Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Massa~er
The invention relates to hand holdable massagers.
The invention relates more particularly to hand holdable
massagers having a drive motor to drive a head supporting
S massaging pieces which in use are pressed against the s~in
of a user. Various types of massager are already known
having rotating and vibrating heads.
It is an object of the invention to provide a relatively
mechanically simple massaging device.
According to the invention there is provided a hand
holdable massager comprising a handle, a motor and a
support head having a central axis arranged to be driven
by the motor about the central axis, at least two normally
freely rotatable massaging wheels mounted to the support
head having planes of rotation extending generally along
respective tangents of an imaginary circle having a centre
on the central axis, in which the planes of rotation of
ad~acent wheels converge together beyond the respective
~heels and the centres of rotation of all the wheels are
in a common plane which is at right angles to the central
axis.
The massager may comprise a handle, a motor, a support
head arranged to be driven by the motor about a central
axis~ at least two normally freely rotating massaging
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wheels mounted to the support head with the planes of
rotation of adjacent wheels converging together beyond the
respective wheels and the centres of rotation of all the
wheels are in a common plane which is at right angles to
S the central axis.
The massager may also comprise a handle, a motor in the
handle, a support head connected for rotation by the motor
about a central axis, at least two wheels freely rotatably
mounted to the support head each wheel with an axis of
rotation generally at right angles to the central axis and
off-set from one another, the planes of the adjacent
wheels converging in a direction away from the central
axis to form an open nip between the wheels so that, in
use, skin and subcutaneous layers thereof pressed into the
nips are urged in a generally circular fashion by the
surfaces of the wheels.
Three or more wheels may be mounted to and around the head
support with open nips between adjacent wheels.
The head support may be coupled to the motor by a
pivotable coupling. The coupling may be a universal
coupling.
The wheels may be formed with regularly spaced pimples on
their surfaces.
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Hand holdable massagers according to the invention will
now be described by way of example with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of the massager;
S Figure 2 is an assembled side view of the massager withouta cover;
Figure 3 is a completely assembled side view of the
massager;
Figure 4 is a bottom plan schematic view of another
massager; and
Figure 5 is a section elevation of part of another
massager.
Referring to the drawings, in Figure l the massager has a
frame 10 for supporting an electric motor 11 and providing
a central bearing 12 for a massager head assembly 13. The
motor 11 has a worm gear 14 on its central shaft which
meshes with a peripheral gear 15 of gear wheel 16, a
central gear 17 of which meshes with a gear 18 attached to
a central shaft 19 of the head assembly 13.
The head assembly 13 provides a universal coupling
comprising three members 21, 22 and 23 pivoted together by
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two respective pins pairs 20 and 24 (only one of pins 24
is shown). Normally, the coupling allows at least 15 of
movement. The part 23 which is the head support, that is
it provides support for massaging pieces, has three
apertures 2~ set at 120 intervals about the central axis
of the part 23. Axle pins 25 fit into the apertures 25 to
support three freely rotatable massaging wheels 27. The
peripheral surfaces of the wheels are formed with spaced
upstanding pimples 2B.
In Figure 2, the assembled drawing is provided with arrows
to indicate the normal rotation of the wheels 27 and of
the head support 23 when the motor 11 is turned ON. In
Figure 3, a cover 30 fits over the frame 10 and head
assembly 13 and partially covers the wheels 27. The cover
30 serves as a handle for the massager and is provided
with an ON-OFF switch 31.
Normally the motor 11 is supplied with power from a
domestic mains supply via a suitable step-down transformer
and control circuitry (not shown~. The motor may be
arranged to operate at more than one selectable speed.
In use~ the user holds the cover or handle 30 and presses
the wheels 27 against a part of the body to be massaged.
The motor 11 is turned ON and the head assembly rotated by
the motor. The undulating surfaces of the wheels 27 press
against the users skin, the universal coupling allowing
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the relative pitch of the head support 23 to alter so that
the surfaces of the wheels 27 follow the contours of the
body as required. The surfaces of the wheels press into
the body pulling or kneading the skin and subcutaneous
5 layers thereof as the massager is moved over the body.
The universal coupling may be replaced by a resilient
flexible shaft which allow appropriate movement during its
driving rotation of the wheels support head. Stops can be
provided to prevent over flexing of the resilient shaft.
The wheels are normally freely rotating although they may
be arranged with some rotational resistance to increase
the dragging effect on the surface of the skin. The
massaging action is provided as the wheels 27 rotate about
generally the same axis with their axles all extending
along in the major plane of the head support 23 at right
angles to the central axis. The planes of rotation of
adjacent wheels converge so that each pair of wheels form
an open nip between them. As-the head support 23 is
rotated. the surface of the wheels gather up the skin and
subcutaneous layers in the nips and urge them in a~ general
circular fashion about the central axis. The lateral
thrusting or circular motion enhances a massaging action
and has good therapeutic effects.
In the described arrangement there are three wheels 27.
In another embodiment of the massager. there are only two
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wheels suitably mounted on a head support and rotatable at
an angle to one another so as to form an open nip between
them as required. Even with two wheels, the gathering up
of skin and subcutaneous layers and lateral or circular
S thrust relative the planes of the wheels can be achieved.
So while three wheels are believed preferable, massagers
according to the invention may two wheels, or may also
have four or more wheels distributed around a support
head.
In Figure 4, it will be noted that the axis of rotation of
the wheels do not pass through the central axis of the
support head 23. The embodiment of Figure 4 serves to
demonstrate in any event that such a condition is not an
essential part of the invention. In fact, the arrangement
of Figure 4 gives a wider area gathering of skin and
subcutaneous tissues in use, which for massaging some
parts of the body is prepared. It will be noted that the
planes of rotation of the wheels 27 generally lie on
tangçnts of the outer peripheral edge of the circular
support head 23.
The embodiment in Figure 5 has wheels 27 which are
- rotatable about axes X which are not in exactly the same
plane. This gives the wheels 27 a "toed out"
configuration which also alters to some extent the
2~ characteristics of the massaging action as compared to the
other described embodiments.
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It will be appreciated that the strength and form of
massaging can be altered by the material used for the
wheels 27 and, for example, the relative size of the
pimples 28. For most parts of the body rigid plastic
wheels can be satisfactorily used but for head massages a
wheel formed of rubbery material are normally preferred.
The wheels may also be formed of rigid plastics material
and rubbery material types fitted to provide the massaging
surfaces of the wheels.
In a preferred massager, there are three wheels 27 with
mean diameters of 40 mm and each having a maximum width of
17.5 mm. The radius of rotation of the wheels about a
central axis, taking their outermost surfaces, is 33 mm
and the speed of revolution is 100 to 120 r.p.m. The
universal coupling has a freedom of at least 15.
For lighter massaging or for massaging the scalp, say, the
exposed parts of the wheels 27 can be covered with a cloth
cap for example. In such an arrangement the massaging
takes place through the cloth which reduces the intensity
to some extent and also prevents hairs on the scalp
getting caught up by the wheels.
