Patent Application
20230301867
The present invention relates to a percussive massage device including a piston and an amplitude adjustment system to control a distance a piston travels.
Percussion massage, also referred to as tapotement, is a rhythmic percussive striking of areas of the human body. Percussion massage can include hitting, slapping, tapping, or cupping the areas to “wake up” the nervous system and strengthen deep-tissue muscle. The percussion massage can be applied by devices that include a motor connected to a reciprocating piston that creates the percussion massage treatment. A percussive massage device may include a plurality of user-selectable frequency settings that define how often the applicator strikes the area of the human body. Conventionally, the percussive massage device includes a factory-set distance that the applicator travels that is not adjustable by a user.
The following is a brief summary of subject matter that is described in greater detail herein. This summary is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the claims.
The present application provides a percussive massage device that includes an amplitude adjustment system permitting a user to select a travel distance of a percussive applicator. More particularly, the amplitude adjustment system includes user-selectable amplitude settings that correspond to different travel distances. The percussive massage device includes a motor and a piston that reciprocates motion of the motor to generate the percussion. The piston travels along a travel path based on the motor motion and the amplitude adjustment system can be used to define the travel path. The percussive applicator is attachable to the piston and by controlling the travel distance of the piston, the amplitude adjustment system controls the travel distance of the percussive applicator. The percussive massage device further includes structure permitting the user to select from the user-selectable amplitude settings. Selectably controlling a percussive applicator's travel distance is advantageous in that the user can select a desired depth of the percussive massage. For instance, the user can select a first amplitude setting for a deep tissue percussive massage while the user can select a second amplitude setting for a short massage depth. In one example, significantly shortening the travel distance the percussion massage device can cause it to function like a vibrating massage device.
The percussive massage device may further include a speed control system configured to control movement of the motor. The motor can include a rotatable shaft and the speed control system can control how fast the rotatable shaft rotates. The percussive massage device may additionally include structure permitting the user to select a desired frequency for the percussion applicator and the speed control system uses this information to select a rotation speed for the rotatable shaft which is reciprocated by movement of the piston. Because the frequency is a function of both speed and distance, changes to the travel path impact the frequency. To that end, the speed control system may be configured to use the selected amplitude setting to set the rotation speed of the motor in order to maintain a selected frequency regardless of the size of the travel path.
The percussive massage device may further include device body that includes a first portion defining a housing that retains at least a portion of the motor, the piston, the amplitude adjustment system, and/or the speed control system. The device body may further include a second portion defining a handle for holding, by the user, while applying the percussive massage.
According to an aspect of the invention, the amplitude adjustment system can comprise a ratchet and pin system. The ratchet and pin system may include a pin that revolves about a revolution axis, a ratchet attached to the pin, and at least one pawl. A radial distance of the pin from the revolution axis is defined by the interaction of the ratchet and the at least one pawl. The radial distance of the pin from the revolution axis controls the distance the pin travels. The amplitude adjustment system can further include an adjustment system that engages and disengages the at least one pawl at the ratchet to permit the user to select different amplitude settings.
According to an aspect of the invention, the amplitude adjustment system can comprise a linkage system including a plurality of interlinked bars. The linkage system can include at least one fixed pivot point in the percussive massage device and at least one linkage movable with respect to the fixed pivot point, wherein the position of the at least one linkage with respect to the pivot point controls the distance the piston travels.
According to an aspect of the invention, a percussive massage device includes a motor including a rotatable shaft a piston configured to reciprocate rotation of the rotatable shaft where velocity of the piston is a function of a rotation speed of the rotatable shaft, an amplitude adjustment system having user-selectable settings where the amplitude adjustment system controls a distance the piston travels, and a speed control system configured to control the rotation speed of the rotatable shaft.
According to an aspect of the invention, an amplitude adjustment system includes a first portion in communication with a motor, where the motor includes a rotatable shaft, and a second portion in communication with a piston of a percussive massage device, where the piston is configured to reciprocate rotation of the rotatable shaft, wherein velocity of the piston is a function of a rotation speed of the rotatable shaft, where the amplitude adjustment system has user-selectable settings that control a distance the piston travels.
The above presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not an extensive overview of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. Nor is it intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/or methods.
Aspects of the present application pertain to a percussive massage device are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that such aspect(s) may be practiced without these specific details.
In reference to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as, top, bottom, left, right, up, down, upper, lower, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, may be used. Such directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the features described herein in any manner. It is to be understood that embodiments presented herein are by way of example and not by way of limitation. The intent of the following detailed description, although discussing exemplary embodiments, is to be construed to cover all modifications, alternatives, and equivalents of the embodiments as may fall within the spirit and scope of the features described herein.
Moreover, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from the context, the phrase “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, the phrase “X employs A or B” is satisfied by any of the following instances: X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to a singular form. Additionally, as used herein, the term “exemplary” is intended to mean serving as an illustration or example of something and is not intended to indicate a preference.
