EP1764073B1 - Massage device - Google Patents

Abstract

The massager consists of a body (2) in the shape of a handle topped by a frame (3), e.g. circular in shape, that surrounds a convex elastically-deformable membrane (4) with a surface shape that can be varied by exerting finger pressure from the back (8). The frame lies in a plane (P) at an angle of preferably 5 - 15 degrees to the lengthwise axis (X) of the handle, and the membrane can be attached to the frame by overmoulding or an interchangeable clip or threaded fastening. The massaging surface (6) of the membrane has undulating or other surface reliefs (7).

Description

The present invention relates to massage devices, especially the face.

Static massage members are known at the end of a handle. The US Patents 5,673,455 , US 5,020,182 , US 4,508,108 and US 4,463,485 disclose devices of this type.

The DE 487,266 patents and US 4,475,836 The subject of the invention is a massage device, comprising a fabric or a foam, each held on a support giving them a flat shape.

Dynamic massage devices comprising balls or rollers are also known. Licences EP 092 449 and US 4,427,001 disclose devices of this type.

Moreover, EP Patent 1,059,047 discloses an applicator having an articulated head. The applicator is a massage device comprising a handle comprising an elongated handle body and a frame, the device also comprising an elastically deformable massage member, defining a massage surface intended to come into contact with the region to be treated. treat, fixed at its periphery to the frame and can be deformed by the user by exerting pressure on the massage member on the opposite side to the massage surface, the massage member having an elastic membrane.

Finally, the demand FR 2 872 686 describes a handle for a cosmetic product applicator comprising two symmetrical recessed surfaces, defining an orifice.

The patent application GB 657 460 relates to a cleaning implement having a sponge held captive in the middle in a rod bent at its end to form a collar.

The invention aims to provide a massage device which is both comfortable to use, simple construction, hygienic and which allows in particular to treat areas of small extent, belonging for example to the face.

The invention thus relates to a massage device as defined in claim 1.

The massage action can be performed with or without product application.

The presence of the frame gives the massage member a great flexibility and also allows the user to exert, if desired, a pressure on the massage member, the side opposite the massage surface. The user can thus perform a massage more or less energetic, depending on the pressure exerted. The massage member can also be made so as to allow the user to stretch by exerting a thrust through the frame, to have for example a smaller contact area with the region to be treated.

In non-limiting examples of implementation of the invention, the massage member is arranged in such a way that its deformation by the user contributes to stiffening it.

The frame advantageously has a closed contour and a circular shape for example. Such a shape may facilitate attachment of a domed massage member having a convex massage surface to the outside.

The handle can be non-deformable. The handle can be other than a clamp. The device is devoid of articulation between the frame and the body of the handle.

The frame and the body can each be monolithic.

In non-limiting examples of the invention, the handle is bent and the frame extends substantially in a plane making an angle strictly less than 90 ° with the longitudinal axis of the body of the handle, better an angle between 1 ° and 80 °, better still between 5 ° and 15 °.

The massage surface is advantageously located on the side of the longitudinal axis of the body of the handle, which improves ergonomics for treating facial areas.

The massage member comprises an elastic membrane, being for example made of an elastomeric material. This can facilitate the washing of the massage member. The elastomeric material may be cellular or non-cellular.

The massage member is for example made at least partially, or entirely, especially in the case where the massage member is a membrane, silicone, nitrile, butyl, latex, vulcanizable elastomer or thermoplastic, SIS, SBS, SEBS, polyester elastomer, including Hytrel ^® , polyamide elastomer, Pebax ^® , EPDM elastomer, Santoprene ^® , elastomer PVC or EVA, this list is not exhaustive.

The membrane is solid, that is to say devoid of through holes. It may have reliefs other than micro-reliefs, due for example to the weaving of a fabric.

The side of the massage member opposite the massage surface is concave.

The membrane may be provided, on the side of the massage surface, with an attached structure, for example a net, a foam, a textile or a nonwoven.

The membrane may have a general shape extending beyond the frame.

The membrane has for example a generally domed shape, with or without undulations.

The massage surface can have reliefs, which can be distributed on it regularly or not. The reliefs may have an abrasive character, if any.

The massage member may comprise pins.

The massage member may be fixed by overmoulding on the handle. The massage member can still be glued or welded to the handle.

Alternatively, the massage member may be interchangeable, being for example fixed by snapping on the handle.

The massage member may comprise, on the opposite side to the massage surface, a finger allowing the user to deform the massage surface. This finger can be centered or eccentric. The user can in particular press the finger in the axis thereof to stretch the massage member and / or tilt the finger to change the general appearance of the massage member.

The device may comprise, on the opposite side to the massage surface, a rigid or semi-rigid intermediate piece enabling the user, by pressing on the latter, to deform the massage member, the intermediate massage piece being able to deform significantly when the user presses on it.

The intermediate piece is for example separated from the handle and retained on the device being attached to the massage member for example or retained between the frame and the membrane.

The intermediate piece may be non-full.

The intermediate piece may not be applied over the entire face of the membrane, having for example a star shape.

