  20  is engaged to proximal portion  18 .  
         [0031]     As further shown, removable battery compartment  20  comprises a lateral element  58  that connects distal and proximal end portions  100 ,  101  and defines two slots  59  that engage or disengage tabs  52  of circular housing  17  of proximal portion  18  during installation or removal of removable battery compartment  20 . Each slot  59  includes a horizontal section  59 A and a vertical section  59 B that are separated from one another by a lip  61 . Cap member  57  and terminal plate  56  further include a set of connection points  62  to deliver power from batteries  21  to motors  22  and  25  when a particular circuit is completed by the engagement of respective switches  46 A- 46 D on user interface  38  as described below.  
         [0032]     In operation, the user installs the removable battery compartment  20  into proximal portion  18  by first aligning horizontal sections  59 A with tabs  52  and then engaging removable battery compartment  20  into hollow cavity  17 A by sliding the tabs  52  along corresponding horizontal slots  59 A until cap member  57  contacts opening  17 B of housing  17 . The user then twists cap member  57  in a direction which forces tab members  52  over lip  61  and into vertical section  59 B to engage removable battery compartment  20  into hollow cavity  17 A. In this manner, the sealing member  60  provides a water-tight seal between the cap member  57  and proximal portion  18 . Removable battery compartment  20  can be disengaged from hollow cavity  17 A by twisting cap member  57  in a counter direction to disengage tab members  52  from vertical section  59 B such that tab members  52  ride along horizontal section  59 A. Pulling on cap member  57  allows for the complete removal of the removable battery compartment  20  from hollow cavity  17 A.  
         [0033]     As noted above, user interface  38  provides a means for operating massage device  10 . User interface  38  comprises a series of buttons  42 A- 42 D covered by malleable elastic sheet  43  that prevents fluid from entering body  12 . Buttons  42 A- 42 D enable the user to individually control the rotating element  24  and vibratory element  26 , respectively. Specifically, button  42 A enables the user to turn rotating element  24  to the “ON” position causing it to spin about primary axis  34 A. Additionally, the user can change the direction of rotating element  24  by depressing button  42 B. Vibratory element  26  can be turned “ON” or “OFF” by depressing button  42 C. Finally, the user can adjust the speed of vibratory element  26  from a “HIGH” mode to a “LOW” mode by pressing button  42 D. While specific functions have been described above for buttons  42 A- 42 D, user interface  38  could have any number of buttons (or similar devices) that operate various elements of massage device  10 .  
         [0034]     When depressed, buttons  42 A- 42 D engage a series of corresponding switches  46 A- 46 D that are attached to a circuit board  48 . Engaging any one of switches  46 A- 46 D completes an electrical circuit to enable power from batteries  21  to be delivered through circuit board  48  to either motor  22  or motor  25 . If power from batteries  21  is delivered to motor  22 , motor  22  actuates gearbox  23 , which rotates rotating element  24 . In addition, when the motor  25  is powered, vibratory component  28  vibrates the body  27  of vibratory element  26  at the speed selected by the user.  
         [0035]     It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments of the invention 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 teaching of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.