Disclosed is a percussive massage device that includes a system permitting a user to select an applicator travel distance (i.e., amplitude). The disclosed system permits the user to define a travel path of a piston that reciprocates motor motion to generate the percussion. By defining the travel path of the piston, the user can select how deep the percussive massage can be applied. For example, a larger amplitude setting can result in a deeper tissue massage.
Turning to
In one embodiment, illustrated in
In addition, the motor 102 may be brushed or brushless, may of various phases (such as single-phase, two-phase, etc.), and may be cooled by any suitable manner (e.g., air-cooled and/or liquid-cooled).
The piston 104 is configured to move along the travel path reciprocating the movement of the motor 102, e.g., the rotation the rotatable shaft 102. In one embodiment, the piston 104 can be configured to travel along a travel path in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft 110. The piston 104 can move linearly along an axis and/or the path can be curved or include multiple angles, as desired. As will be described in detail below, the length of this path can be adjusted using the amplitude adjustment system 106. Additionally, or alternatively, the piston 104 can be configured to rotate in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft 110.
Because the piston 104 reciprocates the movement of the motor 102, the movement of the piston 104 changes when the movement of the motor 102 changes. For instance, a velocity of the piston 104 along the travel path is dependent on the rotation speed of the rotatable member 110. An increase in the rotations per minute of the rotatable shaft 110 causes a corresponding increase in the velocity of the piston 104, and vice versa.
The speed control system 108 is configured to control the speed of the motor (e.g., the rotation speed of the rotatable member 110) and, by extension, the velocity of the piston 104. As will be described in detail below, a user can employ the speed control system 108 to select how frequently the piston 104 moves along the travel path.
As mentioned above, the amplitude adjustment system 106 controls the distance the piston 104 travels. More particularly, the amplitude adjustment system 106 can define a length of the travel path. The amplitude adjustment system 106 can be configured to permit a user to select electronically and/or mechanically from the user-selectable amplitude settings, as will be described in detail below.
Turning now to
The applicator may be any suitable type, for example, a first size spherical ball, a second larger size spherical ball, a paddle, a prong, a cone, hammer-like head, and/or the like. As shown in
In
Turning next to
The battery 300 is in communication with a motor 304 to provide power thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor 304 is retained in an upper portion 204; but may be retained at any suitable location within the device 202, such as in the lower portion 206 or between the housing 208 and the handle 210 or adjacent a side of the housing 208. The housing 208 may further include an airflow portion 306 to permit outside airflow into the housing 208. For example, the airflow portion 306 may include plurality of heat vents formed to prevent overheating of the battery 300, motor 304, and/or corresponding electronics, such as a printed circuit board, during operation.
The motor 304 drives movement of a piston 308 that is movably retained at an end 310 of the housing 208. As noted above, the piston 308 reciprocates movement of the motor 304 (e.g., rotation of the rotatable shaft 110) and follows a travel path. In the illustrated embodiment, the piston 308 and the housing 208 are configured such that the travel path of the piston 308 extends linearly along a reciprocation axis A.
As noted above, the percussive massage device 200 further includes an amplitude adjustment system 312 that defines a length of the travel path of the piston 308. The amplitude adjustment system 312 can be connected to the motor 304 and/or the piston 308. In the illustrated embodiment, the amplitude adjustment system 312 is attached to the motor 304 and a bar 314 connects the amplitude adjustment system 312 to the piston 308.
Turning now to
Turning now to
The ratchet 402 includes a plurality of notches 404 that correspond to a plurality of radial distances and the ratchet and pin system includes a pawl 406 to engage a notch 404. The ratchet 402 can include any suitable number of notches 404 in any suitable arrangement on the ratchet 402. In the illustrated embodiment, the ratchet 402 includes six notches 404 that are arranged adjacently on a side of the ratchet 402. In another embodiment, the notches can be spaced apart at different quadrants of the ratchet 402.
In the illustrated embodiment, the ratchet and pin system include a single pawl 406; however, it is conceivable that multiple pawls may be employed. The notch 404 and the pawl 406 are shaped to form a locking engagement to maintain a user-selected radial distance during rotation of the motor 304. More particularly, the illustrated pawl 406 comprises a curved shape ending in a point that engages a corresponding section in the notch 404.
The ratchet and pin system further includes structure to latch and unlatch the pawl 406 from the notch 404 in the ratchet 402. In the illustrated embodiment, the structure consists of a peg 408 and a spring 410. The spring 410 can be pre-compressed such that when the spring 410 is attached to the peg 408 at one end and the pawl 406 at the other end, the expansion of the spring 410 drives the pawl 406 into the notch 404. The spring 410 can be further compressed to remove the pawl 406 from the notch 404. The ratchet 402 can then be moved and the spring 410 released so that the pawl 406 engages a second notch 404.
In another embodiment, the spring 410 provides a constant engagement between the pawl 406 and the ratchet 402. In order to adjust the setting of the pawl 406, the pin 400 on the ratchet 402 is fixed (such as via a piston locking mechanism) and the motor 304 is rotated. Because the pin 400 is fixed in place, rotation of the motor 304 causes the pawl 406 to click through the different notches 404 until a particular notch 404 is selected.
