The invention relates to a stimulation device for stimulating sensitive body parts, in particular the clitoris, with a pressure field generating device which has at least one cavity with a first end and a second end remote from the first end, wherein the cavity is delimited by a circumferential side wall connecting its two ends to one another and the first end is provided with an application opening for placement on the sensitive body part, and a drive device which is designed to cause a change in the volume of the cavity such that a stimulating pressure field is generated in the application opening, wherein the cavity is closed on its second end, which is moved by the drive device alternately in the direction of the application opening and in the direction opposite thereto.
A device of the type mentioned above is known, for example, from EP 3 228 297 A1. In this known device, the second end of the cavity is closed with a membrane which is moved by the drive device alternately in the direction of the application opening formed in the first end of the cavity and in the direction opposite thereto. The reciprocal movement of the membrane causes a change in the volume of the antechamber, whereby a stimulating pressure field is generated in the application opening at the first end of the cavity. For the most efficient operation possible, the membrane is acted upon by the drive device with a reciprocal movement essentially at a right angle to the longitudinal extension of the membrane. During its reciprocal movement, the membrane undergoes deflection or deformation alternately toward and away from the second end of the cavity. Even if the use of a membrane has so far proven itself in practice, it has become apparent during the development of some new devices that the use of conventional membranes can reach their limits with regard to the design and function thereof. For example, conventional membranes cannot be bent arbitrarily. Rather, due to the design, the degree of deflection or deformation is limited, which then also limits the maximum amount of volume change and thus the maximum possible amplitude of the pressure waves of the stimulating pressure field resulting therefrom. Furthermore, existing spatial and/or design limitations with some new developments cause problems in the implementation of a conventional membrane.
It is an object of the present invention to improve a stimulation device of the type mentioned above compared to the prior art in such a way that the definition of the maximum amount of the volume change and thus the maximum amplitude of the pressure waves are not subject to any significant restrictions.
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to propose a stimulation device of the type mentioned with a design which is an alternative to the prior art and, at the same time, is simple and effective and which is not subject to the design and/or functional limitations present in the implementation of a conventional membrane.
These objects are achieved with a stimulation device for stimulating sensitive body parts, in particular the clitoris, with a pressure field generating device which has at least one cavity with a first end and a second end remote from the first end, wherein the cavity is delimited by a circumferential side wall connecting its two ends to one another and the first end is provided with an application opening for placement on the sensitive body part, and a drive device which is designed to cause a change in the volume of the cavity such that a stimulating pressure field is generated in the application opening, wherein the cavity is closed on its second end, which is moved by the drive device alternately in the direction of the application opening and in the direction opposite thereto, characterized in that the side wall in at least one section has a continuously circumferential structure, which is designed to be variable in length in such a way that the distance at any given point between the second end and the first end of the cavity can be changed between a minimum value and a maximum value.
With the help of the invention, the design measure responsible for the change in volume is shifted to the circumferential side wall delimiting the cavity and is implemented there in the form of an essentially continuously circumferential structure, which is designed to be variable in length in such a way that the distance at any given point between the second end and the first end of the cavity can be changed between a minimum value and a maximum value. The essentially continuously circumferential structure implemented in the side wall at least in sections ensures the desired change in volume for generating a stimulating pressure field in the application opening due to the fact that it is variable in length according to the invention. The length-variable structure in the side wall is not subject to any significant design restrictions, so that the desired maximum amount of volume change and thus the desired maximum amplitude of the pressure waves of the stimulating pressure field resulting therefrom can be realized without significant limitations. This is because the more variable the length of the structure, the higher the maximum volume change. In this context, it should also be noted that although the side wall delimits the cavity, it is also part of the cavity. The fact that the structure according to the invention is designed to be variable in length in such a way that the distance at any given point between the second end and the first end of the cavity can be changed between a minimum value and a maximum value means, on the one hand, that the distance at any given point between the second end and the first end of the cavity does not change during the change in length of the structure and thus remains constant, and, on the other hand, that the distance at any given point between the second end and the first end of the cavity is not necessarily changed in the same way.
Preferred refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.
