Massage head and massage apparatus using such a head

Abstract

The invention relates to a massage head which comprises a housing defining an inner chamber inside of which a skin fold is formed when the head is applied to the skin of a patient, said fold coming into contact with the lower edges of the chamber. Said chamber is defined by two side walls (12, 13) and by two transverse walls, at least one of said transverse walls being made up of a valve (10) to which a pivoting movement can be imparted, o as to move the lower edge (16) of said transverse walls towards and away from one another in contact with the skin fold. The valve (10) is hinged near the upper end thereof to the side walls (12, 13). The pivoting of the valve (10) is obtained by means of a gear reducer mounted stationary inside said valve, the output shaft of which drives the rotation of a cam, held in a cam race rigidly secured to one of the side walls of the inner chamber.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved massage head, intended for the mobilization of skin tissue.

[0002] It also relates to a massage device using such a head.

[0003] The objective of the present invention lies essentially in the simple and effective performance of massage operations, both on humans and on animals, tending in particular to optimize the mechanical stimulation of said cutaneous tissue during the pinching operation. PRIOR STATE OF TECHNOLOGY

[0004] Various massage techniques are known, the implementation of which depends on the treatments to be performed. Generally, these techniques aim to exert pressure on the patient through the application of pressure and / or pinching on the skin tissue.

[0005] To facilitate the practitioner's action, a large number of devices have been proposed. Among these devices, the first proposed was the implementation of devices using a simple mechanical action, for example by means of assemblies comprising balls or spheres mounted on a support housing, allowing, where appropriate, the simultaneous distribution or application of a treatment product such as a cream or gel, as described for example in document FR A 1 225 094.

[0006] It has also been proposed to replace this mechanical treatment with a skin suction treatment. For this purpose, the massage devices in question employ a treatment head connected to a suction circuit. This treatment head consists of a housing defining an internal chamber into which the suction circuit opens. When this massage head is applied to the patient's body, and due to the suction generated by the suction circuit, a skin fold forms inside the internal chamber. This skin fold presses against the peripheral edge of the internal chamber. The mechanical action can be exerted by rollers or balls that, in addition to the suction on the patient's body, apply pressure, displacement, and / or friction, notably through vibration.

[0007] The solutions proposed in this context lead to complex systems, difficult to implement, and which do not give complete satisfaction in terms of results.

[0008] Massage devices have also been proposed that can easily reproduce palpate-roll type massages, i.e., massages that involve applying continuous action to the patient, causing not only a localized pinching of the skin tissue, but also a progressive movement of the pinched area to cause the skin fold to roll, while applying pressure (see for example EP-A-0 224 422).

[0009] The devices described, for example in this document, comprise a manually operated housing inside which are mounted two parallel rollers, either freely rotating or positively driven in rotation within the housing. These rollers may be mounted on the housing at a fixed center distance, or conversely, may be able to automatically move apart and closer together during the massage operation. The housing itself is connected to suction means that create a vacuum between the rollers when the head equipped with these various elements is applied against the patient's body, so as to form a skin fold against the surface of the rollers.

[0010] In document EP 0 917 452, it was proposed to replace the rollers in question with two partitions attached inside the housing, hinged within the housing so as to allow for a pivoting movement. This housing is, again, connected to a suction source. Under the action of the suction, a skin fold is created, forming between the two partitions inside the housing. As the massage head, equipped with such a device, moves in one direction or the other against the patient's skin, the skin fold thus formed is subjected to a jerky pinching motion.

[0011] In the absence of constraint, the two partitions are kept apart from each other, for example by means of springs or magnets, the pivoting of said partitions and therefore the approach of one to the other resulting from the effect of the vacuum and / or depression generated inside the casing.

[0012] While such a device may be satisfactory, unavoidable leaks between the lower edge of the housing and the patient's skin can quickly break the vacuum or negative pressure, thereby affecting the treatment's effectiveness, particularly the pinching action of the two partitions. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for one or both partitions to become stuck due to the negative pressure generated within the housing's internal chamber, further compromising the treatment's efficacy.

