Patent ID: 12201572

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In order to make those skilled in the art better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, but not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without any creative efforts fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that when an element is said to be “connected” to another element, it may be directly connected to another element, or indirectly connected to another element through one or multiple intermediate elements.

In the specification, the oriental or positional relationships indicated by the terms “longitudinal”, “transverse”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, “outer”, “central”, “axial”, “radial”, “circumferential” and the like are only intended to facilitate the description of the present invention and simplify the description based on oriental or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, not to indicate or imply that the apparatus or element referred must have a specific orientation, is constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present invention.

Unless otherwise specified and limited, the specific meanings of all technical and scientific terms used in the specification can be specifically understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. The terms used in the specification of this application is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit this application.

Referring toFIG.1toFIG.4, a massage device according an embodiment of the present invention is provided. The massage device includes a shell10, a driving member20mounted in the shell10and a massage member30connected to the driving member20in a transmission way. The shell10defines a moving space12therein. The moving space12communicates with the outside environment. The massage member30extends into the moving space12, and moves relative to the shell10under the action of the driving member20. During moving of the massage member30, at least a portion of the massage member30is capable of extending beyond the moving space12of the shell10to the outside environment, so as to massage a corresponding part of the human body out of the shell10.

The massage device according to the embodiment of this invention defines the moving space12in the shell10, the massage member30extends into the moving space12, and the driving member20makes the massage member30move relative to the shell10in the form of swinging, so that at least a portion of the massage member30, particularly a free end of the massage member30swings beyond the moving space12of the shell10to hit the corresponding part of the human body out of the shell10, thereby performing massage to the human body. The design of the moving space12in the shell10provides sufficient space for the swinging of the massage member30, and thus the massage device is capable of generating strong force to the massaged part even under the resistance of the massaged part, thereby playing good massage effect.

Preferably, the massage member30is an elastic structure and is capable of generating deformation when it hits the massaged part, so that the shape of the massage member30after deformed matches with the shape of the massaged part. In this way, a contact area of the massage member30and the massaged part is enlarged, and thus the massage effect is further improved.

In some embodiments, the entire massage member30may be made of soft materials, such as silica, rubber and the like.

In some embodiments, an outer portion of the massage member30for touching the massaged part is made of soft materials, and an inner portion of the massage member30embedded in the outer portion is made of hard materials, such as plastic, metal and etc.

As shown inFIG.4, the massage member30swings in the moving space12along the depth direction, i.e., along the longitudinal direction to up and down in the moving space12. Preferably, the thickness T of the massage member30along the longitudinal direction is less than the depth D of the moving space12/the thickness of the shell10along the longitudinal direction, and the massage member30is completely received in the moving space12when it is not work. The thickness difference of the massage member30and the shell10provides a space therebetween along the swinging direction of the massage member30, thus the massage member30is capable of swinging even the massaged part is nestled to the outer surface of the shell10, thereby ensuring the massage experience.

In this embodiment, the massage member30is generally elongated and column-shaped. The thickness T of the massage member30is preferably 1 mm˜150 mm, the width of the massage member30is preferably 1 mm˜150 mm, and the length of the massage member30is preferably 5˜150 mm, so as to make the touching area of the massage member30appropriate when it hit the massaged part. One end of the massage member30is connected to the driving member20, and the other end of the massage member30is free. The free end of the massage member30acts as a massage head32, swinging out of the moving space12to hit the massaged part. The entire massage member30is constructed as a single pendulum, and the massage head32may obtain a big swing amplitude even the swing angle of the massage member30is small.

Preferably, a plurality of bulges34are formed on the outer surface of the massage head32of the massage member30for improving stimulation to the massaged part. Alternately, the bulges34may be formed on the entire outer surface of the massage member30. Preferably, the bulges34are integrally formed with the massage member30, for example by injection molding. Alternately, the bulges34may be formed separately and then assembled to the massage member30by bonding.

As shown inFIG.3, the massage member30is less than the moving space12of the shell10in lateral dimensions, and a gap40is defined between an outer surface of the massage member30and an inner surface of the shell10surrounding the moving space12. The gap40makes the swinging of the massage member30in the moving space12not interfere with the shell10. On the one side, the width W of the gap40is designed to be not less than 0.5 mm to ensure that the massage member30swings freely in the moving space12, and on the other hand, the width W of the gap40is designed to be less than 100 mm to avoid wasting space and reduce the entire dimensions of the massage device. In specific embodiments, the width W of the gap40may be 0.5 mm, 1.5 mm, 3 mm, . . . , 50 mm, . . . , 99 mm or 100 mm.

