BE1008250A6 - SPHERICAL MASSAGE DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A spherical massage device comprises a spherical core on which are formed several circular slots at regular intervals in an essentially angular manner, each extending along a large circle of the spherical core to meet at the level of an upper pole and d 'a lower pole of the spherical core and several massage elements in plate having a determined shape and held to slide inside the circular slots. Each of the massage elements has at least one round head projection formed on the outer surface thereof opposite the spherical core and a retaining means connected to an opposite inner surface, facing the spherical core, by a leg which is housed sliding inside one of the circular slots to slide the massage element on the spherical core.

Description

DESCRIPTION

SPHERICAL MASSAGE DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a massage device and, in particular, to a spherical massage device to be held in the hands on which are mounted movable massage elements, intended also to serve as a reflection game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Massage is a popular treatment for relaxing tense muscles and restoring vigor to the tired human body. Various massage devices for different parts of the human body are marketed at present. However, there is no massage device designed specifically for hand massage.

In addition, some of the commercially available massage devices have a very complex structure and are therefore expensive, fragile and difficult to repair and maintain.

It is therefore desirable to provide an inexpensive massage device, of simple structure and intended particularly for massaging the hands while being able to serve as a puzzle game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention to provide a spherical massage device of dimensions to hold it in the hands for the massage thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spherical massage device comprising several massage elements slidably attached to a spherical core, each of the massage elements having at least one projection with a variable number of round heads to be moved by the user. as a puzzle game, especially for the blind because they can feel the projections using the fingers of the hands holding the spherical massage device.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by a spherical massage device comprising a spherical core in which are formed several circular slots at regular intervals in an essentially angular manner, each of them extending along a large circle of the spherical core to meet at the level of an upper pole and a lower pole of the spherical core and several plate massage elements having a determined shape and kept sliding inside the circular slots. Each of the massage elements has at least one projection with a round head formed on the external surface thereof opposite the spherical core and a retaining lug connected to an opposite internal surface thereof turned towards the spherical core by a leg which is slidably housed inside one of the circular slots for slidingly retaining the massage element on the spherical core.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other objectives and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a spherical core structure of a spherical massage device constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partially exploded cross-section showing the spherical core structure of the spherical massage device of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a cross section showing the spherical massage device of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the spherical massage device of the present invention held in the hands, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the spherical massage device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings and, in particular, to Figs. 3 and 4, in which is shown a spherical massage device constructed in accordance with the present invention, generally designated by the reference 100, the spherical massage device 100 comprises a spherical core 300, shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2 on which several plate massage elements 60 are slidably mounted, having a polygonal shape, for example a hexagonal shape according to FIGS. 4 and 5. It is obvious that other shapes, such as a circle, can also be used.

With particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2 in which the spherical core 300 of the spherical massage device 100 of the present invention is shown, the spherical core 300 comprises a hollow spherical body 320 1 (FIG. 2) consisting of an upper hemispherical element 10 and a hemispherical element 2 0 which are essentially identical. The spherical body 320 respectively defines an upper pole 110 and a lower pole 210 opposite at the level of the hemispherical elements 10 and 20 and a circle of equator 330 which is a large circle of the spherical body 320 essentially perpendicular to a line extending between the poles 110 and 210 and along which the hemispherical elements 10 and 20 are fixed to each other.

Each of the upper and lower hemispherical elements 10 and 20 carries several orifices he or 21 at angularly regular intervals. Each of the hemispherical elements 10 and 20 also has a central upright 412 or 422 extending from the pole 110 or 210 thereof towards the equator circle 330 to meet in a plane coinciding with the equator circle 330. A orifice 12 is formed on the upper central upright 412 so as to form an opening on the upper pole 110 to accommodate a bolt 10A which has an overhanging portion of the upper central upright 412 to engage by thread with an internal thread orifice of the lower central upright 422 so as to fix the upper and lower hemispherical elements 10 and 20 to each other in order to form the spherical body 320.