[0013] It therefore follows that the tangential stimulation of the skin fold resulting from the action of the lower edge of said septa or flaps is insufficient, and that the desired pinching does not systematically have the desired effectiveness.

[0014] The objective of the present invention is therefore to optimize this mechanical stimulation inherent in pinching. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] To this end, the present invention relates to a massage head comprising a housing defining an internal chamber within which a skin fold is formed when it is applied to the skin of a patient, said fold coming into contact with the lower edges of the chamber, said chamber being defined by two lateral walls and by two transverse walls, at least one of said transverse walls being made up of a flap capable of being moved in a pivoting motion, so as to induce the approach and separation of the lower edge of said transverse walls in contact with the skin fold.

[0016] According to the invention, the valve is hinged near its upper end on the side walls.

[0017] In addition, the pivoting of the valve is achieved by means of a geared motor fixed inside said valve, and whose output shaft drives a rotating cam, received in a cam track attached to one of the side walls of the internal chamber.

[0018] In other words, the invention consists of motorizing the action of the valve(s) and thus no longer relying solely on the movement of the lower edge(s) of the valve(s) towards or away from each other under the action of a vacuum, so as to ensure, under all circumstances, effective pinching of the skin fold. The skin fold therefore results from the mechanical grip generated by the free lower edge of said valve(s). To this end, these valves are advantageously coated with a material with a high coefficient of friction, such as, for example, an elastomer.

[0019] In doing so, we effectively reproduce the so-called " pinch Jacquet» consisting of applying a series of pressures throughout the depth of the skin and in all directions.

[0020] The implementation of the mechanical actuation of the flap(s) to create this skin fold has the advantage of guaranteeing the return of the flaps to their original position, unlike prior art devices which only use suction, which, as mentioned above, can lead to the flaps sticking together, canceling any pinching action of the massage head.

[0021] According to the invention, the side wall opposite the one receiving the cam tracks can house an electronic board connected to a connector, accessible at the upper end of said side wall. By doing so, it is possible to supply the electrical energy necessary to power the geared motor integrated within said valve to this connector.

[0022] According to another feature of the invention, the massage head consists of two modules, equipped with means for reversibly joining them to each other. In doing so, in addition to optimized accessibility within the internal chamber they define, and consequently the possibility of changing the component parts of the head, it is also possible to ensure optimized cleaning of the various components of the latter.

[0023] According to another feature of the invention, the massage head is fitted with a sealing flap in the upper part of the internal chamber, designed to fit into recesses provided for this purpose. This optimizes the effectiveness of the massage head through the dual action of the inherent pinching of the flaps on the one hand, and the vacuum generated within the chamber on the other, when the chamber is actually connected to a suction source.

[0024] The invention also relates to a massage device incorporating such a massage head. This massage device includes a power source for operating the geared motor integrated into the valve(s) of the massage head. This massage device may also include a vacuum or negative pressure source associated with the massage head and opening into it. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the resulting advantages will be more apparent from the following example of implementation, given by way of illustration and not limitation in support of the attached figures. There figure 1 is a schematic perspective representation of the massage head according to the invention. figure 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a module forming part of the massage head of the invention, viewed from one side thereof. figure 3is a schematic exploded perspective view of said module seen from the other side. figure 4 is a detailed view of the figure 3 . There figure 5 is a schematic representation of the valve constituting the massage head according to the invention, in exploded view. figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of said massage half-head, mainly illustrating the power supply of the geared motor integrated into the flap. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] We have therefore illustrated in relation to the figure 1 a schematic view of the massage head 1 in accordance with the invention.

[0027] This is formed by joining two modules together. 2, 3, said solidarity being advantageously reversible.

[0028] When combined, these modules define an internal chamber within which a skin fold is formed.

