DEVICE, ESPECIALLY FOR MASSAGE AND TREATMENT PURPOSES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device, in particular for massage and treatment purposes, which comprises a hand-carried housing, a contact element mounted therein and projecting at the front, which can be moved back and forth by a drive motor, this according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A known massage, wellness, and treatment device according to document EP-A-1 913 921 comprises a handpiece with a tubular shell and an electric micromotor located therein, which drives a reduction gear. A body of an attachment holder is attached to the distal end of the shell, in which a plunger slides. Furthermore, a conversion mechanism is provided that connects an output shaft of the reduction gear to the plunger, the rotary motion of which is converted into a linear reciprocating motion of the plunger. A head on the plunger is designed to be pressed against the person being treated for the massage or treatment.The conversion mechanism comprises a roller pivoting at the inner end of the plunger along an axis that forms a non-right angle to the longitudinal axis of the plunger, this axis being appropriate to the angle of the front side of a cam of the micromotor that cooperates with the roller to generate the reciprocating movement.

[0003] Due to the rapid movements typically generated by the massage or treatment head, this device generates relatively loud noises and vibrations. This device can generate up to 25 pulses per second, resulting in noise levels of up to 60 dB(A). For the operator holding the device, prolonged massage or treatment can be very stressful and may even cause health problems with regular use.

[0004] Document CN 211 675 296 U discloses a massage device consisting of a gun-shaped housing with a motor, an eccentric pivotally connected to the motor, a moving part coupled to the latter, a second moving part pivotably mounted on the second moving part, an adapter connected to the second moving part, and a movable coupling encased in a rubber sleeve. A mounting plate for the motor and four anti-vibration sealing rings are also provided.

[0005] The massage device according to US 2002 / 107459 A1 also features an angled transmission of the motor's rotary motion to the reciprocating shaft. The motor can be secured in the handle-shaped housing via these supports. This massage device primarily has a different design because the shaft is not mounted in the housing, but in the motor.

[0006] Document CN 211 723 934 U discloses a device comprising a housing, a motor with a power supply, a power transmission mechanism, and a reciprocating massage head. The motor is surrounded by a layer of elastic damping material, a sound absorption layer, and a sound insulation layer. While this noise-damping device protects the motor, it does not protect the power transmission mechanism and the massage head that is reciprocated by it.

[0007] German Patent Application DE 10 2009 002 970 A1 discloses a handheld power tool comprising a housing with at least two separate housing parts and a vibration reduction element arranged between a fastening component with the additional housing part and a handle. However, this also only discloses vibration reduction in the drive motor.

[0008] The invention is based on the object of avoiding these disadvantages and of developing a device according to the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that, in operating mode, it is more comfortable for the user or patient to handle when massaging, treating or the like.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

[0010] At least one noise- and vibration-damping bearing is arranged between the drive motor and the housing of the device, so that direct contact between the drive motor and the housing is eliminated and a decoupling of the noise-transmitting connection to the housing is achieved.

[0011] This results in a quieter and more comfortable grip on the device during massage or treatment. This allows for longer strokes and higher pulse frequencies without a noticeable increase in noise and vibration. This is also due to the increased difference between the natural frequency and the excitation frequency.

[0012] With this surprising, significant noise reduction of the device according to the invention, a further advantage also arises for a patient or a person being massaged in that, particularly during a treatment or massage in the head area, such as a jaw massage or an atlas therapy or correction, the noise emissions generated by the device are lower.

[0013] It is very advantageous that the drive motor is supported at least along its circumference, at the rear and at the front near its drive shaft, by a bearing element inside the housing, which acts as a noise and vibration dampener. This enables a structurally simple and highly effective insulation.

[0014] In the device according to the invention, a lifting mechanism driven by the drive motor and a guide unit coupled to the lifting mechanism for a plunger with the protruding contact element are integrated into the housing. At least one guide rod of the guide unit is guided at the front in a bearing element in a bore in the housing, providing noise and vibration insulation, so that the guide unit is also arranged at a distance within the housing.

[0015] This means that the drive motor, the lifting mechanism connected to it and the guide unit as moving components are only in contact with the housing through these bearing elements.

[0016] These bearing elements are expediently designed in the form of rings, segments or other shapes and are made of plastic, such as a cord-shaped silicone, an O-ring or the like, or of materials with vibration-damping properties.

[0017] As a variant, the bearing elements can consist of compression or tension springs to further increase the effect of the insulation.

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 a longitudinal section of a device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a partial section of the device according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a perspective exploded view of a cage ring and a ball cage, each partially with two rotatable balls of the device according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 another perspective exploded view as according to Fig. 3 ; and Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section of a housing and a view of a device according to the invention with indicated spring elements as noise- and vibration-damping mounting.

