EP3151806A1

EP3151806A1 - Massage head and massage apparatus using such a head

Info

Publication number: EP3151806A1
Application number: EP15725753.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arnaud Fuster
Original assignee: LPG Systems SA
Current assignee: LPG Systems SA
Priority date: 2014-06-06
Filing date: 2015-04-17
Publication date: 2017-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2035-04-17
Also published as: JP2017516525A; RU2659844C2; JP6564787B2; AR103105A1; HRP20180532T1; AU2015270361B2; IL248581B; BR112016025071A2; FR3021869A1; LT3151806T; PT3151806T; UA116420C2; HUE037051T2; US20180071165A1; TWI639422B; DK3151806T3; TN2016000456A1; TW201545738A; WO2015185814A1; RU2016141843A

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

MASSAGE HEAD AND MASSAGE APPARATUS IMPLEMENTING SUCH HEAD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved massage head for the mobilization of cutaneous tissue.

It also relates to a massage apparatus implementing such a head. The objective sought by the present invention lies essentially in the simple and effective manner of performing massage operations, both on human beings and on animals, tending in particular to optimize the mechanical stimulation of the cutaneous tissue during the operation. pinch. PRIOR STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Different massage techniques are known, the implementation of which depends on the treatments to be performed. In general, these techniques are intended to exert on the patient stresses involving pressure and / or pinching phenomena on or cutaneous tissue.

In order to facilitate the practitioner's action, a large number of devices have been proposed. Among these devices, it was first proposed the implementation of devices using a simple mechanical action, for example by means of assemblies comprising balls or balls mounted on a support housing, where appropriate to distribute or to apply concomitantly a treatment product of the cream or gel type, as for example described in document FR A 1 225 094.

It has also been proposed to substitute for this mechanical treatment a suction treatment of the skin of the patient. For this purpose, the massage devices in question implement a treatment head connected to a suction circuit, said treatment head being constituted by a housing defining an internal chamber inside which opens the suction circuit. . When this massage head is applied against the body of the patient, and because of the suction generated by the suction circuit, a skin fold is formed inside the internal chamber, a skin fold which leans against the peripheral edge of said inner chamber. The mechanical action as for it can be exerted by rollers or balls which make it possible to exercise concomitantly with the suction on the body of the patient, an action of pressure and / or displacement and / or friction, in particular by vibration.

The solutions proposed in this context lead to complex sets that are difficult to implement and which are not entirely satisfactory in terms of results.

It has also been proposed massage devices that can reproduce in a simple way palpate-rolling massage, that is to say consisting in exerting on the patient a continuous action, causing not only pinching localized skin tissue, but also a progressive movement of the pinched zone so as to cause rolling said skin fold and while exerting pressure (see for example EP-A-0 224 422). The devices described, for example in this document, comprise a manually operable housing inside which are mounted two parallel rollers, mounted free to rotate or positively rotated within the housing. These rollers can be mounted on the fixed-spaced housing, or on the contrary are capable of being able to move away and approach each other automatically during the massage operation, said housing being itself connected to suction means for creating a depression between said rollers when the head provided with these different elements is applied against the body of the patient, so as to form a skin fold bearing against the surface of the rollers. In EP 0 917 452, it has been proposed to replace the rollers in question by two partitions attached to the inside of the housing, articulated within the latter so as to be able to be driven by a pivoting movement, said housing being, again connected to a source of suction. Under the action of the suction, it creates a skin fold being inserted between the two partitions inside the housing. Due to the progression in one direction or the other of the massage head provided with such a device against the skin of the patient, the skin fold thus formed undergoes a jerky pinch.

In the absence of stress, the two partitions are held apart from each other for example by means of springs or magnets, the pivoting of said partitions and thus the approximation of one with respect to the other resulting the effect of vacuum and / or depression generated inside the housing. If such a device is satisfactory, however, it turns out that because of unavoidable leaks between the lower edge of the housing and the skin of the patient against which it applies, the vacuum or depression can be broken quickly, affecting in doing so the effectiveness of the treatment, and in particular the pinching action resulting from the two partitions. In addition, it is not uncommon that due to the depression generated in the internal chamber of the housing, there is a jamming of one or both partitions, thus affecting more importantly the effectiveness of treatment .

It follows therefore that the tangential stimulation of the cutaneous fold resulting from the action of the lower edge of said partitions or valves is insufficient, and that the desired pinching does not systematically have the desired efficiency.

The objective sought by the present invention is therefore to optimize this mechanical stimulation inherent in pinching.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the present invention provides a massage head comprising a housing defining an internal chamber within which is formed a skin fold 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 constituted by a valve capable of being driven by a pivoting movement, so as to induce the approaching and moving away from each other the lower edge of said transverse walls in contact with the skin fold.

