Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Device with applicator having specific movement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-06
2001-03-13
Yu, Justine R. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Device with applicator having specific movement
C601S006000, C601S133000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200281
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an improved massaging device which is designed to be applied to the skin of a person, in order to form a fold of skin by suction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Massaging devices of this type have been in common use for many years, in various fields such as rehabilitation, sports uses, for aesthetic purposes, and for getting back into shape etc.
These massaging devices comprise mainly a hollow case which delimits a suction chamber provided with an open lower surface, means for connection of this case to a suction source which can generate reduced pressure inside the suction chamber, and means for grasping the case, which can allow the latter to be displaced on the skin.
The operating principle of these massaging devices is as follows: the partial vacuum induced by the suction source sucks the skin inside the suction chamber, and leads to the formation of a fold of skin, which is rolled when the case is displaced on the body of the patient.
In addition, most of these massaging devices, as described in patents FR-2 579 100, FR-2 057 514, FR-2 612 395, FR-2723310, comprise two parallel inner rollers, which are accommodated inside the case, and can form a fold on the skin, the rollers being either associated with drive means to assist displacement of the case, or mounted such as to rotate freely, and disposed so that they can roll on the skin.
However, massaging devices of this type, which mostly make it possible to obtain a relatively efficient massaging action, have two major disadvantages.
In fact, firstly, the massaging action means that it is necessary to displace the massaging device continually on the skin, in order to reproduce the conventional massaging method known by physiotherapists as “palpate and roll”. Consequently, even with the aid of motor means to drive the rollers, which are seldom used in practice owing to the cost and size of the massaging devices thus equipped, the user must continually exert force which is designed to obtain this displacement.
In addition, because of their design, massaging devices of this type all involve problems of sealing of the suction chamber, which in practice means that almost systematically, firstly it is necessary to use a suction source with a corresponding level of power and size, and secondly, problems arise in controlling the reduced pressure value inside the suction chamber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to eliminate these disadvantages, and its main objective is to provide a massaging device which makes it possible to obtain very efficient massaging action, without needing to be displaced on the skin.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a massaging device which requires only a low suction rate, in order to obtain an adequate reduced pressure in the suction chamber.
For this purpose, the invention relates to a massaging device which is designed to be applied to the skin of a person, comprising:
a hollow case, known as the outer case, comprising a peripheral wall which delimits a suction chamber, known as the main suction chamber, and has a lower edge which delimits an open surface for application on the skin; and
means for connecting the outer case to a suction source which can generate reduced pressure in the main suction chamber.
According to the invention, this massaging device comprises:
at least one second hollow case, known as the inner case, with dimensions smaller than those of the outer case, which is disposed in the main suction chamber, the inner case comprising a peripheral wall which delimits a suction chamber, known as the secondary suction chamber, and has a lower edge which delimits an open surface for application on the skin;
means for displacement of each inner case relative to the outer case, according to motion which is substantially parallel to the plane of the open surface for application of the outer case to the skin; and
means for making each inner case communicate with a suction source which can generate reduced pressure in the secondary suction chamber.
By means of the combined action of the main massaging head and the secondary massaging head, in the respective suction chambers of which reduced pressure exists, a massaging device of this type makes it possible to form a fold of skin between the peripheral walls of the two cases.
In addition, the displacement of the secondary massaging head inside the main massaging head makes it possible to create a “moving wave”, which provides a massage with continually variable intensity, during which the skin is pinched between the peripheral walls of the massaging heads, resulting in an action of compression and “kneading” of the skin.
By means of this design, a massaging device of this type makes it possible to obtain very efficient massaging action, without needing to be displaced on the skin. In addition, the case of the main massaging chamber guarantees perfect sealing of the suction chamber when it is applied to the skin, such that the suction rate which is necessary in order to obtain the reduced pressure can be relatively low, and is perfectly controlled.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the respective lower edges of the outer case and of each inner case extend in substantially parallel planes. In addition, the lower edge of each inner case is preferably slightly recessed relative to the lower edge of the outer case.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for communication of each inner case with a suction source comprise at least one aperture which is provided in the upper wall of the inner case, in order to make the secondary suction chamber communicate with the main suction chamber of the outer case.
In addition, this massaging device preferably comprises a single inner case, and means for displacement of the inner case which are designed to displace the latter substantially parallel to the lower edge of the outer case.
Additionally, the lower edges of the inner case and of the outer case are preferably homothetic, and advantageously each have a symmetrical shape, such as circular.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for displacement of each inner case comprise:
a rotary shaft which is mounted on the outer case, such as to be able to pivot around an axis which is substantially at right-angles to the open surface of the outer case;
means for entrainment in rotation of the rotary shaft; and
a cam which is integral with the rotary shaft, comprising an eccentric axis which is substantially parallel to the rotary shaft, the inner case being mounted idly around the eccentric axis.
In addition, the means for entrainment in rotation of each rotary shaft are preferably designed to make the said rotary shaft rotate at a speed of rotation which is substantially between 30 rpm and 100 rpm.
According to another characteristic of the invention, each cam contains a bore which is centred on the eccentric axis, each inner case being supported by a shaft which is mounted idly in the bore.
In addition, the distance between centres of the rotary shaft and the eccentric axis is preferably substantially between 4 and 10 mm. This distance between centres can be fixed or variable, in order to adapt to the thickness of the skin.
According to another characteristic of the invention, each inner case is mounted on the cam in a removable manner, the massaging device comprising, for each of the inner cases, a set of at least two interchangeable inner cases, which have open surfaces with different dimensions, for application on the skin.
In addition, the outer case advantageously comprises an outlet tap which is mounted on the peripheral wall of the outer case, in order to regulate the reduced pressure in the main suction chamber.
It also comprises an air intake valve, which is normally closed by the action of resilient means, and is mounted on the peripheral wall of the outer case, in order to establish atmospheric pressure in the main suction chamber.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1758962 (1930-05-01), Miller
patent: 198080
Young & Thompson
Yu Justine R.
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