Preferably, a washer 10B is placed inside the orifice 12 to support the bolt 10A inside the orifice 12.

An end plug 50 is fitted tightly in the opening of the orifice 12 to seal the opening of the orifice in order to ensure the smooth surface of the spherical body 320 at the height of the upper pole 110.

Each of the upper and lower hemispherical elements 10 and 20 comprises several connecting pins 13 or 23 intended to be housed in a friction fit manner in corresponding orifices 14 or 24 formed inside the hemispherical elements 10 and 20 to more securely hold the two hemispherical elements 10 and 20 connected and to contribute to the reciprocal fixing of the two hemispherical elements 10 and 20.

The hollow spherical core 300 also comprises several upper and lower profiled elements 30 and 40 respectively housed and fixed inside each of the upper and lower orifices 11 and 21 to define between them on the spherical body 3 20 several guide slots IA and 2A at regular angular intervals (Fig. 1), each of them extending along a large circle crossing the poles 110 and 210.

Each of the upper profiled elements 30 comprises an internal projection 31 (FIG. 2) intended to be housed flush and therefore held in each of the upper orifices 11. Likewise, each of the lower profiled elements 40 comprises an internal projection 41 intended to be flush mounted and held inside each of the lower orifices 21. Each of the upper profiled elements 30 is associated with one of the lower profiled elements 40 and meet along an arc of the equator circle 330. With such an arrangement, each of the upper guide slots IA is joined by one of the lower guide slots 2A in order to; defining a circular guide slot extending along a large circle of the spherical body 320.

The profiled elements 30 and 40 are dimensioned and fixed to the spherical body 320 so that the distance 350 I (Fig. 1 and 2) is formed between each of the profiled elements 30 and 40 and the spherical body 320 along each of the slots guide IA and 2A, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Preferably, the upper hemispherical element 10 i carries several small raised parts 15 located in places such that, when the upper profiled elements 30 are fixed to the upper hemispherical element 10 to form the upper guide slots IA, the small parts raised 15 are respectively I centered at each of the upper guide slots IA. Likewise, the lower hemispherical element 20 has several small raised parts 25 to be centered in each of the lower guide slots 2A. The function of the raised parts 15 and 25 will be explained below.

Likewise, a raised portion of upper pole 51 is formed on the upper pole 110 and a raised portion of lower pole 26 is formed on the lower pole 210.

I Both perform the same function as the raised parts 15 and 25.

Similarly, each of the upper profiled elements 30 comprises an internal projection 32 located near the end; of the latter to support the profiled element 30 on the upper hemispherical element 10 with a view to more precise formation of the intermediate spacing 350. Similarly, each of the lower profiled elements 40 includes an internal projection 42 located near the end of the latter to support the profiled element 40 on the lower hemispherical element 20 for the purpose of more precise formation of the intermediate spacing 350. .

Preferably, a recessed portion is formed on each side of the profiled elements 30 and 40 and extends along each side of that of the pairs of guide slots IA and 2A which is associated with them to provide a recessed region 340 (FIG. 1) in which the pair of guide slots IA and 2A is essentially centered.

The different massage elements 60 each having at least one projection with a round head 62 formed on an external surface of these are slidingly housed inside the recessed regions 340 by having a retaining tab 61 which is connected to a surface internal of each of the massage elements 60 by a leg 63 (FIG. 1) housed slidingly in the distance 350 and the leg 63 being housed slidingly inside the pair of associated guide slots IA and 2A. The retaining tab 61 of each of the massage elements 60 is located inside the distance 350 between the profiled elements 30 or 40 and the spherical body 320 with its upright 63 housed slidingly inside the pair of guide slots IA or 2A associated so as to keep the massage element 60 inside the recessed region 340 sliding.

Once the user holds the spherical massage device 100 in his hands 90 (Fig. 4) and rolls it there, the round head projections 63 touch and thus massage the muscles of the hands 90.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the massage elements 60 comprises the same number of projections 63 on its surface. To distinguish them, the massage elements 60 which are located inside the same pair of guide slots IA and 2A can have the same color.