According to the invention, the valve is articulated in the vicinity of its upper end on the side walls. In addition, the pivoting of the valve is obtained by means of a fixed gear motor mounted inside said valve, and whose output shaft drives a rotating cam, received in a cam path secured to one of the walls lateral of the internal chamber. In other words, the invention consists in motorizing the action of the valve (s) and thus no longer making the approaching or moving away of the lower edge of the valve (s) from one another under the sole action vacuum, so as to ensure, whatever the circumstances, an effective pinching of the skin fold. The skinfold therefore results from the mechanical catch generated by the free bottom edge of said valves. For this purpose, they are advantageously coated with a material with a high coefficient of friction, such as, for example, elastomer.

In doing so, we effectively reproduce the so-called technique of "Jacquet pinch" consisting of performing a succession of pressures throughout the depth of the skin and in all directions.

The implementation of the mechanical actuation of the valve or valves to achieve this skinfold has the advantage of ensuring the return of the valves to their original position, unlike devices of the prior art implementing only the suction, likely as recalled supra, to result in the gluing of said valves between them canceling any pinching action of the massage head.

According to the invention, the side wall opposite to that receiving the cam paths can receive an electronic card connected to a connector, accessible at the upper end of said side wall. In doing so, it is possible to route at this connector the electrical energy necessary to cause the operation of the integrated geared motor within said valve. According to another characteristic of the invention, the massage head consists of two modules, provided with means capable of allowing their reversible connection to one another. In doing so, in addition to the optimized accessibility within the internal chamber they define, and corollary the possibility of changing the component parts of the head, it is also possible to ensure optimized cleaning of the various constituents of the latter.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the massage head receives a sealing flap in the upper zone of the internal chamber, adapted to be housed in housings provided for this purpose. In doing so, the effectiveness of the massage head is optimized by the double action of the pinch inherent in the valves on the one hand and the depression generated within the chamber on the other hand, when the latter is actually connected to a suction source. The invention also relates to a massage device implementing such a massage head. This massage device comprises a power source capable of operating the integrated gear motor in the valve or valves of the massage head. This massage device is also likely to include a source of vacuum or depression associated with the massage head, and opening therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The manner in which the invention can be realized and the advantages which result therefrom will emerge more clearly from the exemplary embodiment which follows, given by way of indication and not limitation, in support of the appended figures.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation in perspective of the massage head according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a module used in the constitution of the massage head of the invention, seen from one side thereof. Figure 3 is a schematic perspective exploded view of said module seen from the other side.

Figure 4 is a detailed view of Figure 3.

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 half-massage head, mainly illustrating the power supply of the geared motor integrated in the valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Thus, with reference to FIG. 1, a schematic view of the massage head 1 according to the invention is illustrated.

This is constituted by the connection between them of two modules 2, 3, said joining being advantageously reversible.

These modules define, when they are associated with each other, an internal chamber inside which is formed a skin fold. This inner chamber is itself defined by two side walls, two transverse walls, in addition to a bottom 4. The opposite side to the bottom is open, to precisely allow the formation of the skin fold inside the inner chamber. The massage head is also provided with hoods 5, hinged in the vicinity of the upper part of the transverse walls, and intended to constitute locking pieces of the modules together, and further on the upper part of the massage head (not shown). . These covers 5 are each provided with projections 6 intended to fit in corresponding recesses 7, provided for this purpose at the bottom wall, to promote the joining of the two modules together on the one hand, and on the upper part of the massage head on the other hand. This bonding is moreover described in the patent application filed concurrently with the present application, and more oriented to the modular nature of the massage head.

According to a feature of the invention, the massage head comprises at least one valve 10 articulated in the vicinity of its upper end on the side walls 12 and 13 of one of the modules 2, 3 defining the massage head. In other words, said valve is at least part of the transverse wall mentioned above.

For this purpose, the valve 10 comprises a pivot axis 14, whose two ends are received in a housing 15 formed at each of the two lateral faces 12 and 13.

This valve 10 has a height substantially corresponding to that of the inner chamber defined by the massage head. However, it slightly protrudes from the lower end of the side walls, in order to optimize the pinching action.

This valve 10 has a rounded lower edge 16, advantageously coated with an elastomeric material for the purpose of optimizing the friction and corollarily the pinching action when the massage head is in contact with the skin of the patient. The side walls 12 and 13 have an internal volume for receiving respectively an electronic circuit, the function of which will be described later, and a cam path as shown in FIGS. volume is closed by a plate 17 (see Figure 3) and 18 (see Figure 6) for the purpose of protecting the elements contained in said volumes. These plates 17 and 18 are simply mechanically clipped in a quite traditional manner on the periphery.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the valve 10 characteristic of the invention. It has a racetrack-shaped cross section. Within the volume thus defined, are housed a motor 20 actuating a gear 21, which has been represented by reference 22 the output shaft of the gearbox 21. In fact, the motor torque 20 - gear 21 is secured to a side plate 23, fixed for example by means of screws 24 on one of the walls of the valve 10. Another plate 25 closes the other wall of the valve, also secured thereto by means of screws 26.