[0019] Fig. 1 bis Fig. 4 show a device 10, particularly for massage and treatment purposes, which is rod-shaped and equipped with an externally routed electrical cable 12 for the power supply of a drive motor 16. In principle, an accumulator could also be integrated, so that no permanently connected electrical cable would be required and a socket element would be provided in the housing.

[0020] Such a device 10 can be used for conventional or specialized massages, such as classic muscle or wellness massages. However, it is also suitable for various treatments, such as trigger point, fascia, or similar, or for atlas therapy, in which the atlas, the first cervical vertebra of the human body, is treated with a special massage.

[0021] This device 10 can of course also be used on animals, especially horses, for massages or treatments, such as for a very effective fascia therapy on a horse.

[0022] The device 10 consists of a hand-carryable, multi-part housing 15, a drive motor 16 arranged therein, a lifting mechanism 20 coupled thereto, a guide unit 25 for a plunger 14 with a contact element 11 projecting from the housing, and a spring element 18 surrounding the plunger 14.

[0023] This contact element 11 protruding from the device 10 is plate-shaped, and its front side 11' serves as a contact surface during the massage with a skin area of ​​a person or patient being treated. Of course, the front side of the contact element 11 can also have a different shape, such as a cone, ball, pin, or knob-shaped. It is moved back and forth with a stroke of less than or up to a few millimeters and can be operated with a number of up to 30 pulses per second to enable optimal operation depending on the type of treatment. The controllable device 10 can preferably be used to set variable values ​​with regard to the oscillation frequency of the contact element 11.

[0024] Advantageously, this contact element 11 is interchangeably mounted on the front of the plunger 14, so that a different one can be used as needed. The plunger 14 is longitudinally guided in a bearing bush 19 in a cover 15' of the housing 15, which can be removed from the front, and is held at the rear by the guide unit 25.

[0025] The guide unit 25 is provided with an inner sleeve 24, at least two guide rods 22 and a retaining ring 23, wherein the guide rods 22 are arranged as an extension to the inner sleeve 24, parallel to one another, preferably offset by 180°, and are guided longitudinally in their front region in a bore 13 in the cover 15'.

[0026] This spring element 18 is arranged between the bearing bush 19 and the inner sleeve 24. It is supported at the front by the cover 15' of the housing 15 and at the rear by the sleeve 24 and is designed as a compression spring. It is mounted with such a preload that it always exerts a certain spring pressure on the lifting mechanism 20.

[0027] The sleeve 24 serves as a flywheel, which can be made of materials of varying weight, such as plastic, aluminum, or brass. Depending on the material used, the impacts on a body part, such as a muscle, are delivered with varying intensity during each stroke. The user can select this depending on the application, particularly to vary the stimulation to the muscle.

[0028] The lifting mechanism 20 of the device 10 consists of a cage ring 21 connected to the retaining ring 23 of the guide unit 25, a ball cage 28 fixed opposite the drive motor 16 by at least one fastening means 29, and two balls 27 rotatable between them, which are in rotary connection on the inside with a drive shaft 17 of the drive motor 16 designed as a rotary motor.

[0029] According to Fig. 3 The cage ring 21 is formed on the inside with a conical surface 26, 26' having an approximately elliptical cross-section, which is in rolling contact with the two balls 27. This elliptical cross-sectional shape of the conical surface 26, 26' is dimensioned with a larger and a smaller rolling diameter D1, D2, which are offset by 90° to one another. This ensures that the two balls 27, which are arranged 180° opposite one another and are driven by the drive shaft 17 along this elliptical conical surface 26, 26', cause a lifting movement in the longitudinal direction L of the guide unit 25 and thus of the plunger 14 or the contact element 11. The stroke length can be determined depending on the difference between these rolling diameters D1, D2.

[0030] According to Fig. 4 The two opposing balls 27 are each guided on the outside for rolling on a circular conical surface 28' of the ball cage 28. A ball guide 38 with recesses 39 for the balls 27 is assigned to the center of the ball cage 28, which holds the balls at 180° to each other.

[0031] According to the invention, a noise- and vibration-damping bearing is arranged at least between the drive motor 16 and the housing 15, so that preferably a direct contact between the drive motor 16 and the housing 15 is eliminated and a decoupling of the noise-transmitting connection can be achieved.

[0032] Very advantageously, the drive motor 16 is supported at least on its circumference on the rear side and at the front near its drive shaft 17 at the ball cage 28 by an annular bearing element 30, 31 inside the housing 15, with a preferably annular cavity 35 formed between them. Thus, the drive motor 16 and the rotating balls 27 are permanently held concentrically in the housing 15 in the manner of a floating bearing.