Preferably, the side wall with its circumferential, length-variable structure is designed in such a way that the shape of the side wall remains essentially unchanged, apart from an elongation when the distance between the second end and the first end of the cavity changes from the minimum value to the maximum value and a compression when the distance between the second end and the first end changes from the maximum value to the minimum value. In this embodiment, the shape of the side wall with the length-variable structure inserted therein remains fundamentally recognizable during the change in length of the structure according to the invention, wherein only a change in the relative proportions results from the change in length.
In a structurally especially simple, preferred embodiment, essentially the entire side wall is formed by the circumferential, length-variable structure.
In an alternative preferred embodiment, the circumferential, length-variable structure is arranged at a distance from the first end of the cavity, and the side wall has a substantially pressure-resistant and tensile-resistant, preferably rigid, section between the circumferential, length-variable structure and the first end of the cavity. In this embodiment, the reciprocating motion generated by the drive device is transmitted to the length-variable structure via the second end of the cavity either directly or through the section of the side wall of the cavity between the length-variable structure and the second end.
In a preferred alternative embodiment, the circumferential, length-variable structure is arranged at a distance from the second end of the cavity, and the side wall has a substantially pressure-resistant and tensile-resistant, preferably rigid, section between the circumferential, length-variable structure and the second end of the cavity. In this embodiment, the reciprocating motion generated by the drive device is transmitted from the second end of the cavity to the length-variable structure via said section.
In a further preferred alternative embodiment, the circumferential length-variable structure is arranged adjacent to the second end of the cavity or is adjacent to the second end of the cavity. In this embodiment, the reciprocating motion generated by the drive device is transmitted from the second end of the cavity to the length-variable structure essentially directly.
Preferably, the circumferential, length-variable structure has a wall that can be expanded, at least in sections, in the longitudinal direction between the two ends of the cavity, which wall can consist in particular of elastic material. In this embodiment, the circumferential side wall of the cavity is designed entirely or at least partially in the manner of a longitudinally expandable sleeve that can be expanded in the longitudinal direction to change the volume of the cavity to increase the length thereof and contracted to reduce the length thereof. The lengthening and shortening is caused by the reciprocal movement with which the second end of the cavity is acted upon by the drive device. With such an embodiment, the desired maximum volume change can be defined in a structurally especially simple and simultaneously effective manner by alternately extending the side wall of the cavity in the region of the length-variable structure essentially in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the cavity defined between its first end and its second end, extended by elongation and shortened by compression.
In a refinement of the exemplary embodiment described above, the expandable wall is designed in such a way that, due to its elasticity, it is still under tension when the distance between the two ends of the cavity is at the minimum value. This results in a restoring force that ensures that the expandable wall returns to its initial state, in which the distance between the two ends of the cavity is at its minimum value. The advantage of this refinement is that the drive device only has to be supplied with corresponding energy to pull the expandable wall apart, while this is not the case for the movement in the opposite direction with a reduction in linear expansion, and the drive device can even be deactivated if necessary.
A preferred alternative embodiment is characterized in that the circumferential, length-variable structure has a zigzag-shaped wall, at least in sections, with circumferential wall sections directed alternately inwards and outwards and connected to one another via a fold line. In this embodiment, the structure is designed in the manner of a bellows, which is alternately pulled apart and compressed like an accordion between the first end and the second end of the cavity. Accordingly, the desired length and thus also the desired variability in length can be obtained depending on the number and/or dimensioning of the width of the individual wall sections. In particular, the circumferential wall section closest to the first end of the cavity should be delimited by a fold line closest to the first end of the cavity, and the circumferential wall section furthest from the first end of the cavity should be delimited by a fold line furthest away from the first end of the cavity, so that each circumferential wall section should be delimited by two fold lines.
In a refinement of this embodiment, the circumferential wall sections have the same width, viewed in the longitudinal direction between the two ends of the cavity.
In a further refinement, the fold lines each span a plane which is preferably essentially at a right angle to the longitudinal extension of the cavity between its two ends and/or to the direction in which the second end of the cavity is moved by the drive device.
