Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Vacuum
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-11-06
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Vacuum
C601S007000, C601S009000, C601S122000, C601S125000, C601S126000, C601S133000, C601S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312396
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a massaging apparatus for massaging body areas of a person, which massaging apparatus comprises a housing having a bottom wall and can be placed onto the skin of a body area of a person with the bottom wall of the housing during a massaging session and is preferably movable over the skin in a given operating direction, during which a relative movement occurs between the skin and the bottom wall, and which comprises a suction chamber which encloses a suction space and which comprises two chamber walls which extend substantially transversely to the operating direction and two chamber walls which extend substantially parallel to the operating direction and are connected to the two chamber walls which extend transversely to the operating direction, and which is open in its area which faces the skin of a body area when the massaging apparatus is disposed on the skin with the bottom wall, and which comprises a pump which communicates with the suction chamber via an air-transfer duct so as to allow the passage of air and by means of which a partial vacuum can be generated inside the suction chamber when the massaging apparatus is disposed on the skin of a body area with its bottom wall, in order to forma skin fold which is drawn into the suction chamber, a relative movement being produced between the skin of the skin fold and at least one chamber wall, and which in the area of the bottom wall comprises at least one roller which is rotatable about a roller axis which extends transversely to the operating direction and which can be placed onto the skin of a body area with its circumferential surface.
Such a massaging apparatus of the type defined in the opening paragraph is known, for example, from the patent document WO 98/02124 A1. In said known massaging apparatus the bottom wall of the housing is comparatively smooth in order to preclude irritation of the skin and both the chamber walls which extend transversely to the operating direction and the chamber walls which extend parallel to the operating direction have a steady curvature and the bounding surfaces of the chamber walls which face the suction space have a given roughness, which lies preferably in a range between 4 &mgr;m and 8 &mgr;m. Owing to this construction of the known massaging apparatus it has been found that comparatively high friction values occur between the bottom wall of the housing and the skin and between at least one of the chamber walls and the skin of the skin fold which is drawn into the suction chamber, as a result of which, owing to the comparatively high friction values, the further movement of the massaging apparatus in the operating direction is hindered and, owing to the comparatively high friction values, a relatively great force is exerted on the skin fold drawn into the suction chamber, which is at least to some extent experienced as unpleasant or even painful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to preclude the above-mentioned problems and to provide an improved massaging apparatus of the type defined in the opening paragraph, in which the afore-mentioned problems are solved by simple means. To achieve this object, according to the invention, a massaging apparatus of the type defined in the opening paragraph is characterized in that at least in an area of at least one wall of the massaging apparatus, in which area a relative movement is produced between the skin and this wall, at least one apparatus part which is movable with respect to this wall is provided, and the location of the at least one apparatus part on this wall
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is selected in such a manner that, as the massaging apparatus is moved over the skin of a body area and thus a skin fold is drawn into the suction chamber, the at least one apparatus part is movable with respect to this wall by the skin.
By taking the steps in accordance with the invention it can be achieved in a very simple manner that no high friction values occur between the bottom wall of the housing and the skin and between the skin surface of the skin fold drawn into the suction chamber and the inner bounding surface of the suction chamber, because the at least one apparatus part which has been provided in the area of at least one wall of the massaging apparatus and which is movable with respect to this wall provides a distinct reduction of the friction between the skin and the relevant wall, as a result of which a smooth further movement of the massaging apparatus in the operating direction is guaranteed during a massaging session and no undesirable or painful forces are exerted on the skin fold which has been drawn into the suction chamber or such forces are reduced to such an extent that no adverse effect is produced.
In a massaging apparatus in accordance with the invention balls may be used as apparatus parts which are movable with respect to a wall, which balls are mounted in ball cages provided in the relevant wall. Alternatively, such movable apparatus parts can be, for example, endless loops or belts wrapped around two rotatably supported guide rollers.
In a massaging apparatus in accordance with the invention such movable apparatus parts such as balls may be provided in the area of the bottom wall of the housing. However, it has proved to be very advantageous if at least one of such apparatus part is provided in an area of at least one chamber wall of the suction chamber. In this respect, it has proved to be particularly advantageous if the at least one part which is movable with respect to a chamber wall is formed by at least one cylinder, because this is constructionally very simple and constructionally advantageous and because such a solution has proved to be very reliable and insensitive to soiling effects.
In a massaging apparatus in accordance with the invention at least one cylinder may be provided in an area of the chamber wall which extends transversely to the operating direction and which is situated in front in relation to the operating direction or at least one cylinder may be provided in an area of each of the two chamber walls which extend transversely to the operating direction. It has proved to be particularly advantageous if at least one cylinder is provided in an area of the chamber wall which extends transversely to the operating direction and which is situated at the rear in relation to the operating direction, because this enables the friction to be reduced most effectively. For a satisfactory compromise between the required space and a maximal reduction of the friction it has proved to be particularly advantageous if two cylinders arranged in tandem are provided. It is obvious that also more than two cylinders may be provided.
Each cylinder may be disposed so as to extend substantially tangentially with respect to the bounding surface of the relevant chamber wall with its circumferential surface. However, it has proved to be advantageous if each cylinder projects with its circumferential surface into the suction space to at least a small extent.
The measures defined in claims
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,
10
,
11
and
12
have proved to be particularly advantageous in a massaging apparatus in accordance with the invention. This is because, as a result of these measures, the formation of a skin fold, which is basically effected by virtue of the suction effect in the suction space, is enhanced by at least the forward roller, as viewed in the operating direction, and because, in addition, the driving of the massaging apparatus on the skin of a body area is enhanced effectively by at least the forward roller, as viewed in the operating direction. It is to be noted that tests have revealed that for the circumferential surface of the forward roller, as viewed in the operating direction, a material having a hardness of approximately 85 Shore A and for the circumferential surface of the rearward roller, as viewed in the operating direction, a material having an indentation hardness in accordance with ISO 2039 of approximately 144 N/mm
2
have proved to be very favorable.
The afore-mentioned
Bartlett Ernestine C.
Brown Michael A.
Koo Benjamin K.
Spain Norman N.
U.S. Philips Corporation
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