HK1030539B - Massage apparatus operating by suction and mobilisation of skin tissue - Google Patents

Description

Massage device for applying suction and moving action to skin tissue

The present invention relates to an improved massage device capable of performing massage simply and efficiently, wherein suction and activating actions are applied on the skin tissue of a patient, who may be a human being or an animal (e.g., horse, cow, etc.).

It has been proposed for decades to make appliances of this type, collected for example in particular by french patent FR- A-409202, swiss patent 168279, us patents 3297024 and 2574601 and french patents FR- A-1590131 and 2057514, and to make such appliances so as to make the work of the massagers simpler. In general terms, these devices are said to exert pressure, movement, vibrational friction, suction, etc. on the body.

Recently, in european patents 224422 and 284527 and french patent FR- A-2723310, the inventors of the present application have proposed an improved massaging apparatus which is capable of carrying out A massage of the "touch/scroll" type simply and effectively.

In general terms, the device described in these latter documents is mainly composed of two rollers mounted along parallel axes on a housing, which can be mounted at a fixed or variable center-to-center distance and driven in pure rotation, said housing being connected to means comprising a duct whose end opens into the space between said two rollers, thereby enabling it to generate a vacuum which helps to suck the skin into a fold, said two rollers exerting a squeezing action on the fold.

From a practical point of view, such appliances are sufficiently satisfactory, but require some skill of the operator, in particular when rapid changes of the massage action direction are to be performed.

Also, in this type of appliance, friction is generated against the side wall, thus resulting in a relatively forceful action on the body part of the operator, which causes the operator to become fatigued. In addition, such friction sometimes makes the patient feel uncomfortable.

It has been found that a new type of massaging apparatus, which is the subject of the present invention, like all the types of apparatus described above, is capable of exerting a suction and an activating action on the skin tissue with high efficiency and which is easy to operate, easy to use and comfortable for the patient. Moreover, the appliance is able to apply a 360 ° momentary action and virtually no friction on the skin, thus making the massage feel more comfortable.

In addition, since the appliance of the present invention generates limited friction, it enables the manufacture of large-sized non-motorized massage devices.

In summary, the novel massaging apparatus of the present invention for imparting suction and motive action to skin tissue of a patient is in the form of a manual device which basically comprises a housing connected to a source of suction, the housing comprising an inner chamber which is open at its surface intended to be in contact with the body of the patient, and having means for imparting mechanical action to a fold of skin formed in the inner chamber during a massaging operation, the massaging apparatus being characterized in that:

the suction chamber extends laterally over the entire width of the housing and is open at both lateral ends;

the means capable of exerting a mechanical action are constituted by at least two movable elements laterally arranged on each side of the housing, which are sealingly pressed against the side walls and close the lateral openings of the suction chamber.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing is formed by a one-piece assembly comprising an inner chamber connected to the suction source, the inner chamber forming a transverse slot open at both ends and intended to be pressed against the patient's body, the mobile element being mounted on the side wall of the housing while closing the lateral opening of the chamber.

According to this embodiment, the mobile element is constituted, for example, by two discs mounted freely rotatably about an axis supported by the casing.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the suction generated inside the chamber is obtained by a plurality of ducts whose openings open into the upper wall of said chamber.

If the lower edge of the groove is rectilinear, it is possible to envisage a configuration with an internal chamber, namely: such that the lower edge forming the groove is concave or convex, etc. Moreover, it is also conceivable to mount a movable transverse roller inside the chamber, wherein the movable transverse roller acts in a similar manner to the subject matter of the inventor's above-mentioned patent.

Finally, the device of the invention will be connected to the outlet of a suitable suction circuit. Preferably, this suction circuit will comprise a solenoid valve made according to the teachings of patent application WO 95/09596, which not only enables "with" or "without" operation, but also enables a controlled flow of air fluid between two predetermined values, adjustable between said two values, so that it can obtain a "continuous, pulsating, rhythmic" operation, for example during a massage operation, the suction rate varying periodically.

The invention and its advantages will, however, be more clearly understood from the following exemplary embodiments, given by way of non-limiting illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a massage appliance made in accordance with the present invention, the device being capable of performing a massage action, not shown;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a housing forming the appliance of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a bottom view of fig. 2, including a partial cross-sectional view taken through a central portion thereof along AA of fig. 2 and showing the side mobile element,

fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along axis BB of fig. 2, also showing the side moving parts.

