WO2004105674A1

WO2004105674A1 - A body treatment apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2004105674A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/001739
Authority: WO
Inventors: Garth O'connor
Original assignee: Garth O'connor
Priority date: 2003-05-30
Filing date: 2004-05-27
Publication date: 2004-12-09

Abstract

The invention relates to a body treatment device that can form part of a body treatment apparatus whereby a massaging operation can be performed on the body of a person with the aid of compressed air and a treatment liquid entrained therein. The body treatment device includes a first body part including a handle formation and a head formation at one end of the handle formation and a second body part of a resiliently flexible material that fits on the head formation of the first body part. The two body parts define a passage configuration therethrough that provides for the body treatment device, in use thereof, performing its massaging operation both by compressed air impinging on the body part being massaged and by a hammer-type vibratory action that the device imparts on the body part.

Description

A BODY TREATMENT APPARATUS

THIS INVENTION relates to a body treatment apparatus.

It is known to perform a massaging operation on a body portion of a person by the manipulation of a body treatment device whereby a compressed air stream, possibly with a treatment liquid such an aromatherapy oil entrained therein, is impinged on the body portion. It has been found also that with the use of a suitable body treatment device, a hammer-type vibratory action on the body portion being massaged can be generated, which can serve to enhance significantly the massaging effect and, as such, the therapeutic benefits that are intended to be achieved, e.g. improved blood circulation, the breakdown of fat cells, the reparation of physical injuries, and the like.

The Applicant's Patent Cooperation Treaty Patent Application PCT/I BOO/00921 discloses a body treatment device that is particularly suitable for performing a massaging operation as above envisaged, the device comprising a T-shaped jet body of a substantially rigid material that defines a main leg and a cross member at one end of the main leg. The main leg defines a first passage leading from the free end thereof, that is connectable in line with a compressed air supply line, to a second passage defined within the cross member between locations spaced from opposite ends of the cross member. The cross member defines a convexly curved outer face facing away from the main leg and a plurality of outlet jet formations extending from the second passage to the said convexly curved outer face. In use, with the first passage, that is defined in the main leg of the jet body of the body treatment device, being connected in line with a compressed air supply line, a massaging operation is performed by displacing the body treatment device, while using the main leg as a handle formation, in defined strokes across the body portion being treated, with the convexly curved outer face defined by the cross member, where the outlet jet formations are defined, being manually urged to bear against the body portion. As a result of the configuration of the passages defined in the jet body and of the outlet jet formations, and also in conjunction with the natural uneven surface of the body portion being treated, it will be understood that as the jet body is manually urged to bear against the body portion being massaged, at least some outlet jet formations will be blocked-off by the body portion, causing a pressure build-up that will induce the jet body to be displaced away from the body portion. The blocked outlet jet formations will thereby unblock and the manual urging force on the jet body will cause it to again bear against the body portion being massaged. As a result, the hammer-type vibratory action referred to above is induced and maintained during treatment. The required massaging action thus occurs both as a result of the compressed air impinging on the body portion being massaged and the jet body bearing against the body portion in the vibratory mode described above.

It is believed that the massaging treatment as described above can be enhanced if the physical hammer-type vibratory action on the body of a person can be intensified and it is thus an object of this invention to provide a body treatment device with the use of which this can be achieved.

According to the invention there is provided a body treatment device including

a first body part that includes an elongate handle formation and a head formation at one end of the handle formation, the head formation defining an outer face portion that faces away from the handle formation and the first body part defining a passage formation therethrough that leads from the free end of the handle formation, where it is connectable to a compressed air supply line, to the said outer face portion defined by the head formation; and

a second body part that is formed of a resiliently flexible material and that fits tightly on the head formation of the first body part, the second body part including a membrane segment that is spaced from at least a segment of the said outer face portion of the head formation of the first body part to define a thin enclosed space, between the membrane segment and the said segment of the outer face portion of the head formation, that is in communication with the passage formation defined through the first body part, the membrane segment defining a plurality of outlet jet formations therethrough that lead from the said enclosed space.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the first body part of the body treatment device defines a shallow recess formation therein which is located within the perimeter of the said outer face portion of the head formation thereof and the membrane segment of the second body part stretches across the open end of the said recess formation to define the enclosed space between the said outer face portion of the head formation and the membrane segment of the second body part.

The said outer face portion of the head formation of the first body part may be a circular, substantially planar, face portion of the head formation. Alternatively, the said outer face portion of the head formation of the first body part may be an elongate convex face portion of the head formation, or any other profile face portion as determined by the massaging operation to be performed.