In this embodiment, the moving space12has a shape similar to that of the massage member30. The width W of the gap40between the outer surface of the massage member30and the inner surface of the shell10is substantially constant along a circumferential direction. Specifically, the moving space12is generally race-track shaped. The inner surface of the shell10is continuous along the circumferential direction, and the moving space12is closed circumferentially.

In this embodiment, the moving space12is a through hole extending through two opposite sides (top and bottom sides as viewed fromFIG.2) of the shell10. In this case, the depth D of the moving space12is the same as the thickness of the shell10, preferably ranges from 1 mm to 100 mm. During operation, the massage member30swings along the depth direction of the moving space12, which can not only swing upwardly to the outside of the shell10, but also swing downwardly to the outside of the shell10. That is, the massage member30is capably of massaging two different parts of the human body which are located at two opposite sides of the shell10at the same time, which is more suitable for use in the human body to massage the cavity, such as the vagina.

In other embodiments, the moving space12may be a blind hole extending through only one side, such as the top side of the shell10, as shown inFIG.7. In this situation, the depth D of the moving space12is less than the thickness of the shell10. The massage device with the blind hole is more suitable for massaging the body surface, such as the waist, the neck and the like. It should be noted that the massage device with the blind hole may also be used for massaging the cavity of the human body, and the massage device with the through hole may also be used for massaging the body surface.

In other embodiments, as shown inFIG.5atoFIG.6d, the moving space12may have a shape different from that of the massage member30, and thus the width W of the gap40may be variable along the circumferential direction.

The shape of the moving space12may be regular or irregular, specifically may be any one of circle, semicircle, ellipse, square, rectangle, triangle, polygon, D-shape, C-shaped, kidney-shaped, heart-shaped, gourd-shaped, briolette, and etc., or may be a combination of at least two of them. For example, the moving space12shown inFIG.5ais generally kidney-shaped, the moving space12shown inFIG.5bis generally elliptical, the moving space12shown inFIG.5cis generally rectangular, the moving space12shown inFIG.5dis generally circular, the moving space12shown inFIG.5eis generally irregular, the moving space12shown inFIG.5fis generally a combination of a triangle and a rectangle. It should be understood that the shape of the moving space12may be set according to needs, which is not limited to the embodiments.

Further, the moving space12may be open in the circumferential direction. That is, the inner surface of the shell10surrounding the moving space12is discontinuous along the circumferential direction. As shown inFIGS.5gand5h, a circumferential opening14is defined in the shell10and communicates with the moving space12. The circumferential opening14is aligned with the massage head32along the longitudinal direction of the massage member30, and the massage head32extends out of the moving space12through the circumferential opening14. In this case, not only the top and/or bottom sides, but also the massage head32of the massage member30are capable of hitting corresponding parts of the human body, which means that the area being massaged at the same time is further increased.

Alternately, the entire massage member30may be accommodated in the moving space12even the moving space12is open circumferentially.FIG.5ishows that the moving space12is generally briolette and open circumferentially, whilst the entire massage member30is in the moving space12. In addition, the massage member30accommodated in the moving space12may be deviated from the circumferential opening14.FIG.5ishows that the moving space12is generally C-shaped, and the massage member30is generally column-shaped and arranged parallel to the circumferential opening14of the moving space12.

The shape of the massage member30may be regular or irregular, specifically may be any one of circle, semicircle, ellipse, square, rectangle, triangle, polygon, D-shape, C-shaped, kidney-shaped, heart-shaped, gourd-shaped, branch-shaped, and etc., or may be a combination of at least two of them. For example, the massage member30shown inFIG.6ais generally column-shaped with the massage head thereof being rounded, the massage member30shown inFIG.6bis generally irregular, the massage member30shown inFIG.6cis generally a combination of a column and a circle, and the massage member30shown inFIG.6dis generally branch-shaped. It should be understood that the shape of the massage member30may be set according to needs, which is not limited to the embodiments.

The shape of the massage member30and the shape of the moving space12can be selected arbitrarily, as long as the massage member30is movable in the moving space12.FIGS.5a-5jshow the moving spaces12of different shapes with the same massage member30,FIGS.6a-6dshow the moving spaces12of different shapes with the massage member30of different shapes. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the shapes of the moving space12and massage member30, and does not impose any restrictions on the combination of the shapes of the moving space12and massage member30.