The number of round head protrusions 62 of each of the massage elements 60 may differ from that of other massage elements 60, as shown in FIG. 5. Preferably, the number of round head projections 62 of the massage elements 60 which are located inside the same pair of guide slots 1entes and 2A is identical. This allows a blind person who is unable to distinguish the massage elements 60 by their color to recognize the massage elements 60.

In accordance with the present invention, the spherical massage device 100 can also serve as a reflection game, in particular for the blind, the massage elements mixed beforehand having to be moved along the guide slots IA and 2A to bring the massage elements of the same group, either of the same color, or with the same number of projections 62 to move back towards the same slot.

To handle the spherical massage device 100 of the present invention as a reflection game, at least one of the massage elements 60 must first be removed to leave a space to move the other massage elements 60 along the guide slots IA and 2A.

The raised parts 15 and 25 which are formed on the hemispherical elements 10 and 20 serve to provide friction contact with the massage elements 60 so as to firmly hold the massage elements 60 above them and thereby prevent the massage elements 60 to move freely at random.

It will appear that, although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art can make changes to certain features of the preferred embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention as it stands. defined in the claims.

Claims (10)

1. Spherical massage device comprising a spherical core in which are formed several circular slots at regular intervals in an essentially angular manner, each extending along a large circle of the spherical core to meet at the level of an upper pole and of a lower pole of the spherical core and several plate massage elements having a given shape and held to slide inside the circular slots, each of said massage elements having at least one projection with a round head formed on an external surface this opposite to the spherical core and a retaining means connected to an opposite internal surface thereof and turned towards the spherical core, said retaining means being slidably housed inside one of the circular slots for retaining sliding the massage elements on said spherical core. 2. A spherical massage device according to claim 1, wherein said spherical core consists of a spherical body which comprises an upper hemispherical element and a lower hemispherical element fixed to each other by fixing means to form said hollow spherical body, several upper profiled elements being fixed to said upper hemispherical element at regular angular intervals to define several upper grooves, each extending along an arc of a large circle of said spherical core, several lower profiled elements being fixed to said hemispherical element lower angularly at regular intervals to define several lower grooves, each extending along an arc of a large circle of said spherical core, said upper and lower profiled elements being molded, formed and located in association with each other each other so that each one says s upper grooves is associated and joins one of said lower grooves to define each of said circular slots, each of said profiled elements being spaced from said spherical core along the sides of each of said circular slots, said retaining means for holding each of said elements massage on said spherical core comprising a retaining means connected to the internal surface of the massage element by a leg with said retaining means located inside the space between said upper and lower profiled elements and said spherical core and the leg slidingly housed inside the guide slot. 3. A spherical massage device according to claim 1, wherein said spherical core has a recessed region extending along each of the two opposite sides of each of said circular slots for slidingly accommodating the plate massage elements therein. 4. A spherical massage device according to claim 2, wherein said fixing means comprises an upper central post extending from said upper hemispherical element in which is formed a deep hole, a bolt being housed inside the deep hole and a part thereof projecting from the upper central orifice to engage by net with a lower central upright extending from said lower hemispherical element so as to join said upper and lower hemispherical elements. 5. A spherical massage device according to claim 4, in which said fixing means also comprises several connecting uprights extending from said upper and lower hemispherical elements so as to be housed firmly inside the corresponding orifices. formed inside said upper and lower hemispherical elements. 6. Spherical massage device according to claim 1, wherein each of said circular slots contains raised parts to ensure engagement by friction contact with said massage elements. 7. A spherical massage device according to claim 2, in which each of the upper and lower profiled elements has an internal projection to come into contact with said spherical core for a more precise definition of the intermediate spacing. 8. Spherical massage device according to claim 1, wherein said massage elements have a polygonal shape. 9. Spherical massage device according to claim 8, wherein said massage elements have a hexagonal shape. 10. Spherical massage device according to claim 1, wherein the massage elements located inside the different circular slots have different colors.