Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
IMPLEMENT FOR TRAINING FACIAL MUSCLE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a facial muscle
training tool configured to apply a load to facial muscles
when being swung with an orally held portion held with the
lips.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a facial muscle training
tool that includes arms, which are made of an elastic plate,
and an orally held portion for being held by lips. The orally
held portion is located at the center of the set of arms. A
weight is arranged at the end of each arm. To use this facial
muscle training tool, the user swings his/her head up and down
while holding the orally held portion with lips, thereby
swinging the facial muscle training tool up and down.
Accordingly, the elasticity of the elastic member and the load
of the weights apply a load on the facial muscles, so that the
facial muscles are trained.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Registered Design No. 1223289
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems that the Invention is to Solve
[0004] The facial muscle training tool of Patent Document 1
has a synthetic plastic orally held portion in the center with
respect to the longitudinal direction and a plastic weight at
either end. The weights are separated from the orally held
portion, and parts of the metal elastic plate in between are
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exposed. This not only spoils the appearance, but also brings
about the following drawbacks. That is, during use, the
elastic plate is likely to be twisted, in addition to the
swinging action. The restoring force due to the twisting
action is directly transmitted to the lips, which degrades the
comfort of use. Further, when the edges of the exposed parts
of the elastic plate contact a corner of a table, the table
corner may be scratched.
[0005] It is an objective of the present invention to
provide a facial muscle training tool that has an excellent
appearance and is easy to use.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The present invention provides a facial muscle
training tool including an elastically deformable portion and
an orally held portion to be held with lips. The orally held
portion is provided at a middle position of the elastically
deformable portion in a longitudinal direction of the
elastically deformable portion. The invention is
characterized in that the elastically deformable portion
includes a core member having elasticity and a covering member,
which covers a whole outer surface of the core member.
[0007] With the above configuration, the elastic plate is
entirely covered. The covering member not only improves the
appearance, but also absorbs or attenuates twisting action of
the elastic plate during use, so that the orally held portion
is easy to hold. Also, since the edges of the elastic plate
are not exposed, the tool does not scratch a corner of a table
even when hitting the table corner.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention achieves an excellent
appearance and ease of use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[0009] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a use state of
a facial muscle training tool.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the facial muscle training tool.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the facial muscle training tool.
Fig. 4 is a partially omitted cross-sectional view taken
along line 4-4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing a
relationship between the core and the mouthpiece.
Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a facial muscle training
tool of a modification.
Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a facial muscle training
tool of another modification.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0010] Embodiments will be descried below by referring to
the drawings.
As shown in Fig. 1, a facial muscle training tool 21
according to the present embodiment is used for training the
facial muscles of the user such as an orbicularis oris muscle,
and a buccinator muscle, a risorius muscle, a greater
zygomatic muscle, and a lesser zygomatic muscle connected to
the orbicularis oris muscle by being held with the lips of the
user and being swung up and down by the user.
[0011] As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the facial muscle
training tool 21 includes an elastic plate 22 having a linear
strip plate shape formed of a plate spring made of a steel
plate. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a core 27 made of hard
plastic such as polypropylene is fixed to a central portion of
the elastic plate 22 in its longitudinal direction by means of
molding using the elastic plate 22 as an insert. The core 27
has a protruding portion 272 protruding from one edge of the
elastic plate 22. A hollow mouthpiece 28 is attached
detachably to the protruding portion 272 of the core 27.
While being attached to the protruding portion 272, the
mouthpiece 28 forms an orally held portion 24 to be held with
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lips.
[0012] As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the elastic plate 22 in
its entirety and a portion of the core 27 except the
protruding portion 272 are molded using a covering member 23
made of synthetic plastic such as polyurethane. The elastic
plate 22 and the covering member 23 constitute an elastically
deformable portion. The covering member 23 is preferably made
of a material that has rubber-like properties and is softer
than the core 27. A pair of through holes 222 is formed at
each of opposite end portions of the elastic plate 22 (four
through holes 222 in total). The inner through hole 222
functions to connect the elastic plate 22 and the covering
member 23 more tightly by allowing entry of the synthetic
plastic during molding of the covering member 23. A bushing
26 is force-fitted in the outer through hole 222 to protrude
from both the front and back surfaces of the elastic plate 22.