A further refinement of the aforementioned embodiment is characterized in that the zigzag-shaped wall has at least two wall sections, of which the first wall section, which is furthest from the first end of the cavity, is directed outwards and the second wall section, which is adjacent to the first wall section, is directed inwards. As a result, it is not the inwardly directed second wall section that is directly acted upon by the reciprocal movement generated by the drive device, but rather the outwardly directed first wall section that is furthest away from the first end of the cavity, and it has been found that such a design works relatively quietly.
A further preferred exemplary embodiment is characterized in that the second end of the cavity is closed by a closure element which is coupled to the drive device and has a material which is less flexible or less resilient, preferably essentially rigid, than the circumferential, length-variable structure. With this embodiment, the reciprocal movement generated by the drive device is transferred to the length-variable structure in a structurally especially simple and simultaneously effective manner. In this embodiment, the second end of the cavity can also be partially or completely formed by the closure element.
In a structurally especially advantageous refinement of this embodiment, the circumferential, length-variable structure and the closure element together form a one-piece component.
An additional refinement of this embodiment is characterized in that the closure element essentially has the shape of a plate, which extends essentially at a right angle to the longitudinal extension of the cavity between its two ends and/or to the direction in which the second end of the cavity is moved by the drive device. With this refinement, any deflection of the second end of the cavity is excluded, as a result of which the loading of the length-variable structure with a reciprocal movement caused by the drive device can be achieved with especially little loss and effectively.
Furthermore, a support structure is preferably provided, which is arranged outside of the cavity on the outside of the side wall, at least in sections, in the region of its circumferential, length-variable structure. Such a support structure prevents, in a structurally especially simple and simultaneously effective manner, an unintentional deflection of the length-variable structure during the compression process and thus also an undesired widening of the cavity in the region of the length-variable structure, as a result of which the desired volume change can be defined and fixed in an especially precise manner.
In a refinement of the aforementioned embodiment, the support structure extends essentially over the entire length of the cavity and/or the support structure is essentially in the shape of a tube, as a result of which the desired support function of the support structure can be implemented in a structurally especially simple and simultaneously effective and reliable manner.
The pressure field should preferably consist of a pattern of relative underpressures and overpressures which are modulated onto a reference pressure, preferably normal pressure. Normal pressure is usually understood to mean the surrounding air pressure. However, if necessary, the reference pressure can also deviate significantly from the surrounding air pressure.
In a refinement of the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, the amount of the relative overpressure, based on the normal pressure, is less than the amount of the relative underpressure, based on the normal pressure, and is in particular no more than 10% of the amount of the relative underpressure, based on the normal pressure. Because it has been found that, under normal conditions of use, if the stimulation device is not subjected to excessive contact pressure when its application opening is placed on the body part to be stimulated, any relative overpressures that may occur are largely eliminated due to the flexibility of the body part to be stimulated because of soft tissue, so that the focus should be on a pressure field that is to be modulated predominantly in the underpressure region because of these rather factual considerations. For this reason, it is alternatively also conceivable that a pressure field from a pattern essentially only arises from relative underpressures, which are then modulated onto the reference pressure.
Preferably, the stimulation device can have no valves, which could otherwise cause unwanted contamination.
As an alternative to this last-mentioned embodiment, an embodiment is also fundamentally conceivable which has a pressure field generating device which has at least one cavity with a first end, which is provided with an application opening for placement on the sensitive body part, wherein the cavity is delimited by a circumferential side wall and a drive device which is designed to bring about a change in the volume of the cavity in such a way that a stimulating pressure field is generated in the application opening and is characterized in that the side wall adjacent to the first end of the cavity is provided with at least one check valve, which is designed to open when an overpressure occurs in the cavity but otherwise is to remain closed.
With this embodiment specified in claim 24, which alternatively also defines a further autonomous and thus independent inventive concept, the previously mentioned effect is taken into account, according to which any relative overpressures that may occur can be eliminated. The check valve, through which the overpressures are eliminated, ensures that the overpressures are essentially completely eliminated and the stimulation device is therefore operated completely in underpressure mode, in particular when the stimulation device is subjected to greater contact pressure when it is placed with its application opening on the body part to be stimulated.