With reference to the figures, the massaging apparatus of the invention, capable of exerting a suction and a moving action on the skin tissue of a patient, thus takes the form of a manual device, generally designated (1), which is connected, permanently or detachably, to a suction source, not shown, through a duct (2). This device (1) takes the form of a housing (3), the housing (3) comprising an inner chamber (4) open at its surface intended to come into contact with the body of the patient, said chamber being associated with means for exerting a mechanical action on the folds of skin formed inside said chamber during the massaging operation.

According to the invention, the suction chamber (4) extends transversely over the entire width of the housing and is open at both lateral ends. The dimensions of this chamber will be adapted to the type of massage to be performed, for example on a large area or on a highly localized area of a patient of different morphology, for example a child, an adult, an animal, etc.

In general, a series of appliances having a housing width of between 1cm and 10cm and a slot opening of between 1cm and 6cm is in practice capable of treating any type of patient and of treating any area on the body.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show a massage head according to the invention substantially in the scale of 1: 1 of the average size.

The lower edges (5, 6) of the chamber will preferably be rounded to make it more prone to the formation of skin folds.

According to the invention, said means capable of exerting a mechanical action are constituted by two movable components (7, 8) laterally arranged on each side of the housing (3), which bear sealingly against the side walls and close the lateral openings of the suction chamber (4). The housing (3) is preferably in the form of a one-piece assembly, the movable assemblies (7, 8) preferably consisting of two discs mounted freely rotatable about a shaft (9) supported by the housing (3), the operation of which is usually effected by means of suitable rolling bearings and sliding bearings.

The diameter of the disc is substantially 1cm to 12cm, thereby enabling the manufacture of various devices capable of treating any type of patient and any area of the body. However, the upper limit of 12cm given above is not limiting, and it will be appreciated that the disc may have a larger diameter.

Suction can be created in the chamber to create the skin fold by means of one or more ducts (10) whose opening opens into the upper wall (11) of the chamber (4).

In the exemplary embodiment shown, there are four such conduits, which are positioned perpendicular to the walls of the chamber and lead to a common conduit (12) connected to a suction source.

The structure of the appliance is thus such as to act on the folds of the skin during, for example, a massaging operation, and, under the double action of the suction action and the advancement speed against the patient's body, a fold is formed which rolls up and unrolls, and against the sides of which the discs (7, 8) are pressed, said discs being driven in rotation and thus accompanying the movement of the fold, while virtually eliminating any rubbing phenomena on the surface of the skin.

Compared with the prior art, the massage device not only can obtain the massage of a touch/rolling type, but also is easier to operate due to the existence of the movable bearing area with independent side surfaces. It has been found that movement of the appliance against the patient's body is easier and that the massage sensation is more comfortable and painless, reducing friction on the skin.

Furthermore, it should be noted that this configuration enables a 360 ° instantaneous action.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but embraces all variants thereof in the same spirit, the schematically illustrated housing structure in the illustrated embodiment having an outer shape which is naturally designed to be easier for the operator to grip.

Moreover, as mentioned above, it is possible to house inside the chamber freely rotatably mounted transverse rollers, and if appropriate even motorized, the spacing between which may be fixed or variable, and which exert a complementary action to the lateral mobile elements during the massaging operation, so that there is substantially no friction against the skin.

Claims (5)

1. Massaging apparatus for applying suction and moving actions to skin tissue, in the form of a manual device (1), the manual device (1) essentially comprising a housing connected to a suction source, the housing comprising an inner chamber (4) open at its surface intended to be in contact with the body of a patient, and having means capable of applying mechanical actions to the folds of skin formed in said chamber (4) during a massaging operation, characterized in that:

the suction chamber extends laterally over the entire width of the housing and is open at both lateral ends;

the means capable of exerting a mechanical action are constituted by at least two movable elements (7, 8) laterally arranged on each side of the housing, said movable elements being sealingly pressed against the side walls and closing the lateral openings of the suction chamber.

2. A massaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the housing is constructed as a one-piece component and the inner chamber is formed in the form of a transverse groove (4).

3. A massaging apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the movable elements (7, 8) are formed by two discs which are mounted freely rotatably about an axis supported by the housing, whereby any lateral friction on the folds of the skin is virtually eliminated.

4. A massaging apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the suction generated inside the chamber (4) is obtained by means of a plurality of ducts (10) whose openings open into the upper wall of said chamber.

5. A massaging apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a movable transverse roller is mounted in the interior of the chamber, whereby any rubbing against folds of the skin is eliminated.