The percussive massage device 200 may further includes structure that permits the user to adjust the amplitude setting, e.g., which notch 404 the pawl 406 engages. For instance, the percussive massage device 200 may include a dial on the side of the device body 202 that can be used to rotate the ratchet 402 so the pawl 406 engages different notches 404. In another example, the percussive massage device 200 further includes a button that disengages the pawl 406 from a notch 404 and the user rotates the ratchet 402 (e.g., via a dial) and releases the button to allow the pawl 406 to engage a selected notch 404. In yet another example, the percussive massage device 200 may include a user interface that comprises a touch screen or a button(s) that a user employs to electronically select an amplitude setting. In this example, the percussive massage device 200 may include a solenoid to lock a percussion mechanism (e.g., the piston 308) in place and work with the motor 304 to cause the amplitude adjustment system 312 to cycle through the amplitude settings.
Turning now to
Turning now to
The linkage system 702 is configured to rotate with respect to a pivot point within the percussive massage device 700 while translating the motion the motor 706. A position of a linkage with respect to the pivot point can define a movement path of the linkage system 702 and, by extension, the travel path of the piston 704.
A third bar 708c connects the second bar 708b to the piston 704 such that movement of the second bar 708b drives movement of the piston 704. The second bar 708b and the third bar 708c are connected together in any suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the third bar 708c is connected to the second bar 708b at a second linkage 714.
A fourth bar 708d connects the motor 706 to the second bar 708b causing rotation of the second bar 708b about the first linkage 712 in response to movement of the motor 706. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment the fourth bar 706d is connected to a rotatable shaft 716 of the motor 706 at a third linkage 718 positioned to travel in a circle as the rotatable shaft 716 rotates. The movement of the third linkage 718 causes the second bar 708b to pivot about the first linkage 712, via the fourth bar 708d. The pivoting of the second bar 708b causes the third bar 708c to move driving the piston 704 along the travel path.
Similar to the embodiment described above with respect to
Turning to the embodiment illustrated in
In
Turning now to embodiment illustrated in
As previously noted above, the amplitude adjustment system 106 includes user-selectable settings permitting a user of the percussive massage device 100 to select a distance the piston 104 travels. The percussive massage device 100 can further include one or more structures that permit the user to adjust the amplitude adjustment system 106 to select the distance of the travel path. Any suitable structure(s) may be employed and may depend on the type of amplitude adjustment system 106 used.
For instance, the percussive massage device 600 includes the trigger 608 as an interface to control the amplitude adjustment system 700. As can be seen more clearly in
In another example, illustrated in
As briefly mentioned above, the percussive massage device 100 includes a speed control system 108 that controls a movement of the motor 102. For instance, the speed control system 108 can control the rotation speed (e.g., rotations per minute (rpm)) of the rotatable shaft of the motor 102. Because the speed of the piston 104 along the travel path is a function of speed of the motor 102, the speed control system 108 additionally controls the speed of the piston 104. In one embodiment, the user selects the speed of the motor, and the speed control system simply adjusts the motor speed according to user input, e.g., speed 1, speed 2, speed 3, etc. In one embodiment, the speed control system 108 may be capable of allowing the user to select frequency, e.g., a beats per minute (bpm) of how often the piston 104 reaches the travel path end, independent of piston 104 travel path length, which is based on the rpm of the motor as an alternative to selecting motor speed.
The speed control system 108 may be further configured to adjust speed of the motor 102 in order to maintain a selected frequency regardless of a selected amplitude. A first speed for a first travel path size results in a first bpm for the piston 104, while the first speed for a different second travel path size would result in a second bpm for the piston 104. Accordingly, in order to maintain a selected bpm, the speed control system 108 may receive information regarding the selected bpm and a selected amplitude and use that information to select a speed of the motor 102. The speed control system 108 can then change the speed of the motor 102 to maintain the selected bpm when a different amplitude is selected. The speed control system 108 may include and/or be part of a printed circuit board that is in communication with the motor 102, the power source for the motor 102 (e.g., battery 300), and/or the structure for selecting the bpm of the piston 104.
In an embodiment, illustrated in
The percussive massage device may further include an indicator(s) of a selected motor speed, frequency and/or amplitude setting. For instance, the structure for controlling the amplitude adjustment system and/or the speed control system may further include a display. For example, the structure can include a light emitting diode (LED) display that displays a selected setting. In another example, the structure can include one or more individual lights that can indicate via illumination and/or color a selected setting.
All of the percussive massage devices described herein may be further configured to receive and retain an applicator to enable a user to apply the percussive massage. As noted above, the applicator can be removably retained by the percussive massage device allowing a user to attach a variety of different applicators to apply different types of percussive massage. In an example, the piston 104 can include an indentation configured to hold the applicator while applying the percussive massage.
What has been described above includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable modification and alteration of the above devices or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned aspects, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further modifications and permutations of various aspects are possible. Accordingly, the described aspects are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