Referring toFIG.1again, the shell10is elongated and the moving space12is defined in a middle portion of the shell10along the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the moving space12in the middle portion of the shell10is closed circumferentially, and the shell10forms two supporting arms16at two opposite lateral sides (i.e., left and right sides) of the moving space12. The supporting arms16enhance the strength of the shell10and thus can provide effective support for the massage member30even it swings rapidly and/or greatly. Preferably, the width of the supporting arm16ranges from 1 mm to 150 mm, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the massage device, particularly miniaturization of the diameter of the massage device, so that the massage device can be used for massage of narrow and small parts, such as the cavity of the human body.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS.6a-6d, the moving space12may be defined at an end portion of the shell10. In this case, the moving space12may be closed in the circumferential direction or be open in the circumferential direction.

The shell10may be designed to have an outer profile according to its application scenarios. When the massage device is used in the human body, the shell10may be shaped as the cavity of the human body, for example shaped as the vagina, as shown inFIGS.1-4. When the massage device is used out of the human body, the shell10may be any shape, such as column-shaped, block-shaped, disc-shaped, branch-shaped, and etc.

In some embodiments, the shell10may be provided with a handle for holding, thereby facilitating the users to place the massage device onto any part of the human body. Alternately, the shell10may be provided with a wearable member, such as a telescopic belt, a bandage with a buckle, and the like. The whole massage device can be worn to the neck, the waist, the arm, the leg, and etc. through the wearable member, thereby freeing hands of the users.

As shown inFIG.2, in this embodiment, the shell10is a double-layer structure, and includes an inner shell10aand an outer shell10bcovering the whole inner shell10a. The inner shell10ais made of hard materials, such as plastic, metal, wood, and etc. The outer shell10bis made of soft materials, such as silicone, rubber, and etc. The inner shell10ainside the outer shell10bnot only provides support for the outer shell10b, but also provides a receiving space for mounting the driving member20. The outer shell10b, which is used to touch the massaged part directly, preferably has a smooth outer surface, thereby the massage device in whole has high strength and comfortable use experience.

In this embodiment, the inner shell10ais formed by injection molding as two pieces and then assembly together by snap-fitting, screws, and etc., which facilitates assembly of the elements inside the shell10, such as the driving member20. The outer shell10bis formed by 2nd injection molding as one piece and covering the inner shell10aafter the inner shell10aand the elements inside the inner shell10aare assembled together. The integral outer shell10bis beneficial to the waterproof and dustproof of the present message device, so that the message device can be used underwater or in the cavity of the human body.

In other embodiments, the inner shell10amay be molded as one piece. In this case, elements mounted inside the inner shell10aare arranged in the mold and then injects the inner shell10a. Alternately, the outer shell10bmay be molded as two or more pieces and then assembled together. In this case, the shell10is detachable for replacing elements therein, which is good for maintenance of the massage device. The inner shell10amay be the same as the outer shell10b, and thus the shell10has two different layers in any positions. Alternately, the inner shell10amay be different from the outer shell10bin local areas, and thus the local areas of the shell10may be one layer, i.e., without the layer of the hard inner shell10a.

Preferably, the moving space12is defined at a position of the hard outer shell10bwith the soft inner shell10aformed therein, thus the solid portion surrounding the moving space12is constructed of two layers and the strength thereof is high enough to support the swinging of the massage member30. It should be understood that: in some cases where the requirements for the use environment are not high, the moving space12may be formed at a position of the outer shell10bwithout the inner shell10aformed therein.

In other embodiments, the shell10may be a single-layer structure with certain hardness.

Referring toFIGS.2and4, the massage device further includes a vibration motor50. The vibration motor50is arranged in a front end of the shell10for generating high-frequency vibration. When the massage device is used, for example, in the vaginal of the human body, the vibration motor50in the front end of the shell10generates vibration effect to the vaginal wall, and the massage member30generates scratch effect to the vaginal wall at the same time, which can multiply the stimulation effect to the users.

Preferably, the massage device includes two vibration motors50,52, one of which is arranged in the front end of the shell10, and the other is arranged in a branch19of the shell10which extends curvedly from a rear end of the moving space12of the shell10to an upper side of the massage member30. When the massage device is used in the vagina, the vibration motor50in the front end of the shell10generates vibration effect to the vaginal wall, the massage member30generates scratch effect to the vaginal wall, and the vibration motor52in the branch19of the shell10generates vibration effect to the clitoris, which can maximize the stimulation effect to the users.