The bushing 26 is formed into a height that prevents exposure
of the bushing 26 to the surface of the covering member 23. A
small hole 224 is formed in each of the opposite ends of the
elastic plate 22. The small hole 224 also functions to
connect the elastic plate 22 and the covering member 23 more
tightly by allowing entry of the synthetic plastic.
[0013] The elastic plate 22 and the covering member 23 on
both the right side and the left side of the core 27 form a
pair of right and left arms 31. A weight portion 25 is
provided at a tip portion of the covering member 23 of each of
the arms 31.
[0014] As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the orally held portion
24 is held with the lips and the facial muscle training tool
21 is entirely swung up and down. Then, both of the arms 31
are vibrated up and down in resonance with the swinging motion
based on the load of the weight portion 25, the elasticity of
the elastic plate 22 and the like. The resonance vibration
refers to vibrating motion of the arms 31 produced when
vibration of a frequency within a predetermined range is
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applied to the orally held portion 24 and the arms 31 are
greatly warped up and down. In particular, it is preferable
that an end portion of each arm 31 warps to a position above
the height of the orally held portion 24. In this way, a load
acts on the facial muscles of the user holding the orally held
portion 24 to train the facial muscles.
[0015] As shown in Fig. 5, the core 27 has an outer
peripheral surface where a concave-convex portion 271 is
formed for hooking and holding the mouthpiece 28. The
mouthpiece 28 is formed of soft synthetic plastic such as
polyurethane that is softer and less slippery than the plastic
for the core 27. The mouthpiece 28 has an inner peripheral
surface where a concave-convex portion 281 is formed that can
be fitted to the concave-convex portion 271 of the core 27. A
depression 282 to be held with lips is formed at both the
upper and lower surfaces in the central portions of the outer
peripheral surface of the mouthpiece 28. A concave portion
283 is formed in the outer peripheral surface of a tip portion
of the mouthpiece 28. A convex portion 284 having a spherical
surface is formed at a front end surface of the mouthpiece 28.
[0016] As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a holding hole 29 is
formed in a position at each of the opposite ends of the
covering member 23. Each weight portion 25 is configured with
the weight 30 attached detachably to the holding hole 29.
Various types of weights 30 having different weights are
prepared. A weight 30 of an arbitrary weight is selected
according to a training level requested by the user, for
example, and attached detachably to the holding hole 29.
[0017] A method of using the facial muscle training tool 21
of the aforementioned structure will be described next.
To train facial muscles using the facial muscle training
tool 21, a mouthpiece 28 having necessary outer dimensions
conforming for example to a training level requested by the
user of the facial muscle training tool 21 is attached in
advance to the core 27. Further, the weight 30 of a required
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weight is attached to the holding hole 29 in each weight
portion 25. In this state, the user puts the depression 282
of the orally held portion 24 between lips and swings his or
her face up and down. By doing so, while the weight of the
facial muscle training tool 21 acts on the lips, the weight
portions 25 are vibrated up and down in resonance through the
elastic plate 22 made of the plate spring and are warped.
This warping vibration is transmitted to the orally held
portion 24. As a result, a load is applied to facial muscles
through the lips to train the facial muscles.
[0018] The orally held portion 24 protrudes from a side of
the arms 31 to be located in a position displaced outwardly
from this side. Thus, the facial muscle training tool 21 is
held with the lips in a cantilever style to increase the
weight to be borne by the lips. Thus, the load resulting from
the resonance vibration acts efficiently as the load on the
facial muscles to train the facial muscles effectively. At
this time, as a result of the horizontally-long ellipsoidal
shape in cross section of the depression 282, the mouthpiece
28 can be held while the mouth is opened widely. Holding the
mouthpiece 28 with the mouth opened widely allows the load
resulting from the resonance vibration to be transmitted to
the entire orbicularis oris muscle. The orbicularis oris
muscle is connected to muscles of facial expression such as
the risorius muscle. This allows training of the risorius
muscle and the like through the orbicularis oris muscle to
allow efficient training.
