GB2375050A

GB2375050A - Massage device comprising an electric toothbrush body

Info

Publication number: GB2375050A
Application number: GB0110486A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham William Woolley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-28
Filing date: 2001-04-28
Publication date: 2002-11-06
Also published as: GB2384995A; GB0203234D0; GB0110486D0

Abstract

A personal massage device 2 comprising the body 4 and motor of an electric toothbrush and a massage head which is substantially smooth and devoid of bristles. The head may be fixed or interchangeable and be may be flexible and made from rubber, plastics or fabric and its surface may have shallow protuberances <I>e.g.</I> ridges, ribs or mounds. The electric toothbrush motor may be rechargeable battery or mains powered and provides continuous or pulsed vibrational and/or oscillatory and/or rotational movement or translation movement. An intermediate shaft 8 between the head 14 and elongate toothbrush handle 6 remains stationary during use and transmits forces to the internal head agitation mechanism 16 and may convert the type of movement from one form to another. A kit of parts comprising a the body and motor of an electric toothbrush and a massage head and an accessory is also claimed. The device is for sexual stimulation.

Description

MASSAGE DEVICE The present invention relates to a massage device and accessories therefor. In particular, the present invention relates to a massage device for sexual stimulation.

The sex toy marketplace is dominated by cheap, poorly manufactured and largely ineffective vibrators and clitoral simulators. Clitoral or"G"-spot stimulators are usually underpowered and ineffective. The simulators on the market that have proven effective are usually mains powered and expensive.

Electric toothbrushes are known for their stimulating vibrations. However, such devices are not designed nor are they suited for use as sexual massage devices.

Electric toothbrushes are becoming increasingly common in homes and are widely available as an affordable luxury, even necessity.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a massage device that can use the motor component and body of a commonplace electric toothbrush. Another object of the present invention is to provide low cost and lightweight massage heads for use with the massage device mentioned supra.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a sexual massage device that is small and discrete; the appearance of most sex toys is usually very indicative of their purpose which can be embarrassing for owners and users.

Therefore, yet another object of the invention is to provide a sex toy that is easy to store and of inoffensive appearance. Another object of the present invention is to provide a massage device that provides user satisfaction.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a massage device comprising the body and motor of an electric toothbrush and a massage head, said head being substantially smooth and devoid of bristles.

As used herein, the term substantially smooth is defined as a surface which is not rough, sharp or abrasive and may include a surface which contains shallow protuberances such as ridges, ribs or mounds.

Preferably, the massage head is interchangeable.

Alternatively, the massage head is fixed.

Preferably, the massage head is flexible.

The massage head may comprise a component made from rubber, plastics, metal, wood or fabric. The head may be smooth or it may be textured.

The motor of the electric toothbrush may be mains powered and/or have a rechargeable power source.

The motor of the electric toothbrush maybe powered by one or more batteries.

The motor of the electric toothbrush may provide vibrational and/or rotational movement and/or oscillatory movement and/or combinations thereof.

Alternatively or in addition, the motor of the electric toothbrush may provide translation movement.

Typically, the motor of the electric toothbrush may provide continuous movement.

Suitably, the motor of the electric toothbrush provides pulsed movement.

In one embodiment, the device may further comprise an intermediate shaft for positioning between the body of the electric toothbrush and the massage head.

In this embodiment, the intermediate shaft may convert the movement generated by the motor of the electric toothbrush from one mode to another.

Alternatively or in addition, the shaft may convert the movement from rotational movement to vibrational movement and/or translational movement and/or oscillatory movement.

In another embodiment of the invention, the massage head may convert the movement generated by the motor of the electric toothbrush from one mode to another, for example, may convert the movement from rotational movement to vibrational movement and/or translational movement and/or oscillatory movement.

Typically, the invention provides a massage device for sexual stimulation.

In another aspect, the invention provides a massage head for a massage device as defined supra.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a pack of massage heads as defined supra.

In yet a further aspect, the invention provides an accessory for use with the massage head or the massage device as defined supra.

In another aspect, the invention provides a kit of parts for a massage device comprising a body and a motor of an electric toothbrush, a massage head, said head being substantially smooth and devoid of bristles.