[0033] The annular bearing element 31 is held both radially and axially on the outer circumference of the ball cage 28. Accordingly, a hub-shaped shoulder 28', 36 is formed on the outside of the ball cage 28 and on the inside of the housing 15, with the bearing element 31 arranged between them. These shoulders absorb the forces generated in the axial longitudinal direction L from the tappet 14 to the housing, and the vibrations of the ball cage 28 are absorbed by the bearing element 31. Such shoulders 28', 36 could also be provided analogously in addition or alternatively on the other bearing element 30.

[0034] Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that the guide rods 22, as an extension of the inner sleeve 24, are each guided in a preferably annular bearing element 32 in the bore 13 in the cover 15' of the housing 15, in a noise- and vibration-damping manner. This results in a manufacturing advantage in that the two bearing elements 32 accommodate some tolerances in diameter, thus eliminating the need for precise machining of these bores 13. The guide unit 25 is thus arranged at a distance within the housing 15, and a corresponding cavity 35' is formed between them. Due to this arrangement, the drive motor 16, the lifting mechanism 20 connected to it with the balls 27, and the guide unit 25 are in contact with the housing 15 solely through these bearing elements 30, 31, 32, thus resulting in significant vibration damping in the housing, which is extremely beneficial when using the device.

[0035] The bearing bushing 19 provided in the cover 15' of the housing 15 for the proper guidance of the plunger 14 is preferably made of a material with good sliding properties, such as Teflon, so that a noise and vibration-damping bearing is also provided. However, this bearing bushing 19 could also be at least radially decoupled from the cover 15' of the housing 15 by bearing elements. Furthermore, the spring element 18 could also be supported at the front of the cover 15' by a damping bearing element.

[0036] Furthermore, the retaining ring 23 of the guide unit 25 is preferably made of a rubber-like material, which compensates for radial misalignments between the inner sleeve 24 and the cage ring 21 and also has a noise-damping effect.

[0037] Bearing elements 30, 31, and 32 can be, for example, cord-shaped plastic parts made of silicone, but also materials made of other plastics or those with vibration-damping properties, even reinforced. They can be ring-shaped, segmented, or otherwise shaped and inserted accordingly. When using silicone, a Shore hardness of up to 70 is advantageous.

[0038] According to Fig. 5 In a device 50 according to the invention, a similar arrangement and shape as in the device 10 according to Fig. 1 Therefore, only the differences are explained below. Components with equivalent functions are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0039] The schematically shown device 50 differs essentially in that the noise- and vibration-damping bearings arranged between the drive motor 16, the lifting mechanism, the guide unit 25, and the housing 55 consist of bearing elements 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, which are made of spiral wire or other elastic materials as compression springs. Some of these act in the radial direction, while others act in the axial longitudinal direction L. Advantageously, at least two opposing spring elements are arranged in a line of force, so that the drive motor 16 with the lifting mechanism and the guide unit 25 are concentrically aligned in the housing 55.

[0040] The radially acting bearing elements 51, 52, 56 are located on the outside at the rear end and at the front near a hub-shaped shoulder 58 of the drive motor 16, as well as near the reciprocating guide rods 22. These guide rods 22 of the guide unit 25, arranged parallel to one another, each protrude in their front region into a bore 13 in the cover 55'. These transversely mounted bearing elements 56 are integrated into the cover 55' and accordingly provide noise and vibration dampening.

[0041] One of the axially acting bearing elements 53 is arranged between hub-shaped shoulders 57, 58 on the housing 55 and the lifting mechanism, while the other bearing elements 54 are arranged between the guide unit 25 and the cover 55' of the housing 55, so that the guide unit 25 and the drive motor 16 connected to it are in turn decoupled from the housing 55. A hollow space 35, 35' is formed between the housing 55 and the drive motor 16 or the guide unit 25.

[0042] The bearing elements 51, 52, 53, 54, 56 could also be tension springs or consist of different types of bearings. For example, silicone rings could be used at the front of the guide rods instead of compression or tension springs, as in device 10. Fig. 1used. The number of bearing elements can also be varied as needed. In a simpler design, the radial bearing elements 51, 52, 56 could also be located only at the rear end and at the front near shoulder 58 of the drive motor, or only near the guide rods 22, while the axially aligned bearing elements 53, 54 could, for example, be located only at shoulders 57, 58 or only at the front near cover 55'.