The device may comprise a second massage member, for example at another end of the handle, this second massage member being rotatable.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the body of the handle does not include a product reservoir and the device does not include a vibrator. It can be different.

A massage method is described in which the massage member of a massage device as defined above is applied to a region of the body or of the face and in which may be pressed with at least one finger on the massage member. on the opposite side to the massage surface.

• la figure 1 représente en vue de face un dispositif réalisé conformément à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une coupe longitudinale selon II-II de la figure 1,
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues analogues à la figure 2, illustrant l'utilisation du dispositif,
• la figure 5 illustre la fixation amovible de l'organe de massage sur le manche,
• la figure 6 représente un kit comportant plusieurs organes de massage interchangeables,
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique, en coupe longitudinale partielle, d'une variante de réalisation du dispositif,
• la figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 7 d'une autre variante de réalisation,
• la figure 9 représente une variante de réalisation de l'organe de massage,
• la figure 10 illustre la déformation de l'organe de massage de la figure 9,
• la figure 11 illustre la possibilité de prévoir une pièce intermédiaire du côté opposé à la surface de massage,
• les figures 12 à 16 illustrent différents exemples de reliefs pouvant être réalisés sur l'organe de massage,
• les figures 17 à 19 représentent d'autres variantes de réalisation de l'organe de massage, la figure 18 n'étant pas couverte par les revendications, et
• la figure 20 illustre la possibilité de prévoir un deuxième organe de massage sur le manche.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description, non-limiting examples of implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• the figure 1 represents in front view a device made according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a longitudinal section along II-II of the figure 1 ,
• the Figures 3 and 4 are similar views to the figure 2 , illustrating the use of the device,
• the figure 5 illustrates the removable attachment of the massage member on the handle,
• the figure 6 represents a kit comprising several interchangeable massage members,
• the figure 7 is a schematic view, in partial longitudinal section, of an alternative embodiment of the device,
• the figure 8 is a view similar to the figure 7 another variant embodiment,
• the figure 9 represents an alternative embodiment of the massage member,
• the figure 10 illustrates the deformation of the massage member of the figure 9 ,
• the figure 11 illustrates the possibility of providing an intermediate piece on the opposite side to the massage surface,
• the Figures 12 to 16 illustrate different examples of reliefs that can be performed on the massage member,
• the Figures 17 to 19 represent other embodiments of the massage member, the figure 18 not covered by the claims, and
• the figure 20 illustrates the possibility of providing a second massage member on the handle.

The massage device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a handle 2 having a body 11 forming a handle, elongate along a longitudinal axis X, and a head formed of a frame 3 supporting a massage member 4 which protrudes from the frame 3.

The body 11 is of generally flattened shape in the example under consideration, being of solid cross section.

The handle 2 can be made in a relatively rigid or flexible material, and bend or not to use. However, the frame 3 keeps a substantially constant orientation relative to the body 11, given the absence of articulation between the two.

In the example considered, the frame 3 has a closed contour and a generally circular shape when viewed from the front, extending along a plane P making an angle α with the longitudinal axis X included for example in 1 ° and 80 ° for example, close to 10 °.

The massage member 4 comprises in the example in question an elastomeric membrane, fixed at its periphery to the frame 3, having a generally convex shape towards the axis X, as can be seen in FIG. figure 2 .

The membrane 4 defines a generally convex massage surface 6, provided with reliefs 7, and a recessed surface 8 on which the user can press with the finger, as illustrated in FIG. figure 4 . The membrane 4 can deform elastically to conform to the shape of the treated region, as illustrated in FIG. figure 3 .

The membrane 4 may be fixed in various ways on the handle 2 and the frame 3 may for example be overmoulded on the membrane, or vice versa. Alternatively, it can be fixed by welding or gluing on the frame 3 or held thereon by a holding member, as described below.

It is also possible to provide a removable assembly of the massage member 4, which may in particular allow the user to clean it more easily or to select the massage member 4 depending on the treatment to be performed.

In the variant illustrated in figure 5 , the massage member 4 is configured to be fixed interchangeably on the handle 2, for example by virtue of a snap on the frame 3. The massage member 4 may comprise at its periphery a bead 9 arranged for snap into an annular groove 10 formed on the radially inner surface of the frame 3.

The removable attachment of the massage member 4 may allow the user to have a single handle 2 and several massage members 4 having different characteristics, the user can choose the massage member 4 suitable for a particular body or facial area and / or a type of treatment to be performed, eg, blood circulation stimulation, lymphatic drainage, dermoabrasion or application of a product.

The massage members 4 associated with the handle 2 have, for example, different reliefs 7.

We illustrated at the figure 7 the possibility for the handle 2 to include a removable frame 3, the massage member 4 being able in this case to be non-detachably connected to the frame 3.

The user can thus replace a frame 3 provided with a massage member 4 given by another frame 3 provided with a different massage member.

The frame 3 can for example be fixed removably on the body 11 of the handle by cooperating reliefs 12 and 13.

We can still, as illustrated in figure 8 , make the massage member 4 with a fixing portion 40, such as for example a relatively rigid ring, arranged to be fixed removably on the frame 3, for example by screwing.