[0019] In the facial muscle training tool 21 of the present
embodiment, the elastic plate 22 is molded using the covering
member 23 made of synthetic plastic. Thus, when the arms 31
warp to vibrate in resonance, except the vertical warping
vibration of the arms 31 intended to be obtained for training,
motions such as twisting action of the elastic plate 22 can be
suppressed. In this way, distracting motions are less likely
to be transmitted to the lips of the user, so that the facial
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muscle training tool 21 can be used comfortably. Instead of
molding the elastic plate 22 entirely, a plate or a sheet of
synthetic plastic may be fixed, for example, with an adhesive
to both or one of the front and back surfaces of the elastic
plate 22.
[0020] The weight 30 in the holding hole 29 of the weight
portion 25 can be changed to a different weight 30 of a
different weight according to the strength of facial muscles
or a training level.
A method of manufacturing the facial muscle training tool
21 of the present embodiment will be described below.
[0021] First, the core 27 shown in Fig. 4 is formed by
injection molding on the central outer surface of the elastic
plate 22 using the elastic plate 22 as an insert.
Next, a bushing 26 is fitted in the outer through hole
222 in each end portion of the elastic plate 22. As a result,
two bushings 26 protrude from both the front and back surfaces
of the elastic plate 22.
[0022] Next, the elastic plate 22 is placed in a molding
die and synthetic plastic to become the covering member 23 is
injected into the die. In an initial stage of the injection
of the synthetic plastic, the pressure of the injection does
not act uniformly on the elastic plate 22 but it temporarily
acts non-uniformly on the elastic plate 22. Hence, the
elastic plate 22 is curved to cause risk such as an abrasion
on a molding surface of a cavity 102 of the molding die 101
due to a sharp edge at the curved end of the elastic plate 22,
for example. By contrast, in the present embodiment, if the
elastic plate 22 is curved, the bushing 26 abuts on the
molding surface of the cavity to prevent abutting contact of
the elastic plate 22 with the molding surface.
[0023] Thus, risk of a scratch on the molding surface of
the cavity can be prevented. In a state in which filling of
the cavity with the synthetic plastic is finished, the
injection pressure acts uniformly on the entire elastic plate
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22. This makes the elastic plate 22 recover from the curved
shape to restore its original shape. The elastic plate 22 in
this shape extends linearly in a central portion of the cavity.
As a result, after the molding, the elastic plate 22 is molded
in a fixed position in the molded covering member 23.
[0024] The present embodiment achieves the following
advantages.
(1) Since the whole outer surface of the elastic plate 22
is covered with the covering member 23, the facial muscle
training tool 21 has an excellent appearance. Instead of
molding the elastic plate 22 entirely, a plate or a sheet of
synthetic plastic may be fixed, for example, with an adhesive
to both or one of the front and back surfaces.
[0025] (2) Also, since the whole outer surface of the
elastic plate 22 is covered with the covering member 23,
twisting action of the elastic plate 22 is absorbed or
attenuated when the elastic plate 22 is curved. Since the
covering member 23 constrains the elastic plate 22, fine
vibration of the elastic plate 22 is suppressed. Thus, the
lips are prevented from receiving actions other than the
vertical warping, preventing the oral holding action from
becoming difficult. The facial muscle training tool 21 of the
present invention is therefore easy to use.
[0026] (3) Further, since the whole outer surface of the
elastic plate 22 is covered with the covering member 23, edges
of the elastic plate 22 are prevented from hitting and
scratching, for example, a corner of a table.
[0027] (4) The covering member 23 has the holding holes 29,
to which the weights 30 are attached detachably and which are
located outside the elastic plate 22. Thus, the flexibility
of the covering member 23 allows the weights 30 to be easily
installed and removed. Also, having no holes for attaching
the weights 30, the elastic plate 22 is easy to produce.
[0028] (5) The weight 30 in the holding hole 29 of the
weight portion 25 can be changed to a different weight 30 of a
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different weight according to the strength of facial muscles
or a training level.