[0043] The invention is sufficiently illustrated by the exemplary embodiments explained above. Of course, it could also be illustrated by other variants. In an alternative embodiment, which is not covered by the invention, the housing could also be pistol-shaped or similarly designed. The noise- and vibration-damping bearing would then be arranged between the drive motor and the housing, with the drive motor and the guide unit with the plunger being housed in the tubular part protruding from the handle, similar to device 10.

[0044] Instead of a cylindrical rotary motor, one could of course also be provided with a reciprocating armature, which is moved, for example, electromagnetically or by a threaded connection with a reciprocating screw.

[0045] Likewise, the lifting mechanism, the guide unit, and the spring element could be designed differently. This could be implemented as in the known device with the conversion mechanism described above, in which an output shaft of the reduction gear is connected to a plunger, whose rotary motion is converted into a linear reciprocating motion of the plunger.

[0046] In principle, a simplified variant could provide for the guide rods to be guided in the cover or directly in the housing without bearing elements, as this would have a less significant impact on noise transmission into the housing. A single guide rod could also be provided, which could be bolt-shaped or otherwise. This could also be held in the cover and guided for reciprocating movement in the inner sleeve 24, possibly in at least one bearing element (32) in the inner sleeve.

Claims

1. Device, in particular for massage and treatment purposes, comprising a drive motor (16) and a housing (15, 55) which can be carried by hand, mounted in this and projecting at the front side a contact element (11) which can be moved backwards and forwards by the drive motor (16), wherein arranged between the drive motor (16) and the housing (15, 55) is a bearing arrangement which dampens both noise and vibration, such that a direct contact between the drive motor (16) and the housing (15, 55) is eliminated, wherein the drive motor (16) is supported at least at its circumference on the rear side and at the front at its drive shaft (17) in each case by a bearing element (30, 31, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56) in the interior of the housing (15, 55), and a cavity (35) is formed in between, wherein the device (10) with the housing (15, 55), which can be carried by hand, is formed in the of a rod, and at least the one bearing element (31) of the bearing arrangement is supported both the axial as well as in the radial direction, wherein, at the drive motor (16) on the as well as at the housing (15) on the inside, a hub-shaped shoulder element (28', 36) is formed in each case, and arranged in between is the bearing element (31), by means of the forces are absorbed which are incurred by the contact element (11) onto the housing in the axial longitudinal direction (L), and the vibrations are absorbed by the bearing element (31).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the other bearing element (30) is supported only radially in a noise and vibration damping manner.

3. Device according to claim1 or 2, characterized in that integrated in the housing (15, 55) is a lifting mechanism (20), driven by the drive motor (16), coupled to this a guide unit (25) for a plunger (14) with the front-side contact element (11), wherein on the front side at least one guide rod (22) of the guide unit (25) is guided in each case in a bearing element (32, 56) in a hole (13) in the housing (15, 55) such as to dampen noise and vibration, such that the guide unit (25) is arranged at a distance interval inside the housing (15, 55).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive motor (16), the lifting mechanism (20) connected to this, and the guide unit (25) are individually in contact with the housing (15, 55) by means of these bearing elements (30, 31, 32, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56).

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bearing elements (30, 31, 32, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56) are formed in a ring shape, segment shape, or other shape, and consist of plastic, such as of a string- forming silicone or the like, of materials with vibration-damping properties, or that the bearing elements (52, 53, 54, 56) consist of pressure springs or tension springs.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lifting mechanism (20) is provided with a cage ring (21) connected to a guide unit (25), a spherical cage (28) fixed opposite this at the drive motor, and of preferably two spheres (27) which can rotate between them, which are in rotational connection on the inside with a drive shaft (17) of the drive motor (16) configured as a rotary motor.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the cage ring (21) is formed on the inside with a conical surface (26, 26') exhibiting an approximately elliptical cross-section, which is in rolling contact with the two spheres (27) and causes a lifting movement in the longitudinal direction (L) of the guide unit (25) and therefore of the plunger (14) or of the contact element (11) respectively.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the guide unit (25) is provided with an inner sleeve (24), the at least one guide rod (22), and a holding ring (23), wherein the guide rod (22) is guided longitudinally in each case in the front region in the hole (13) in a cover (15') of the housing (15, 55).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the holding ring (23) of the guide unit (25) is produced from a type of rubber or similar material, which compensates for radial alignment errors between the inner sleeve (24) and the cage ring (21), and also has the effect of damping noise.

10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that a spring element (18) is arranged between a bearing sleeve (19) in the cover (15') and the inner sleeve (24), which is supported at the front at the cover (15') of the housing (15) and at the rear at the inner sleeve (24), and in this situation is configured as a pressure spring, such that the contact element (11) is constantly pressed against the lifting mechanism (20) with the circulating spheres (27).