Representatives Figures 9 and 10 an alternative embodiment in which the massage member 4 comprises, on the opposite side to the massage surface 6, a finger 16 which can be operated by the user to enable him to deform the massage member 4.

The user can thus, by manipulating the finger 16 with the thumb or index finger for example, give the massage surface 6 a particular shape, adapted to the region to be treated.

The user can still press the finger 16 to exert pressure with the massage member 4 on the region to be treated.

In the variant illustrated in figure 11 , the device 1 comprises an intermediate piece 18, on the opposite side to the massage surface 6, on which the user can press to deform the massage member 4. This intermediate piece 18 is for example retained between a rib 40 of the frame 3 and the massage member 4. The radially inner edge of the rib 40 defines the opening of the frame.

The intermediate piece 18 may have very different shapes and in particular do not completely cover the face facing the massage member.

The intermediate piece 18 may have a star shape, for example.

Different reliefs 7 can be made on the massage surface 6. according to the desired result, and these can be in the form of half-spheres as shown in FIG. figure 2 or pimples as shown in the figure 11 .

The massage surface 6 may comprise reliefs of different shapes, as illustrated in FIG. figure 13 .

The relief distribution 7 can be regular on the massage surface 6 or be irregular, as illustrated in FIG. figure 14 . Where appropriate, the massage member may have corrugations 23, as illustrated in FIG. figure 15 .

The reliefs 7 may extend in different directions when the massage member is at rest.

The reliefs 7 may have various configurations when the massage member is observed from above, in particular being arranged in a non-concentric or concentric manner, as illustrated in FIG. figure 16 .

The reliefs 7 may be made by molding material with the massage member 4, especially when the latter comprises an elastomeric membrane.

The massage member 4 may comprise an elastically deformable cellular membrane constituted by a foam, as illustrated in FIG. figure 17 .

We illustrated on the figure 18 , the embodiment of which is not covered by the claims, the possibility of fixing the massage member 4 on the frame 3 by means of a holding piece 30 independent of the massage member 4 and which is example fixed by snapping or face on the frame 3 to maintain the massage member 4 against it.

We illustrated at the figure 19 the possibility of producing the massage member 4 with a flexible membrane doubled, on the side of the massage surface, by an attached structure 31 such as for example a net or a foam.

In all the examples which have just been described, the handle 2 may be provided, on the opposite side to the frame 3, of a second massage member 36, which is for example rotating about an axis of rotation Z which is for example perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.

The invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

For example, the handle 2 may comprise a reservoir containing a product to be applied.

The device 1 may be provided with a vibrator.

The phrase "with one" should be understood as being synonymous with "having at least one" unless the opposite is specified.

Claims (22)

1. A massage device (1) comprising:

   an elongate handle (2) comprising a handle-forming body (11), and a frame (3) presenting an orientation that is substantially constant relative to the body (11); and

   an elastically-deformable massage member (4) defining a massage surface (6) for coming into contact with a region to be treated, said massage member having a periphery and being secured at its periphery to the frame (3), and being suitable for being deformed by a user by exerting pressure on the massage member (4) on its side (8) opposite from its massage surface (6), the massage surface being outwardly convex at rest and solid, the massage member comprising an elastic membrane, the side of the massage member opposite from the massage surface being concave.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (3) presents a closed outline.
3. A device according to the preceding claim, wherein the frame (3) presents a circular shape.
4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame (3) extends along a plane (P) forming an angle (α) relative to a longitudinal axis (X) of the body (11) of the handle that is strictly less than 90°.
5. A device according to the preceding claim, wherein the angle (α) lies in the range 1° to 80°, better in the range 5° to 15 °.
6. A device according to the preceding claim, wherein the membrane is made of elastomer.
7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the membrane is provided with a structure (31) fitted to the massage-surface (6) side.
8. A device according to the preceding claim, wherein the fitted structure is a net, a foam, a textile, or a nonwoven fabric.
9. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, at rest, the massage surface (4) presents a shape that projects beyond the frame, in particular a shape that is generally rounded.
10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the massage member (4) presents undulations (23).
11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the massage member (4) comprises portions in relief (7).
12. A device according to the preceding claim, in which the portions in relief (7) are distributed evenly over the massage surface (6).
13. A device according to the preceding claim 11, wherein the portions in relief (7) are distributed unevenly over the massage surface (6).
14. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the massage member (4) is secured to the handle (2) by being molded thereover.
15. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the massage member (4) is fastened to the handle in interchangeable manner, un particularly by snap-fastening or by screw-fastening.
16. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the massage member (4) is bonded or heat-sealed on the handle (2).
17. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the massage member comprises a finger (16) on its side opposite from its massage surface (6), enabling the user to deform the massage surface.
18. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an intermediate part (18) on its side opposite from its massage surface, enabling the user to deform the massage member by pressing against said intermediate part.
19. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the massage member comprises a net, a mesh, or a foam.
20. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the massage member comprises spikes.
21. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second massage member (36) at another end of the handle.
22. A device according to the preceding claim, in which the second massage member (36) is rotatable.

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