Patent Application
20220062091
A handheld massager is a device that typically includes a massaging head for applying pressure to an area of the body for the purpose of relieve muscle stiffness. Handheld massagers are usually small enough to be held by a user's hand for self-administered massages. Several high-end handheld massagers currently on the market provide a jackhammer motion. Users often find the jackhammer motion provided by these handheld massagers to be painful. Cheaper handheld massagers typically provide a vibrational motion. These cheaper massagers often do not provide effective massaging motion for relieving muscle stiffness.
This invention is directed to a handheld massaging system that includes a handle unit, multiple head units and a charging platform. The system delivers a wireless massaging experience with multiple massaging motions and intensity levels provided by different head units. The massaging motions provided by the handheld massaging system include kneading and spinning motions. The charging platform provides a way to charge the handle unit and store the head units in an organized, aesthetically pleasing manner.
The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present teachings, by way of example only, not by way of limitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. Furthermore, it should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and/or circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.
This invention is directed to a handheld massaging system 100 that includes a handle unit 110, multiple head units 121-123, and a charging platform 105, as shown in
Handle unit 110 can be detachably coupled to one of the head units 121-123 through an output interface. The output interface provides mechanical output to the head units 121-123 to produce massaging motions. Handle unit 110 includes selection mechanisms for users to control the massaging motion by varying the mechanical output to head units 121-123. Handle unit 110 can also include indicator lights and display to provide information to users on varies states of the device and other information. Handle unit 110 may also receive signals from head units 121-123. These signals may include information such as states of head units 121-123, and signals and data from sensors of head units 121-123.
In one embodiment, handle unit 110 may present information on the display and indicator lights based on the received signals from head units 121-123. For example, handle unit 110 may receive signals from head units 121-123 that indicates muscle tension as sensed by the sensors of head units 121-123 and present information about muscle tension in the display. Users may then take this information into account in using and adjusting handheld massaging system 100.
In another embodiment, handle unit 110 may be configured to dynamically adjust the massaging motions based on sensor input, such as based on sensed muscle tension. For example, handle unit 110 may receive signals from head units 121-123 that indicates muscle tension as sensed by the sensors of head units 121-123 and automatically adjust the mechanical output to head units 121-123 based on sensed muscle tension as indicated by the received signals. In this manner, handheld massaging system 100 would be able to provide an amount of massaging motion consistent with sensed muscle tension and to dynamically adjust the massaging motion as muscle tension changes, such as when moving from one part of the body with low muscle tension to high muscle tension or when muscle tension eases in a given massaging session.
Head units 121-123 is configured to detachably coupled to handle unit 110 and to receive mechanical input through an input interface. Head units 121-123 can produce massaging motions from the mechanical input. These massaging motions may include a spinning motion and a kneading motion on the contact surface of head units 121-123. Head units 121-123 may also include a sensor for sensing muscle tension. Handheld massaging system 100 can be configured to provide the spinning motion and the kneading motion one at a time or both simultaneously.
Charging platform 105 is configured to provide electricity to handle unit 110 and to provide docking interfaces for head units 121-123. Charging platform 105 may also be configured to receive signals from handle unit 110 and head units 121-123 and to communicate with online services, such as through the Internet via a network like wifi, GSM, and the like.
Selector 216 is used to receive control user inputs for the operation on handle unit 110. It may be implemented as a power button such that handle unit 110 can be turned on or off in response to button activation. The power button may be pressed multiple times to select intensity levels. Selector 216 can also be implemented as a dial selector for varying the mechanical output of handle unit 110 such that intensity of the massaging motion produced by head units 121-123 can be controlled by turning the dial.
Handle unit 110 may also include a separate selector for selecting the type of massaging output to be provided, such as a spinning output for creating a spinning motion at head units 121-123 or a kneading output for creating a kneading motion, or both simultaneously. The selection of type of massaging output can also be implemented such that the selection is created by selector 216, such as by holding the power button for a period of time, repeatedly pressing the power button and the like.
Handle unit 110 may also include a display 210, which may be a LCD, LED, OLED, indicator lights, and the like. Display 210 may present information and data related to varies states of handle unit 110, such as battery charge level, massage motion selection, intensity, frequency, timing, and the like. Display 210 may also present information and data based on signals received from head units 121-123, such as sensed muscle tension levels. Display 210 may also be implemented as a touch screen device such that it can receive control inputs, such as those control inputs that can be received by selector 216.
Head unit 121 may include a sensor for sensing muscle tension. For example, a sensor may be embedded on contact surface 419 to sense tension associated with a body part, such as through electrical current, electrical resistance, skin resistivity, stain, pressure, and the like. The sensor may provide signals to handle unit 110 through head interface 417.
Head unit 122 may include a sensor for sensing muscle tension. For example, a sensor may be embedded on contact surface on rotatable cylinder 513 to sense tension associated with a body part, such as through electrical current, electrical resistance, skin resistivity, stain, pressure, and the like. The sensor may provide signals to handle unit 110 through head interface 519.
Head unit 123 may include a sensor for sensing muscle tension. For example, a sensor may be embedded on contact surface 716 to sense tension associated with a body part, such as through electrical current, electrical resistance, skin resistivity, stain, pressure, and the like. The sensor may provide signals to handle unit 110 through head interface 719.
While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.
Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.
The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims that now follow. That scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broad as is consistent with the ordinary meaning of the language that is used in the claims when interpreted in light of this specification and the prosecution history that follows and to encompass all structural and functional equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirement of Sections 101, 102, or 103 of the Patent Act, nor should they be interpreted in such a way. Any unintended embracement of such subject matter is hereby disclaimed.
Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated or illustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims.
It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “a” or “an” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various examples for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claims require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed example. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