The check valve can preferably be designed as a lip valve and/or, moreover, no further valves can be provided.
In a further preferred embodiment, the pressure field has an essentially sinusoidal-periodic pressure profile, for which purpose the drive device must bring about a regular change in the volume of the cavity, for example with the aid of an assembly comprising a rotary motor and an eccentric mechanism.
A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the cavity is formed by a single continuous chamber. A one-chamber arrangement realized with this exemplary embodiment is characterized by an especially simple and fluidically effective design. In terms of flow, a one-chamber arrangement is especially interesting because throttling effects, which occur in particular due to constrictions, are avoided. The one-chamber arrangement also has significant advantages with regard to hygiene requirements, since there are no constrictions that would otherwise divide the cavity into two or more chambers, so that no dirt particles can settle. For the same reason, the one-chamber arrangement is also much easier to clean.
In order to achieve a substantially uniform, unimpeded, and therefore effective air flow, it is advantageous if the circumferential side wall that delimits the cavity and connects its two ends to one another is free of points of discontinuity.
To ensure that the air flow rate is essentially unchanged or at least almost the same over the entire length of the cavity, the cross-section of the cavity defined transversely to its length between its two ends should preferably be essentially unchanged or at least almost the same, at least outside the circumferential, length-variable structure. The cross-section is preferably to be understood to mean the cross-sectional shape and/or the cross-sectional area.
Furthermore, the cavity can preferably essentially have the shape of a rotational body with a circular or elliptical cross-section and/or the shape of a continuous tube.
In order to utilize the effect of the air flow or the pressure waves at the application opening as fully as possible, the opening cross-section of the application opening should preferably essentially correspond to the cross-section of the cavity at its first end.
A control device can preferably be provided, which actuates the drive device and has at least one operating means, by means of which the respective modulation of the pressure field can be changed.
The stimulation device should expediently be designed as a hand-held device, preferably operated with a battery.
In the following, preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention will be detailed by means of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
In
A projection 4 projecting transversely to the longitudinal extension of the housing 2 is formed at the first end section 2a of the housing 2 and, together with the first end section 2a of the housing 2, forms a head of the pressure wave massage device 1, while the second end section of the housing 2 (not shown) is preferably used as a handle to hold the pressure wave massage device 1 during the application to be described in more detail below.
The housing 2 is preferably made of plastic and is composed of two half-shells in the direction of its longitudinal extension, one half-shell of which is provided with the projection 4 mentioned. The two half-shells of the housing 2, which are not identified in more detail in
As
As can also be seen in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the end of the annular element 15 adjacent to the second end 12b of the cavity 12 is adjoined by a circumferential structure 16.1, which is designed to be variable in length in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the cavity 12 according to double arrow Y, is arranged on or in the second end 12b of the cavity 12, or forms the second end 12b of the cavity 12, wherein the inner wall thereof simultaneously forms an inner section 14c of the side wall 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the length-variable structure 16.1 is designed in the manner of a sleeve and is closed by a closure element 18, which consists of a plate-shaped body that extends approximately at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the cavity 12. The common arrangement of the structure 16.1 and the closure element 18 is thus designed in the manner of a cap. Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the cavity 12, in the form of a continuous single chamber, is composed of the sleeve-shaped inner section 6b of the spout 6, the annular element 15, and the arrangement of the structure 16.1 and the closure element 18. In the exemplary embodiment shown in this case, the arrangement of the spout 6, the annular element 15, and the structure 16.1 is such that the three sections 14a, 14b, and 14c of the side wall 14 are aligned with one another, so that the side wall 14 of the cavity 12 is free of points of discontinuity, wherein, in this context, any inaccuracies in the figures are irrelevant.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cavity 12 is preferably essentially in the form of a rotational body with a circular or elliptical cross-section, wherein the cross-section of the cavity 12 defined transversely to its length between its two ends 12a, 12b is essentially constant, at least along the middle section 14b of its side wall 14, and widens only slightly towards the application opening 8 along the outer section 14a of its side wall 14, wherein the opening cross-section of the application opening 8 corresponds to the cross-section of the cavity 12, at least at its first end 12a.