The outlet jet formations defined through the membrane segment of the second body part may be disposed substantially perpendicularly to the general plane of the membrane segment where the enclosed space between the membrane segment and the said outer face portion of the head formation of the first body part is defined. The membrane segment of the second body part typically defines between three and fifty outlet jet formations therethrough. Also, the thickness of the membrane segment of the second body part may be between 0,5mm and 10mm. The body treatment device of the invention also may include a connector formation that is located on the first body part at the free end of the handle formation thereof and that permits connection of a compressed air supply line into communication with the passage formation defined through the first body part.

The first body part of the body treatment device particularly is formed of a substantially rigid material, e.g. of aluminium, stainless steel, a synthetic plastics material, or the like.

The second body part typically is formed of one of a natural or synthetic rubber material and a silicone material, that is skin compatible so as not to cause skin irritation or damage resulting from skin contact thereby.

It will be understood that the exact features of the body treatment device of the invention, particularly in relation to the configuration of the said outer face portion of the head formation thereof, are greatly variable and that the invention also extends to all such different configuration body treatment devices which still include the essential principles of the device as herein defined.

A body treatment device, including the mode of use thereof, are described hereafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic sectional side view of a body treatment device, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic end view of the body treatment device of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 illustrates schematically the layout of a body treatment apparatus with which the body treatment device, as shown in Figure 1 , can be associated.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a body treatment device, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The body treatment device generally includes a first body part 12 and a second body part 24. The first body part 12 is formed of a substantially rigid material such as aluminium and includes a handle formation 14 and a head formation 16 at one end of the handle formation 14. The head formation 16 defines a substantially circular, planar outer face portion 18 that faces away from the handle formation 14 of the body part 12.

The first body part 12 defines a shallow recess 19 therein which is also circular in profile and which is located within the perimeter of the outer face portion 18 defined by the head formation 16 of the first body part 12. A passage formation further is defined through the first body part that leads from the free end 22 of the handle formation 16 thereof to the said outer face portion defined by the head formation 16, particularly in the region of the shallow recess 19, as shown.

The second body part 24 of the body treatment device 10 is formed of a resiliently flexible material and fits tightly on the head formation 16 of the first body part 12, the second body part including a membrane segment 26 that stretches across the open end of the recess 19. A thin, circular, enclosed space 28 is thus defined, essentially by the recess formation, between the head formation 16 of the first body part 12 and the membrane segment 26 of the second body part 24. A plurality of outlet jet formations 30 are defined within this membrane segment 26 of the second body part 24 and it will be understood in this regard that these outlet jet formations 30 will be effectively in communication with the passage formation 20 defined through the first body part 12 via the enclosed space 28 referred to above.

The body treatment device 10 includes also a connector formation 32 that is engaged with the handle formation 14 of the first body part 12 via complementary screw thread formations as shown, the connector formation 32 providing for the connection of a compressed air supply line 34 to the body treatment device 10, with the compressed air supply line being in communication with the passage formation 20 defined through the first body part 12.

It is particularly envisaged that between three and 50 outlet jet formations can be defined within the membrane segment 26 of the second body part 24 and that the thickness of this membrane segment can be between 0,5mm and 10mm. The second body part is formed of any suitable resiliently flexible material and particularly will be formed of a natural or synthetic rubber material, a silicone material, or the like, which is compatible with the skin of a person to ensure that skin irritation or damage cannot occur as a result of contact between this body part 24 and the skin of the body of a person, during use of the body treatment device 10, as is described in more detail hereafter.

Referring also to Figure 3 of the drawings, the body treatment device 10, in practice, is used in conjunction with body treatment apparatus, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 40 in Figure 3. The body treatment apparatus includes generally a compressor 42, that can provide for a supply of compressed air through a compressed air supply line 44 to the body treatment device 10. The supply line includes in line therewith a particle filter 48 and a water filter 50, the filters 48 and 50 providing for compressed air displaced from the compressor 42 to be effectively purified, thereby ensuring that compressed air cannot cause any injury to a person on whom a massaging operation is performed with the aid of the apparatus 40 and, particularly, the body treatment device 10.

The apparatus 40 includes further a liquid feed arrangement including a venturi formation 52 which communicates with a liquid supply conduit 54 connected to a liquid container 56 via a control valve 58. The configuration of this liquid feed arrangement is such that air flow through the venturi formation will induce liquid from the container 56 to be drawn into the flow line, when the valve 58 is in an open position. The valve clearly can serve also to control the rate of liquid feed into the flow line. At least the compressed air supply line segment 44.1 leading from the liquid feed arrangement is flexible, permitting manipulation of the body treatment device 10 to which it is connected in the manner as described hereafter, for performing a body massaging operation on the body of a person. The supply line 44, including the segment 44.1 , has high pressure qualities, accommodating an air pressure therein of at least five bar. In this regard, it is envisaged that the operating air pressure at which a massaging operation can be performed, with the aid of the apparatus, will vary between 0,5 bar and 3 bar, a particular pressure being determined by the requirements of the massaging operation to be performed. This is referred to in more detail hereafter.