(6) The mouthpiece 28 has rubber-like properties of not
being slippery and having proper hardness. Thus, the
mouthpiece 28 is easy to hold orally and can be used for
transmitting a load resulting from the vibration of the arms
31 to the lips. If the mouthpiece 28 is too hard, the
mouthpiece 28 does not conform to the lips and is hard to hold
orally. Conversely, if the mouthpiece 28 is too soft, even
with the mouthpiece 28 held orally, the facial muscle training
tool 21 cannot easily be maintained stably. Additionally, the
mouthpiece 28 excessively absorbs vibration of the arms 31 to
reduce a load for training.
[0029] (7) The elastically deformable portion is
constituted by the elastic plate 22 and the covering member 23,
the specific gravity of which is less than that of the elastic
plate 22. Thus, compared to a case in which the elastically
deformable portion is constituted solely by the elastic plate
22, the weight of the facial muscle training tool 21 is
reduced. That is, the elastic modulus of the elastically
deformable portion is obtained through synergistic actions of
the elastic moduli of the elastic plate 22 and the covering
member 23. If the same elastic modulus were to be achieved
solely by the elastic plate 22, the facial muscle training
tool 21 would be heavier due to absence of the covering member
of a smaller specific gravity. In contrast, the present
embodiment does not involve such increase in the weight.
[0030]
Another Embodiment
Another embodiment of the present invention will now be
described. The differences from the above illustrated
embodiment will mainly be discussed.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the weights 30 of the
first embodiment are omitted. A load-function portion 122 of
a large area is formed at each of the opposite end portions of
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the elastic plate 22. The load-function portions 122 function
to apply a load instead of the weights 30. Although not
illustrated, this structure preferably includes through holes
222 of the elastic plate 22 and bushings 26, and the bushings
26 are each preferably provided at the tip of each load-
function portion 122.
[0031] In the embodiment of Fig. 6, the parts count is
reduced to achieve a simplified structure.
Modifications
The above embodiments may be modified as follows.
[0032] The configuration of Fig. 6 may be modified as shown
in Fig. 7. That is, holes 223 may be formed in parts of the
covering member 23 on the elastic plate 22, so that parts of
the elastic plate 22, that is, the inner peripheries of the
holes 223, are exposed to the outside. In this case, unlike
Patent Document 1, the synthetic plastic on the elastic plate
22 is not divided into two sections at the center, and the
edges of the elastic plate 22 are not exposed. Thus, the
configuration of Fig. 7 does not have the drawbacks of Patent
Document 1. Rather, the holes 223 serve as accentuating
features in the design or as adjusters for the weight balance.
Thus, the sizes, positions, and number of the holes 223 can be
adjusted as necessary. In the present invention, the whole
outer surface of the elastic plate 22, which is a core member,
is deemed to be covered as long as the covering member 23 is
not divided in the longitudinal direction of the elastic plate
22.
[0033] A material having a greater specific gravity than
those of the elastic plate 22 and the covering member 23 may
be provided at the end portions of the arms 31, and the parts
at which the material is provided may function as load-
function portions, which function as a load for warping the
arms 31 up and down.
[0034] The thickness of the end portions of the arms 31 or
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the entire length of each arm 31 may be increased to cause the
end portions of the arms 31 to function as load-function
portions.
In the configurations of Figs. 6 and 7, the load-function
portions 122 may be components prepared separately from the
elastic plate 22. The load-function portions 122 may be
configured without the elastic plate 22. In this case, the
corresponding parts of the covering member 23 are increased in
thickness or size.
[0035] The mouthpiece 28 may be fixed to the core 27 by
integral molding, bonding, or welding. Alternatively, the
mouthpiece 28 may be directly fixed to the elastic plate 22
without the core 27.
Without providing the core 27, the mouthpiece 28 may be
attached detachably to the elastic plate 22.
[0036] The weights 30 may be fixed to the arms 31 by
integral molding, bonding, or welding.
The elastic plate 22 may be made of a material different
from a steel plate. For example, the elastic plate 22 may be
made of a synthetic plastic plate or a fiber-glass reinforced
plastic (FRP) plate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0037] 21...Facial muscle training tool, 22...Elastic plate,
23...Covering member, 24...Orally held portion, 25...Weight portion,
27...Core, 28...Mouthpiece, 29...Holding hole, 30...Weight, 122...Load-
function portion
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