[0029] This internal chamber is itself defined by two lateral walls, two transverse walls, and a bottom. 4. The side opposite the bottom is open, precisely to allow the formation of the skin fold inside the internal chamber.

[0030] The massage head is also equipped with covers. 5, articulated near the upper part of the transverse walls, and intended to form locking pieces for the modules together, and also on the upper part of the massage head (not shown).

[0031] These hoods 5 each have projections 6, designed to fit into corresponding recesses 7, provided for this purpose at the level of the back wall, in order to promote the joining of the two modules to each other on the one hand, and on the upper part of the massage head on the other hand.

[0032] This interlocking is also described in the patent application filed concurrently with the present application, and is more oriented towards the modular nature of the massage head.

[0033] According to one feature of the invention, the massage head comprises at least one valve 10 hinged near its upper end on the side walls 12 And 13 of one of the modules 2, 3 defining the massage head. In other words, the said valve constitutes at least part of the transverse wall mentioned above.

[0034] For this purpose, the valve 10 includes a pivot axis 14, whose two ends are received in a dwelling 15 provided on each of the two lateral faces 12 And 13.

[0035] This flap 10It has a height that corresponds approximately to that of the internal chamber defined by the massage head. However, it protrudes slightly from the lower end of the side walls, in order to optimize the pinching action.

[0036] This flap 10 presents a lower edge 16 rounded, advantageously coated with an elastomer material in order to optimize friction and consequently pinching action when the massage head is in contact with the patient's skin.

[0037] The side walls 12 And 13 present an internal volume allowing for the reception of, respectively, on the one hand, an electronic circuit, the function of which will be described later, and on the other hand, a cam track as illustrated within the figures 3 And 4 This volume is sealed by a plate. 17 (see figure 3 ) And 18 (see figure 6) for the purpose of protecting the elements contained within said volumes. These plates 17 And 18 are simply mechanically snapped onto the periphery in a completely traditional manner.

[0038] We have represented in relation to the figure 5 an exploded view of the valve 10 characteristic of the invention. It has a cross-section in the shape of a racetrack. Within the volume thus defined, an engine is housed 20 operating a reducer 21, of which we have represented by the reference 22 the output shaft of the reducer 21. In fact, the engine torque 20 - reducer 21 is attached to a side plate 23, fixed for example by means of screws 24 on one of the walls of the flap 10. Another plaque 25 comes to seal the other wall of the valve, which is also attached to it by means of screws 26.

[0039] We were represented within the figure 3 a first view of the side wall 12 incorporating mechanical elements designed to enable, in cooperation with the geared motor 20, 21 the pivoting of said valve 10. More specifically, this has been illustrated within this figure 3 a camel path 30 in this case constituted by a light 31 straight.

[0040] Within the figure 4 The various mechanical elements enabling the pivoting of said valve appear more precisely. 10. Thus, the output tree 22 of the reducer 21, in the case of a triangular cross-section, is received in an orifice of corresponding shape 33 sheltered within a came 32. This cam 32 is in fact made up of two cylinders, respectively 34 And 36, separated from each other by a linear portion.

[0041] The cylinder 36 comes to cooperate with the rectilinear light 31 described previously.

[0042] The output tree 22 of the geared motor 20, 21 in fact comes to cooperate with the cylinder 34 drugs 32, said cylinder 34 passing through the side wall 12 by a light 35 shaped like an arc of a circle.

[0043] It is therefore understandable that when the reducer 21, powered by the engine 20 drives the output shaft into rotation 22, it causes the cam to rotate 32. Due to its cooperation with the camel path 31, the cam rotation 32 causes the relative displacement of the lower end of the valve 10, in the form of its pivoting relative to its articulation axis 14. We therefore ensure the mobilization of the valve 10which pivots around its axis of articulation 14 by motorized means.