Alternatively, it is also conceivable to design the outer section 14a of the side wall 14 formed by the sleeve-shaped inner section 6b of the spout 6 so that it is exactly aligned with the middle section 14b of the side wall 14 formed by the inner wall of the annular element 15, so that the cross-section of the cavity 12 in the region of the outer section 14a of the side wall 14 is equal to the cross-section in the region of the middle section 14b of the side wall 14. Furthermore, it is alternatively also conceivable to provide the cavity 12 with an angular, for example square, cross-section instead of a round cross-section. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the cavity 12 has the shape of a continuous tube which is oriented approximately transversely to the longitudinal extension of the housing 2 in the direction of its length.
The length-variable structure 16.1 is designed to be variable in length in such a way that the distance between the closure element 18 and thus also the second end 12b of the cavity 12 can be varied between a minimum value and a maximum value. For this purpose, the closure element 18 is driven by a drive device 20 which has a drive motor 22 and is designed such that the rotational movement of the output shaft 22a of the drive motor 22 is converted into a reciprocal longitudinal movement. For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the drive device 20 contains an eccentric assembly 24, which has an eccentric pin 24a arranged on the output shaft 22a of the drive motor 22, but at a radial distance from the axis of rotation of the output shaft 22a, and a connecting rod 24b, on which the eccentric pin 24a is movably mounted. At its end adjacent to the eccentric pin 24a, the connecting rod 24b is provided with a bore, not shown in more detail in
The reciprocal movement of the closure element 18 leads to a corresponding loading of the length-variable structure 16.1, which is alternately pulled apart and thus lengthened and compressed and thus shortened in accordance with the reciprocal movement of the closure element 18. This causes the volume of the cavity 12 to change between a minimum volume and a maximum volume, so that underpressures and overpressures alternate in the cavity 12 and thus a corresponding stimulating pressure field is generated in the application opening 8. In this context, it should also be noted that, instead of using a rotary motor and an eccentric assembly, other types of drives are essentially also conceivable in order to subject the closure element 18 and thus the length-variable structure 16.1 to a reciprocal movement, which can also be done, for example, electromagnetically, piezoelectrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the drive motor 22 is an electric motor that is connected to an electronic control circuit board 28 that actuates the drive motor 22. A battery, not shown in
As can also be seen schematically in
In addition to controlling the drive motor 22, the electronic control circuit board 28 also handles the charging management of the battery (not shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first wall section 40a, which is adjacent to the closure element 18 and thus the closest, is delimited by a fold line 40b provided between this wall section 40a and the closure element 18; and the third wall section 40a, which is adjacent to the connecting element 42, is delimited by a fold line 40b provided between this third wall section 40a and the connecting element 42; and the intermediate second wall section 40a is delimited by two fold lines 40b, of which one fold line 40b establishes the connection to the third wall section 40a, which is adjacent to the connecting element 42, and the other fold line 40b establishes the connection to the first wall section 40a, which is adjacent to the closure element 18. As
As can also be seen from
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the closure element 18 forms a plate-shaped body which extends essentially parallel to the previously mentioned planes spanned by the fold lines 40b and essentially at a right angle to the direction of reciprocal movement according to the double arrow X, with which reciprocal movement the closure element 18 and thus the length-variable structure 16.1 can be acted upon by the connecting rod 24b. As can also be seen in
In order to achieve the desired change in length, the wall 40 is provided with flexible or elastic material, at least in the region of the fold line 40b. For reasons of a simpler design, the entire wall 40 can preferably consist of flexible or elastic material. Silicone is preferably considered as such a material. In contrast, both the closure element 18 and the connecting element 42 consist of a less flexible or less yielding material, which is preferably essentially rigid, and which is in particular a suitable plastic. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
The length-variable structure 16.1 is shown in three different operating states in
As can also be seen in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the closure element 18 extends essentially parallel to the plane spanned by the application opening 8 and is subjected to a reciprocal movement essentially at a right angle thereto, which reciprocal movement is oriented essentially in the longitudinal direction of the cavity 12 according to the double arrow Y shown in
A second embodiment of the pressure wave massage device 1 is shown in
The length-variable structure 16.2 according to the second embodiment differs from the length-variable structure 16.1 according to the first embodiment only in that only two wall sections 40a are provided, both of which are directed inwards.