Preferably, the kit further comprises a power source.

Typically, the kit further comprises an accessory for use therewith.

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 which shows a massage device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a massage device comprising an intermediate shaft and remote massage head in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 shows a massage device comprising an intermediate shaft and smooth circular remote massage head in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the figures, Figure 1 illustrates a massage device 2 comprising a motor (not shown) and a body 4 of a commonplace standard electric toothbrush. The body 4 takes the form of an elongate handle 6 and a shaft 8 on which a regular electric toothbrush head may be applied. In the present invention, the toothbrush head is replaced with a massage head 10. The body 4 contains a control 6a for choosing between continuous or pulsed motor action.

In this embodiment, the head contains a mechanical mechanism to convert the rotation provided by the motor of the electric toothbrush body 4 into back-andforward and/or vibrational movement of the head. In contrast to a device wherein the entire device is vibrating, in the present invention, the energy from the device is directed and concentrated at the point at which the head is applied.

In figure 2, the massage device 2 has an intermediate neck 12 linked to the body 4 and a remote massage head 14. The intermediate neck 12 remains stationary during use and transmits the forces produced by the motor and rotating shaft 8 to the remote head 14 via a head agitation mechanism 16 (shown in outline).

In figure 3, the massage device 2 also has an intermediate neck 12 linked to the body 4 and a remote massage head 14. The intermediate neck 12 remains stationary during use and transmits the forces produced by the motor and rotating

shaft 8 to the smooth circular head 14 via a head agitation mechanism 16 (shown in outline). The body 4 contains a simple on/off control 6a.

It will be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and the invention extends to modifications, variations and improvements thereto.

The application of which this description and claims form part may be used as a basis for priority in respect of any subsequent application. The claims of such subsequent application may be directed to any feature or combination of features described therein. They may take the form of product, method or use claims and may include, by way of example and without limitation, one or more of the following claims :

Claims

1. A massage device comprising the body and motor of an electric toothbrush and a massage head, said head being substantially smooth and devoid of bristles.

2. A massage device according to claim 1 wherein the head is interchangeable.

3. A massage device according to claim 1 wherein the head is fixed.

4. A massage device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the massage head includes a surface which contains shallow protuberances such as ridges, ribs or mounds.

5. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the massage head is flexible.

6. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the massage head comprises a component made from rubber, plastics, or fabric.

7. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the motor of the electric toothbrush is mains powered.

8. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the motor of the electric toothbrush has a rechargeable power source.

9. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the motor of the electric toothbrush is powered by one or more batteries.

10. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the motor of the electric toothbrush provides vibrational and/or rotational movement and/or oscillatory movement.

11. A massage device according to any one of the, preceding claims wherein the motor of the electric toothbrush provides translation movement.

12. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the motor of the electric toothbrush provides continuous movement.

13. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the motor of the electric toothbrush provides pulsed movement.

14. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising an intermediate shaft for positioning between the body of the electric toothbrush and the massage head.

15. A massage device according to claim 14 wherein the intermediate shaft converts the movement generated by the motor of the electric toothbrush from one mode to another.

16. A massage device according to claim 15 wherein the shaft converts the movement from rotational movement to vibrational movement and/or translational movement and/or oscillatory movement.

17. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the massage head converts the movement generated by the motor of the electric toothbrush from one mode to another.

18. A massage device according to claim 17 wherein the head converts the movement from rotational movement to vibrational movement and/or translational movement and/or oscillatory movement.

19. A massage device according to any one of the preceding claims for sexual stimulation.

20. A massage device substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A massage head for a massage device according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. A massage head substantially as described hereinabove and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A pack of massage heads according to claim 21 or claim 22.

24. An accessory for use with the massage head according to any one of claims 21 to 23 or the massage device according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

25. A kit of parts for a massage device comprising a body and a motor of an electric toothbrush, a massage head, said head being substantially smooth and devoid of bristles

26. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 25 further comprising a power source.

27. A kit of parts according to claim 25 or 26 further comprising an accessory for use therefore.

28. A kit of parts substantially as described hereinabove.