GB2274395A

GB2274395A - Massager

Info

Publication number: GB2274395A
Application number: GB9301115A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jimmy Chi; Chen Jang Bao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-01-21
Filing date: 1993-01-21
Publication date: 1994-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2013-01-21
Also published as: GB2274395B; GB9301115D0

Abstract

The massager comprises a plurality of massaging elements (25) movably fastened to a housing and driven by a transmission mechanism to rub and knead the muscles and joints, the said mechanism comprising a worm (20) driven by a motor (22) to rotate at least one pair of worm wheels (16; 17; 18; 19), the said wheels being bilaterally meshed with the worm and each wheel having a hole (24) on a top surface thereof at an eccentric location for receiving a respective massaging element. The housing may be of hand-held form a shown or may comprise the back of a seat or a mattress. <IMAGE>

Description

MASSAGER The present invention relates to a massager, and more particularly to massager which rub and knead the muscles and joint effectively.

It is known that a thorough massage feels good when you are tired. Various electric massaging devices have been proposed, and have appeared on the market. An ordinary electric massaging device generally uses a motor to oscillate massaging elements through a transmission mechanism. However, simply massaging the muscles by vibrating massaging elements does not produce a satisfactory effect, because it does not effectively stimulate the circulation of blood.

The present invention has been accomplished under the aforesaid circumstances. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a massager which effectively rubs and kneads the muscles and joint like the manipulation of the hands.

According to the present invention, a massager is Comprised of a plurality of massaging elements movably fastened to a housing and respectively driven by a motor through worm wheels via a worm, to rub and knead the muscles and joints. The massager elements are respectively and eccentrically fastened to the worm wheels at the top. The housing of the massager may be made in a handy structure for carrying with the hand. Alternatively, the housing may be made in the shape of the back of a seat for massaging the back of the body. The housing can also be made in the form of a mattress for massaging the whole body while lying thereon.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a massager embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of an alternate form of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is an elevational view of another alternate form of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, therein illustrated is a first embodiment of the present invention which is generally comprised of an elongated housing 10 having one end terminated to a head 11 and an opposite end terminated to a handle 12. The handle 12 has an electric cord 13 with an electric plug 13A at the rear end for connecting to a power supply outlet, and an On/Off switch 14 on one side. The head 11 has four circular holes 15 longitudinally and transversely aligned on the top, which receive four worm wheels 16,17,18,29. The worm wheels 16,17,18,19 are bilaterally meshed with a worm 20, which is disposed in longitudinal direction, and which has a front end coupled to a bearing 21 and a rear end coupled to the output shaft 23 of a motor 22.The motor 22 is connected to the electric cord 13 by an electric circuit (not shown) controlled by the On/Off switch 14. Each worm wheel 16,17,18 or 19 has a pin hole 24 on the top at an eccentric location, into which a respective rod 25, 25A,25B or 25c is inserted. When assembled, the upper part of each rod 25,25A,25B or 25C protrudes out of the top surface of the head 11, and is respectively covered with a massaging jacket 26. The massaging jacket 26 is replaceable, which can be made from any of a variety of materials of different flexibility in any of a variety of shapes. For example, the massaging jacket 26 can be made in the shape of a bullet.

When electrically connected, the worm 20 is driven by the motor 22 to rotate the worm wheels 16,17,18,19. Because the rods 25,25A,25B,25C are respectively fastened to the worm wheels 16,17,18,19 at eccentric locations, rotating the worm wheels 16,17,18,19 cause the rods 25,25A,25B,25C to regularly pass over the periphery of a circle within the rods 25,25A,25B,25C. Therefore, the jackets 26 on the rods 25,25A,25B,25C are rotated to rub and knead the muscles as the massager is being applied to any part of the body. Because the rods 25,25A,25B,25C are moved in a manner simulating the manipulation of the hands in massaging the muscles, better massaging effect is achieved.

Referring to Fig. 4, therein illustrated is an alternate form of the present invention which is specifically designed for massaging the back of the body and the head. The housing 30 of this alternate form is made in the shape of a seat back fitting over the back of the human being, and has binding straps 30,31 for fastening to the back of a seat.

Referring to Fig. 5, therein illustrated is another alternate form of the present invention which is specifically designed for massaging the whole body.

The housing 40 of this alternate form is consisted of two parts 41,42 connected longitudinally by connectors 43. When in use, the user lies on the housing 40 over the jackets 26, and the jackets 26 are then rotated to rub and knead the user's body.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A massager comprising a plurality of massaging elements movably fastened to a housing and respectively driven by a transmission mechanism to rub and knead the muscles and joints, wherein said transmission mechanism comprises at least a worm driven by at least a motor to rotate at least one pair of worm wheels, the two worm wheels of each of said at least one pair of worm wheels being bilaterally meshed with either of said at least one worm, each worm wheel having a hole on a top surface thereof at an eccentric location, which receives either massaging element.

2. The massager of claim 1 wherein said housing has one end terminated to a bigger head to hold said transmission mechanism, and an opposite end terminated to a handle.

3. The massager of claim 1 wherein said housing has a top surface for sitting or lying, over which said massaging elements protrude.

4. The massager of claim 1 wherein each massaging element is covered with a replaceable jacket.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1 A massager comprising a housing, a motor mounted within the housing and having an output shaft, a worm rotatably mounted in the housing and driven by the motor, a plurality of worm wheels driven by the worm, a rod mounted perpendicular to and eccentrically with respect to each worm wheel so as to describe a circular movement about an axis parallel to the axis of the rod when the motor is operated.

2 A massager according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of worm wheels comprises an even number of worm wheels, the worm wheels being arranged in pairs in opposite phase to each other.

3 A massager according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein four worm wheels are provided.

4 A massager according to any preceding claim wherein each rod has a replaceable jacket.

5 A massager according to any preceding claim wherein the housing comprises a head of a greater dimension and a handle of a smaller dimension, the head housing the motor, worm and worm wheels.

6 A massager according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the housing comprises a seat back.

7 A massager according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the housing comprises a mattress on which the user can lie.

8 A massager according to claim 7 wherein the mattress comprises two parts connected together.

9 A massager substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

10 A massager substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 as modified by Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11 A massager substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 as modified by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.