Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Vacuum
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-30
2001-03-06
Yu, Mickey (Department: 3764)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Vacuum
C601S012000, C601S069000, C601S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196982
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of kinesitherapy, and more specifically to a vacuum massage apparatus having improved sealability and flexibility.
2. Description of the Related Art
Devices have been proposed to use the power generated by a domestic vacuum cleaner or other pneumatic source for massaging the skin of a user. Typically, such a device is in the form of an attachment to a vacuum cleaner hose which uses a reed valve or other obstruction in the flow path to generate pulses which are conducted by the device or the hose to the skin of the user. One drawback to such a device is that it vibrates without significantly lifting the skin so as to stimulate blood circulation or invigorate the blood vessels and hair follicles in the massaged region.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This drawback is overcome by means of a vacuum massage apparatus comprising a housing and a rotor. The housing includes a flexible portion defining a chamber having an open side and a flow path communicating with the chamber through a port. The rotor is supported by the housing in a flow path from the port. The rotor is rotatable about a rotor axis and has a center of gravity eccentric to the rotor axis. In preferred form, the flow path is coupled to a vacuum source such as the hose of a vacuum cleaner to provide suction in the chamber and a pressure difference across the rotor.
Since the chamber is defined by a flexible portion of the housing, the suction provided by the vacuum source tends to seal the flexible portion over the massaged region and to lift the skin to stimulate blood circulation in the massaged region. Furthermore, since the rotor has a center of gravity eccentric to the rotor axis, the pressure difference across the rotor causes it to vibrate due to the action of centrifugal force on the imbalanced distribution of mass in the rotor. The springiness of the flexible portion accentuates the effect of the vibration near the skin.
The flexible portion preferably defines an arcuate chamber conformable to the shape of the scalp or other region to be massaged. In an especially preferred embodiment, a plurality of symmetrically-arranged nodules project into the chamber along directions substantially perpendicular to an inner surface of the flexible portion. When a vacuum forms in the chamber, the nodules are pulled evenly onto the skin to provide uniform stimulation across the massaged region.
According to one embodiment, annular reservoirs are provided in the housing for dispensing oils or other scalp treatment fluids to the hair and scalp during the massage. According to another embodiment, a heat source such as a hot air source is coupled to the housing to heat the scalp during the massage.
Therefore, it is one object of the invention to provide a massage apparatus which stimulates circulation as well as invigorating blood vessels and hair follicles. This and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described in further detail in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 809360 (1906-01-01), Dible
patent: 1025504 (1912-05-01), Birrell
patent: 1141373 (1915-06-01), Behm
patent: 1704960 (1929-03-01), Ackerman
patent: 1744443 (1930-01-01), Businger
patent: 2031957 (1936-02-01), Karlstrom
patent: 2232218 (1941-02-01), Doty
patent: 2338339 (1944-01-01), LaMere et al.
patent: 2561034 (1951-07-01), Phillips
patent: 2566600 (1951-09-01), Colon
patent: 2626601 (1953-01-01), Riley
patent: 2655145 (1953-10-01), Heger
patent: 2655146 (1953-10-01), Force
patent: 2655147 (1953-10-01), Rohrer
patent: 2951257 (1960-09-01), Bodine
patent: 2972346 (1961-02-01), Eddings
patent: 3052234 (1962-09-01), Martinec
patent: 3481326 (1969-12-01), Schamblin
patent: 3516411 (1970-06-01), Adler
patent: 3716048 (1973-02-01), Alonso
patent: 3841322 (1974-10-01), Spelio
patent: 4003373 (1977-01-01), Spelio
patent: 4296743 (1981-10-01), Laslely
patent: 4469092 (1984-09-01), Marshall et al.
patent: 4765316 (1988-08-01), Marshall
patent: 4836192 (1989-06-01), Abbate
patent: 5228431 (1993-07-01), Giarretto
Koo Benjamin
Yu Mickey
LandOfFree
Vacuum massager does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vacuum massager, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vacuum massager will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2447257