[0044] Consequently, the motor's power supply 20 can be ensured by means of an electronic card 40, fixed in the other side wall 13, and electrically powered via a connector 41 opening onto a light that passes through 42 provided for this purpose at the upper end of the volume defined by the side wall 13. This connector 41 cooperates with a complementary shaped connector (not shown), integrated at the level of the massage head.

[0045] Through the implementation of such an electronic card 40, It is indeed possible to predict all sorts of operating sequences for the valve. 10, depending on the intended treatment. It is notably possible to adjust the pivoting speed and the pulsation frequency of the valve(s).

[0046] According to the invention, and as already mentioned above, the massage head consists of two modules 2, 3 capable of being reversibly joined to one another. To this end, each module comprises, in its upper zone on the one hand and in the lower zone of its side walls on the other, mechanical means for joining them, respectively male 50 And 51, and females 52 And 53.

[0047] Conversely, when the massage head is mounted on a massage device equipped with a suction source, an orifice is defined 54 by assembling the modules together, at which point the communication zone with the source of negative pressure opens. In such a configuration, and in order to optimize the seal to promote the formation of the skin fold, the upper end of the internal chamber defined by the massage head is fitted with a valve 60,received in accommodations 61 cut into the inner wall of the side walls 12 And 13, as depicted on the figure 6 To promote a watertight seal within the internal chamber, the sealing surface of each module is fitted with a gasket. 2, 3 of a sealing gasket 62, received in accommodation 63 designed for this purpose.

[0048] As already mentioned, at least one of the valves is motorized. However, according to an advantageous version of the invention, the two transverse walls defining the internal chamber of the massage head with the lateral walls are each made up of a motorized valve of the type described above.

[0049] It is understood that by implementing such motorized flaps using a geared motor integrated within one or both flaps, the pinching action of these flaps on the skin fold is significantly optimized, independently of any source of negative pressure. In particular, the formation of the skin fold is promoted. Furthermore, lifting effects can be achieved on the treated skin because, simultaneously with the pinching of the skin between the flaps—that is, when they are in a close position—a traction is induced on the pinched skin fold, thereby improving the skin's elasticity, tone, and firmness.

[0050] Because of these different means, we achieve a significantly more effective mechanization action of the connective tissue, particularly for skin firming, drainage and reduction of fatty volumes, than the devices of the prior art.

Claims

1. A massage head comprising a casing defining an internal chamber having a skinfold formed therein when it is applied to a patient's skin, said fold coming into contact with the lower edges of the chamber, said chamber being defined by two lateral walls (12, 13) and by two transverse walls, at least one of said transverse walls being formed of a flap (10) capable of having a pivoting motion, to induce the coming closer and the drawing away from each other of the lower edges of said transverse walls in contact with the skinfold, said at least one flap (10) being hinged in the vicinity of its upper end on the lateral walls (12, 13); characterized in that he pivoting of the flap (10) is obtained by means of a geared motor (20, 21) fixedly assembled within said flap, and having its output shaft (22) rotating a cam (32), received in a cam race (31) rigidly attached to one of the lateral walls of the internal chamber.

2. The massage head of claim 1, characterized in that the free lower edge (16) of the flap(s) (10) is coated with a material having a high friction coefficient, such as for example elastomer.

3. The massage head of any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the lateral wall opposite to that receiving the cam races receives an electronic board (40) connected to a connector (41), accessible at the level of the upper end of said lateral wall.

4. The massage head of any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is formed of two modules (2, 3), provided with means (51, 52, 53, 54) capable of enabling to reversibly fasten them to each other.

5. The massage head of any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it receives a sealing shutter (60) in the upper portion of the internal chamber defined therein, capable of lodging itself in housings (61) provided for this purpose.

6. A massage device using the massage head of any of claims 1 to 5, and comprising an electric power source capable of actuating a motor (20) actuating the reducer (21).

7. The massage device of claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a vacuum or depression source associated with the massage head, and emerging into it.