It will further be appreciated that the intensity of compressed air impinging on the body of a person when performing a massaging operation as hereafter described will be determined on the pressure referred to above, as well as the size of the outlet jet formations 30 defined through the membrane segment 26 of the second body part 24 of the body treatment device 10, the size of these outlet jet formations typically being between 0,1 mm² and 12mm². The smaller these formations, the higher the intensity of air impinging on the body of a person.

In order to perform a massaging operation on a body portion of a person with the aid of the apparatus 40, and particularly the body treatment device 10, an aromatherapy oil, or the like, is charged into the liquid supply container 56, the choice of aromatherapy oil, or other liquid medium to be utilized in conjunction with a particular massaging operation, being determined by the nature of the massaging operation to be performed, as well as the particular body region to be treated. In this regard, the choice of liquid medium is greatly variable. Depending also on the particular massaging operation to be performed, a body treatment device having the most suitable features will be selected.

The compressor 42 is then activated and compressed air is displaced along the supply line 44 through the filters 48 and 50 and the venturi formation 52 towards the body treatment device 10. By opening the valve 58, a controlled volume of aromatherapy oil contained in the container 56 can be drawn into the passage through the venturi formation 52, thus providing for compressed air having the aromatherapy oil entrained therein to be emitted from the body treatment device 10 via the outlet jet formations 30.

A particular massaging operation is carried out by manually displacing the body treatment device 10, while holding it by the handle formation 14, in defined strokes across the body portion of a person to be massaged, particularly with the membrane segment 28 being urged against the body portion. It will be understood in this regard that the compressed air will impinge on the body portion, causing a massaging action. Also, as a result of the natural uneven surface of the body portion being massaged, individual outlet jet formations 30 will be temporarily blocked from time to time. Each time a number of outlet jet formations are so blocked, a pressure build-up will occur within the enclosed space 28, causing the membrane segment 26 of the second body part 24 to bulge outwardly against the body part being massaged, the increased intensity of air passing through the remaining holes simultaneously causing the device to be forced away from the body portion on which the massaging operation is being performed. As a result, the blocked passages will be unblocked, allowing the membrane segment to return to its normal position, while the manual force acting on the device will again displace the massaging face, as defined by the membrane segment 28, into contact with the body of the person. This will again result in at least some outlet jet formations being blocked and the above process repeating itself, this process naturally repeating itself at very short intervals and resulting in a hammer-type vibratory action to act on the body of the person. It has been found that this vibratory action significantly enhances the massaging action on the body of the person. Particularly as a result of the displacement of the membrane segment as described above, this vibratory action is relatively intense, the intensity thereof clearly being controllable by the air pressure within the compressed air supply line and the manual pressure with which the device is urged against the body of a person, which in turn will be determined by the required massaging operation being carried out.

It is submitted that the body treatment device as described can provide for effective massaging operations to be carried out on the body of a person having different therapeutic benefits, typically in relation to blood circulation, the breakdown of fat cells, the reparation of physical injuries, and the like. Also, with the second body part of the device being formed of a resiliently flexible material, the possibility of physical injury resulting from contact between the device and the body of a person is largely eliminated, possible excessive body contact also being prevented as a result of the displacement of compressed air through the outlet jet formations, which will act against the manual force acting on the device towards the body of a person.

Claims

1. A body treatment device including

2. A body treatment device as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the first body part defines a shallow recess formation therein which is located within the perimeter of the said outer face portion of the head formation thereof and the membrane segment of the second body part stretches across the open end of the said recess formation to define the enclosed space between the said outer face portion of the head formation and the membrane segment of the second body part.

3. A body treatment device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the said outer face portion of the head formation of the first body part is a circular, substantially planar, face portion of the head formation.

4. A body treatment device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the said outer face portion of the head formation of the first body part is an elongate convex face portion of the head formation.

5. A body treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the outlet jet formations defined through the membrane segment of the second body part are disposed substantially perpendicularly to the general plane of the membrane segment where the enclosed space between the membrane segment and the said outer face portion of the head formation of the first body part is defined.

6. A body treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the membrane segment of the second body part defines between three and fifty outlet jet formations therethrough.

7. A body treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the thickness of the membrane segment of the second body part is between 0,5mm and 10mm.

8. A body treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a connector formation that is located on the first body part at the free end of the handle formation thereof and that permits connection of a compressed air supply line into communication with the passage formation defined through the first body part.

9. A body treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first body part is formed of a substantially rigid material.

10. A body treatment device as claimed in Claim 9, in which the first body part is formed of aluminium.

11. A body treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second body part is formed of one of a natural or synthetic rubber material and a silicone material, that is skin compatible not to cause skin irritation or damage resulting from skin contact therewith.

12. A body treatment device substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.