Referring toFIGS.8a-8c, the driving member20is used to generate power to make the massage member30move relative to the shell10, and can be motor, cylinder and the like. Preferably, the driving member20is a rotary motor or a linear motor. Preferably, a transmission member22is arranged between the driving member20and the massage member30. The transmission member22may be gear mechanism, pulley mechanism, crank mechanism, cam mechanism, turbine mechanism, and etc., which not only transmits power from the driving member20to the massage member30, but also change the movement mode therebetween, such as change the rotation of the driving member20to the swinging of the massage member30.

In this embodiment, the driving member20is a rotary motor, and the transmission member22is a cam. The rotary motor20, the cam22and the massage member30cooperatively construct a massage module. The rotary shaft21of the rotary motor20is connected to a central portion of the cam22, and a driving shaft23extends out from a periphery of the cam22to connect the massage member30. Both the rotary shaft21and driving shaft23extend generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shell10, but the driving shaft23is eccentric with respect to the rotary shaft21. During rotation of the driving shaft23, the driving shaft23revolves around the rotary shaft21to generate movement along both the thickness direction and the width direction of the shell10.

In other embodiments, the driving member20may be a linear motor, which has an output shaft rotationally connected to the massage member30. During the reciprocating motion of the linear motor, it drives the massage member30to swing up and down. In this case, the massaged parts are massaged in the form of slapping. Alternately, the driving member20may be a vibration motor, which directly transmits vibration to the massage member30.

In other embodiments, the driving member20and the massage member30may be connected in a transmission way but in a manner of non-contact. For example, the driving member20may be in the form of an electromagnet, and the massage member30is connected to the driving member20by magnetic force. The polarity of the electromagnet is changed according to the current directions applied to driving member20, making the magnetic force between the driving member20and the massage member30attract or repel each other, thus realizing the swing action of the massage member30.

In this embodiment, the massage member30includes a soft cover36and a hard core38embedded in the soft cover36. The hard core38defines a groove39at an end thereof adjacent to the driving member20for receiving the driving shaft23, and the groove39is configured that movement of the driving shaft23along the thickness direction is limited, while movement of the driving shaft23along the width direction is allowed. For example, a size of the groove39in the width direction is much larger than the diameter of the driving shaft23, and a size of the groove39in the thickness direction is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the driving shaft23. In this way, the driving shaft23is capable of driving the hard core38to move upwardly and downwardly, in turn driving the massage member30to swing along the thickness direction to the outside environment.

Two opposite lateral sides of the hard core38are rotatably connected to the shell10, preferably to the inner shell10aby a pivot54. The pivot54is arranged adjacent to the groove39, thereby the massage head32of the massage member30has a greater swing amplitude. Preferably, the hard core38has a length not less than a half of the soft cover36. That is, the hard core38at least extends to a middle portion of the soft cover36, providing sufficient support for the soft cover36and being conducive to driving the massage head32of the soft cover36to swing.

The massage member30connected to the shell10at a position adjacent to an end thereof connected to the driving member20makes the massage member30as a simple pendulum, so that the massage head32at the other end of the massage member30away from the driving member20have a greater swing amplitude. In other embodiments, the massage member30may be connected to the shell10at a middle portion thereof, as shown inFIG.9b. In addition, the massage member30may be connected to the shell10at one side, such as the left side shown inFIG.9c. Further, as shown inFIG.9d, the massage member30may be connected to the shell10at a distal end thereof.

Referring toFIGS.2and4again, the massage device further has a control member56, such as a control circuit board mounted in the shell10. The control member56is electrically connected to the rotary motor20and the vibration motors50,52for controlling their operation according to the user's instructions, such as controlling the frequency of the vibration motors50,52, controlling the rotary speed of the rotary motor20, and etc.

Preferably, a battery58is arranged in the shell10and connected to the circuit board56electrically. The battery58supplies electric power to the motors20,50,52through the circuit board56. Preferably, the battery58is a rechargeable battery, and a corresponding charging interface59may be provided at a rear end of the shell10to connect external power supply to charge the battery58.

The massage device according to the embodiment of this invention defines the moving space12in the shell10for providing sufficient space for the swinging of the massage member30, so that the massage device30is capable of generating strong force to the massaged part even under the resistance of the massaged part, thereby playing good massage effect. Further, the present massage device is provided with vibration motors50,52for generating high high-frequency vibration, further improving the massage effect.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above merely describes preferred embodiments of the present invention without intention to limit the scope of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, for those skilled in the art, the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments can still be modified, or some of the technical features can be equally replaced. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, and etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.