FIG. 3 shows a first view of the side wall 12 incorporating mechanical elements adapted to allow, in cooperation with the gearmotor 20, the pivoting of said valve 10. More specifically, has been illustrated within this FIG. 3 a cam track 30 in this case constituted by a rectilinear slot 31.

Within FIG. 4, the different mechanical elements allowing the pivoting of said valve 10 appear more precisely. Thus, the output shaft 22 of the gearbox 21, in this case triangular cross-section, is received in an orifice of corresponding shape 33 formed in a cam 32. This cam 32 is in fact made up of two cylinders, respectively 34 and 36, separated from each other by a linear portion.

The cylinder 36 cooperates with the rectilinear light 31 described above.

The output shaft 22 of the gearmotor 20, 21 in fact cooperates with the cylinder 34 of the cam 32, said cylinder 34 passing through the side wall 12 by a light 35 of arcuate shape. It is therefore conceivable that when the gear 21 actuated by the motor 20 rotates the output shaft 22, it causes the rotation of the cam 32. Due to the cooperation thereof with the cam path 31, the rotation of the cam 32 causes the relative displacement of the lower end of the valve 10, in the form of the pivoting thereof relative to its hinge axis 14. Thus ensures the mobilization of the valve 10 which pivots around its axis of articulation 14 in a motorized manner.

Corollary, the power supply of the motor 20 can be provided by means of an electronic card 40, fixed in the other side wall 13, and electrically powered by means of a connector 41 opening at a through hole 42 formed for this purpose at the upper end of the volume defined by the side wall 13. This connector 41 cooperates with a connector of complementary shape (not shown), integrated at the level of the massage head. By the implementation of such an electronic card 40, it is in fact possible to provide any kind of operating sequence of the valve 10, depending on the treatment envisaged. It is possible in particular to adjust the speed of the pivoting, and the beat frequency of the valve or valves. According to the invention, and as already mentioned above, the massage head consists of two modules 2, 3 may be reversibly secured to one another. For this purpose, each of the modules comprises in the upper zone on the one hand and in the lower zone of the lateral walls on the other hand, mechanical, securing means respectively male 50 and 51, and female 52 and 53.

In parallel, when the massage head is mounted on a massage device provided with a suction source, an orifice 54 is defined by assembling the modules together, at the level of which the communicating zone with the source of depression. In such a configuration, and in order to optimize the tightness for the purpose of promoting the formation of the skin fold, the upper end of the internal chamber defined by the massage head is provided with a valve 60 received in housings. 61 formed at the inner wall of the side walls 12 and 13, as shown in Figure 6. In order to promote sealing within the internal chamber, is provided the joint plane of each of the modules 2, 3 of a seal 62, received in a housing 63 provided for this purpose. As already indicated, at least one of the valves is motorized. However, according to an advantageous version of the invention, the two transverse walls defining with the side walls the internal chamber of the massage head, each consist of a motorized valve, of the type described above.

It is conceivable that by the implementation of such motorized valves by means of an integrated geared motor within one or both of the valves, the action of the pinching of these on the bend is decisively optimized. cutaneous, regardless of any source of depression. In particular, the formation of the skin fold is promoted. In addition, it is possible to achieve lifting effects on the treated skin since simultaneously with the pinching of the skin between the valves, that is to say when they are in the close position of one another, induces a traction on the fold of skin thus pinched, thus allowing to work the elasticity, the tonicity and the firmness of the skin.

Because of these different means, it leads to a much more effective action of connective tissue mechanization, especially for the skin firming, drainage and reduction of fat than the devices of the prior art.

Claims

A massage head comprising a housing defining an internal chamber within which a skinfold is formed when it is applied to the skin of a patient, said ply contacting the lower edges of the chamber, said chamber being defined by two side walls (12, 13) and two transverse walls, at least one of said transverse walls being constituted by a valve (10) capable of being pivotally actuated, so as to induce the approximation and the removal from each other of the lower edge of said transverse walls in contact with the skin fold, characterized:

In that said at least one valve (10) is articulated in the vicinity of its upper end on the side walls (12, 13);

And in that the pivoting of the valve (10) is obtained by means of a geared motor (20, 21) fixedly mounted inside said valve, and whose output shaft (22) drives a cam (32). in rotation, received in a cam path (31) integral with one of the side walls of the inner chamber.

Massage head according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower free edge (16) of the valve or valves (10) is coated with a high friction material, such as for example elastomer.

Massage head according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the side wall opposite to that receiving the cam paths receives an electronic card (40) connected to a connector (41), accessible at the end upper side of said side wall.

Massage head according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it consists of two modules (2, 3), provided with means (51, 52, 53, 54) adapted to allow their reversible attachment to the one to another.

Massage head according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it receives a sealing flap (60) in the upper zone of the internal chamber defined therein, adapted to be housed in housings (61 ) provided for this purpose. Massage device implementing such a massage head according to one of claims 1 to 5, and comprising a source of electrical energy adapted to actuate a motor (20) actuating the geared motor (21).

Massage device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a source of vacuum or depression associated with the massage head, and opening therein.