Patent Application
20120083721
None
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention is a battery operated, motor driven stimulating and rejuvenating pad for application to various areas of a user. The stimulating effects of the pad are intended to reinvigorate the skin, giving the user a more youthful, energetic appearance. Stimulating and rejuvenating devices are known in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,859 to Prehodka discloses a massager for producing vibratory massage motion including a base structure, a support plate with a contact surface and a mounting surface, and resilient mounts for coupling the support plate to the base structure. At least one rotator structure is associated with the contact surface of the support plate and includes massage members. A motor is attached to the mounting surface of the support plate and manifests a first direction rotary output and a counter direction rotary output. A gear structure couples the motor to the at least one rotator structure to cause rotary movement thereof, upon actuation of the motor. Although this device includes a contact surface with massage members, the contact surface is of a uniform shape, and is unable to contour to the body of a user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,985 to Feng discloses a health massage device including a fixing frame enclosed within an elastic material, and an oscillating device installed on the frame. A control switch is installed on a panel situated on said elastic material, the control switch being arranged to switch between an audio control mode in which a strength of oscillations of said massager is controlled by an audio signal input through an audio input jack, and an internal signal control mode in which the oscillating device is caused to oscillate in response to an internal fixed or variable internal signal source. Although this device discloses an elastic material with vibrating massaging functions, it cannot contour to the body, and fails to disclose the silicon covered spheres of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,092 to Marshal et al discloses an electro mechanical system for stimulating the human scalp including a rigid helmet adapted to be placed upon the head of a patient to be treated, with an internal pad comprising integral, stimulating finger members which directly contact the scalp of the patient. A vibration motor housed within the helmet communicates mechanically with the pad to gently vibrate same to stimulate the scalp. Although this device is designed to contour to an area of the body, it cannot be used on areas other than the head. Also, the device does not have the self-contained battery and motor of the present invention.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a self-contained stimulating and rejuvenating device that is pliable and portable. A further object of the present invention is to provide a series of stimulating spheres under a layer of hypoallergenic silicone, which vibrate through the use of a quiet coin-sized motor. Finally it is an object of the present invention to provide a battery powered control for each device. These and other objects will become apparent in light of the appended summary, description and claims.
The present invention comprises an improved device for stimulating and rejuvenating various areas of the body, including the brow, areas around the eyes, contours of the arms and legs, and the hands. Although specific embodiments of the device are designed for different areas of the body, all embodiments are comprised of the same elements.
In all embodiments the device is made from a sheet of flexible pliable material, and formed into the proper shape for covering an area of the user's body. A series of holes arrayed across the surface of the material are sized to accommodate a series of uniformly sized acrylic spherical members. The spherical members are larger in diameter than the holes, permitting them to be held in place without falling through the holes.
The spherical members are further anchored in place by a silicone sheet placed over the spherical members and adhered to them and the flexible material. Because of the small size of the holes, the spherical members protrude into the silicone sheet to a greater degree than through the holes of the flexible sheet, creating an array of pressure points on the silicone side of the device. In one preferred embodiment, the flexible sheet and silicon sheet are of the same thickness.
A coin sized vibrating low frequency motor, or series of motors is disposed between the flexible sheet and the silicone sheet, causing the entire sheet to vibrate when activated. Because of their small size, the motors can vibrate while generating very little sound. The vibrations caused by the motors are low frequency; in the 10 to 50 Hz range. The motor is powered by a battery attached to the side of each device. A series of wires connecting the motor to the battery are disposed between the silicone sheet and flexible sheet. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the eye covering member is fitted into a blind which is worn by the user.
Various embodiments of the invention for application to the brow, thighs and abdomen, and hands have the motor disposed as centrally as possible, with wires extending to a battery and on/off case adjacent to the device. Additionally, other embodiments for application to the arms, calves, and other areas of the body are contemplated. The battery and on/off switch may control one or multiple sheets covering different areas of the body, or a single battery and on/off source may comprise a switch board for controlling multiple devices with the same battery unit. In one preferred embodiment, the devices are held against the person of a user by an expandable belt, or a belt with a fastening means, including a buckle.
The present invention comprises an improved device for stimulating and rejuvenating the brow, areas around the eyes and contours of the body; including the hands. Although different embodiments of the device are designed for different areas of the body, all embodiments are comprised of the same elements. The embodiment covering the eyes of a user is exemplary.
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In other embodiments of the invention, the battery and on/off switch may control one or multiple sheets covering different areas of the body. In yet another embodiment, a single battery and on/off source may comprise a switch board for controlling multiple devices with the same battery unit. In one preferred embodiment, the devices are held against the person of a user by an expandable belt, or a belt with a fastening means, including a buckle. In the embodiment of the device for covering the legs of a user, it is anticipated that the sheet will be at least nine inches in width. It is anticipated that in any embodiment, use of the device for 15 minutes per day will result in increased musculature, and rejuvenated skin. In preferred embodiments, wherein the device is used for toning the skin of the arms, the stomach or the thighs of a user, 30 minutes of use per day is anticipated.
All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.