A third embodiment of the pressure wave massage device 1 is shown in
Specifically, the length-variable structure 16.3 according to the third embodiment differs from length-variable structures 16.1 and 16.2 according to the first and second embodiments in that the wall 40 is not designed in a zigzag shape, but essentially extends straight, parallel to, or in the direction of the reciprocal movement indicated by double arrow X, and is designed to be expandable. In this embodiment, the circumferential wall 40 thus forms a longitudinally expandable sleeve which, in order to change the volume of the cavity 12, can be expanded in the longitudinal direction, which increases its length to the state shown in
The expandable wall 40 of the length-variable structure 16.3 is preferably made of elastic material and is designed in such a way that, due to its elasticity, it is still under tension when the distance between the closure element 18 and the connecting element 42 is at its minimum value. This results in a restoring force that ensures that the expandable wall 40 returns to its initial state, in which the distance between the second end 12b and the first end 12a of the cavity 12 assumes the minimum value according to the state shown in
As can also be seen from
The pressure wave massage device 1 described according to the embodiments shown in
A distinction is made between sealed operation, open operation, and so-called half-open operation.
During sealed operation, the spout 6 is placed on the body part to be stimulated in such a way that air exchange with the environment does not take place. In this operating state, the movement of length-variable structure 16.1, 16.2, or 16.3 causes pressure waves that change over time, preferably periodically, and that act in the entire cavity 12. The pressure waves are essentially isotropic and thus also affect the body part to be stimulated. In contrast, there is essentially no air flow.
The open operation is characterized in that an exchange of air takes place between the cavity 12 and the environment. In this operating state, the spout 6 is placed on the body part to be stimulated in such a way that the application opening 8 only partially encloses the body part to be stimulated and at least one gap-shaped intermediate space remains free between at least one section of the application opening 8 and at least one section of the body part to be stimulated, whereby air can escape from the cavity 12 into the environment. In this operating state, air can also be suctioned from the environment into the cavity 12, so that, in this case, there is a regular exchange of air and the air is moved reciprocally within the cavity 12 in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the cavity 12, as is indicated by double arrow Y in
Finally, a so-called half-open operation is also conceivable, in which, after the spout 6 has initially been completely placed on the body part to be stimulated, no excessively strong contact pressures are exerted, so that, due to a flexibility of the body part to be stimulated, as already mentioned, any relative overpressures can be eliminated; whereas, after an underpressure has developed in the cavity 12 upon movement of length-variable structure 16.1, 16.2, or 16.3 in the direction away from the application opening 8, the sections of the body part to be stimulated that have been opened by the overpressure are pulled back to the application opening 8 due to the suction effect thereby formed, and thus the body part to be stimulated completely closes the application opening 8 again. In this case, the body part to be stimulated acts in the manner of a check valve. In half-open operation, the overpressures are considerably lower than in sealed operation, while the underpressures can be of a similar order of magnitude as in sealed operation. Experience has shown that half-open operation is the most common application.
Since, as already described above, the cross-section of the cavity 12 remains essentially almost the same, at least in the region of the outer section 14a and the middle section 14b of the side wall 14, this means that, in open operation, the air flow rate in both directions is essentially constant, at least there; and in half-open operation, this means that the air flow rate also remains essentially the same, at last there, in the direction of the application opening 8. In this way, an especially effective air flow can be generated in these operating states for effective stimulation of the body part to be stimulated with relatively little energy consumption by the drive motor 22.
The previously mentioned control circuit board 28 preferably has a memory, also not shown in the figures, in which different modulation patterns are stored for the generation of pressure waves and the vibration. A desired modulation pattern can then be selected for operation by appropriate operation of the rocker switch 30.
As can also be seen in
Irrespective of the optional use of the check valve 100 described above, no further valves should preferably be provided.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2020 115 262.0 | Jun 2020 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2021/065526 | 6/9/2021 | WO |