Patent Application
20070185420
The present document relates to a massage apparatus, and more particularly to a massage apparatus having a controller device.
In one embodiment, a massage apparatus comprises a controller device, the controller device including a body having a control panel operatively associated with a power source, and a plurality of massage actuators, each of the plurality of massage actuators being adapted to provide a massage function and including a vibratory component for providing the massage function, each of the plurality of massage actuators having a cable being adapted to permit engagement or disengagement of any one of the plurality of massage actuators to or from the controller device.
In another embodiment, the massage apparatus comprises a controller device, the controller device including a body having a control panel for controlling the operation of the massage device with the control panel being operatively associated with a power source, and a massage actuator for providing a massage function, the massage actuator including a vibratory component for providing the massage function and a cable adapted for operative engagement with the controller device for controlling the operation of the massage actuator, wherein the controller device is adapted to permit operative disengagement of the massage actuator as well as permit operative engagement of another massage actuator to said controller device.
In yet another embodiment, the massage apparatus comprises a controller device, the controller device including a body having a control panel for controlling the operation of the massage apparatus, the control panel being operatively associated with a power source, and a plurality of massage actuators for providing a massage function, each of the plurality of massage actuators being adapted to permit operative engagement with the controller device for providing the massage function.
In another embodiment, a method for exchanging massage actuators comprises:
a) providing a massage apparatus comprising a controller device, the controller device including a body having a control panel operatively associated with a power source, and a massage actuator for providing a massage function, the massage actuator including a vibratory component for providing the massage function and a cable operatively engaged to the controller device;
b) disengaging the cable from the controller device of the massage apparatus; and
c) engaging a cable from another massage actuator to the controller device.
Implementation of the above embodiments may include one or more of the following features:
The cable includes a DC jack for operative engagement with the controller device.
The cable further includes a screw nut for engaging the cable to said controller device.
The vibratory component includes a motor having a rotatable shaft operatively engaged to an eccentric mass for generating the vibration function.
The cable is flexible.
The cable includes a DC jack and a screw nut arrangement for operatively engaging the controller device to the massage actuator.
The body further includes a threaded circular portion adapted to engaged the screw nut when operatively engaging the controller device to the massage actuator.
The body including an upper casing engaged to a lower casing.
A sealing element is interposed between the upper casing and the lower casing.
The body includes electronics in operative association with the control panel, the electronics being operatively associated with the cable when the cable is operatively engaged to the controller device.
The step of disengaging the cable from the controller device includes rotating the screw nut and disengaging the DC jack and the screw nut from the controller device.
The another massage actuator includes another cable having another screw nut and another DC jack.
The step of engaging the cable from the another massage actuator to the controller device includes rotating the another screw nut and engaging the another DC jack from the controller device.
Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows or will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and detailed description which follows.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings.
Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the massage apparatus is illustrated and generally indicated as 10 in
As further shown, the flexible cable 20 may include a screw nut 38 with a center hole 101 (
Referring to
Referring to
The control panel 46 may include an operational indicator 62 and membrane switches 64, 66 defined on a transparent plastic overlay 49 that communicates with a push button 56 and push button 58 which are operatively engaged with a printed circuit board 52. In particular, the plastic overlay 49 may be engaged inside a recess 96 defining holes 98 and aperture 100 such that the operational indicator 62 corresponds with aperture 100 while membrane switches 64 and 66 correspond with holes 98, respectively.
The aperture 100 may communicate with a light emitting diode (not shown) operatively associated with the printed circuit board 52 such that a visual indication is given to the user through operational indicator 62 related to the operational state of the massage actuator 12. As noted above, the printed circuit board 52 includes push buttons 56 and 58 that may communicate through holes 98 for actuation by respective membrane switches 64 and 66 that control various operations of the massage actuator 12. Each of the push buttons 56 and 58 are engaged to switch caps 69 that facilitate the respective actuation of push buttons 56 and 58 by the membrane switches 64 and 66.
As further shown, the printed circuit board 52 may include a power socket 54 that is operatively associated with a circular portion 68 having external threads 108 defined by controller body 18. Referring to
The top and back casings 34, 36 collectively house batteries 32 that provide power to the massage apparatus 10. The batteries 32 may be operatively engaged to a conductive plate 88 as well as conductive plates 90 and 92 that each have a metallic spring for contacting batteries 32. The conductive plates 88, 90 and 92 are secured to the top casing 34 and may be electrically connected to printed circuit board 52 for defining an electrical circuit. During assembly, the back casing 36 along with the printed circuit board 52 may be secured to the top casing 34 by a set of screws 152 inserted through holes 136, 138 and 140, respectively. In addition, holes 136, 138 and 140 may be adapted to receive resilient rubber plugs 128 for providing a water tight seal at holes 136, 138 and 140 and for encasing screws 152 after the top casing 34 is engaged to the bottom casing 36.
In one embodiment, the top casing 34 may define an indentation 102 sized and shaped to affix a name plate 142 having a mark or identity of the manufacturer on the massage apparatus 10.
To encase the batteries 32 within the massage apparatus 10, a battery cover 42 may have one end pivotally engaged to the back casing 36 by a pin 150 while another end of battery cover 42 is adapted to engage a clamping arrangement for opening and closing the battery cover 42 as shall be discussed below.
Referring to
As further shown, the battery cover 42 may define an undercut recess 72 adapted to engage a flange 116 defined by a locking hook 50. The locking hook 50 also defines an extension 78 that may include a hole 114 with locking hook 50 being adapted to engage one end of battery cover 42 to the front casing 34. In addition, the locking hook 50 may be pivotally connected to a clamping arm 48. Specifically, clamping arm 48 may define holes 118, 120 and 122 for pivotally connecting the clamping arm 48 to the locking hook 50 and front casing 34. Hole 114 of locking hook 50 is adapted to be in registration with holes 120 of clamping arm 48 such that a pin 146 can be inserted through holes 114 and 120, thereby providing a pivoting connection between the locking hook 50 and clamping arm 48. In addition, front casing 34 may define holes 110 and 112 adapted to be in registration with holes 118 and 122, respectively, of clamping arm 48 such that a pin 144 may be inserted through holes 110 and 118, while a pin 148 may be inserted through holes 112 and 122, thereby providing a pivoting connection between the clamping arm 48 and front casing 34. In addition, the front casing 34 may define an indentation 104 at one end that provides a recessional space for placing the clamping arm 48 in a locking position. This structural arrangement may then provide a toggle arrangement for securing the battery cover 42 to controller device 14.
As further shown, front casing 34 may define a battery chamber 74 adapted to receive a plurality of batteries 32 for providing a power source for massage apparatus 10. A sealing element 44 may be adapted to engage a peripheral slot 132 (
Referring to
In one embodiment, a method of exchanging one massage actuator 12 having a vibratory component 16 for another massage actuator 12 having a different vibratory component 16A or 16B may include the steps of disengaging the cable 20 of vibratory component 16 by rotating the screw nut 38 and disengaging the DC jack 40 and screw nut 38 from the circular portion 68 of the controller body 18. Once disengaged, another massage actuator 20, having either vibratory component 16A or 16B, may then be engaged to the controller body 18 by engaging the DC jack 40 of another massage actuator 20 to the circular portion 68 and then rotating the screw nut 38 such that the screw nut 38 becomes engaged to the circular portion 68. It is contemplated that the above embodiment is not restricted to vibratory components 16A or 16B and that a massage actuator 20 having other types of vibratory components 16 may be utilized.
It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.
