EP0538142B1 - Roller massage device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a skin massage device of the mechanical action type comprising, in combination, means for detaching the subcutaneous connective tissue, acting simultaneously with means for stirring the internal walls of said connective tissue.

In the past it was known to take off the connective tissue either by suction cups or by pulsed air jet or by vibrating means or by crushing between two rollers, this removal of the tissue preceding that of manual massage which ensures the mixing of the internal walls of the tissue.

French Patent No. 1,590,131 proposes to replace the operation of detachment and manual stirring by associated mechanical means and describes a massage device which comprises in combination suction means causing the detachment of the connective tissue and pressure means which allow the internal walls of said connective tissue to be brought into contact, the latter means being dynamic in order to ensure internal mixing in this position.

Such means, if they have contributed to technical progress in this field of application, nevertheless have a certain number of drawbacks.

In fact, the suction causing the skin to be suctioned is generated by a vacuum pump connected by a flexible hose to a pipe opening into a cell of the device, in which the skin is lodged by suction and which is arranged between two rollers. suitable for stirring the fold of skin thus formed.

In fact this aspiration is carried out against the action of the rollers and causes a reciprocal sliding of the connective walls of the subcutaneous tissues.

In such a system the action of the rollers on the skin is carried out only against the suction force which is necessarily limited and which provides a massage which is too soft in certain cases.

In addition, it is well understood that such a device employing a vacuum pump is necessarily expensive and bulky.

Also it requires the addition of a flexible suction pipe, which is added to the electrical supply wire of the drive motor of the roller, leading to the production of an uneasy handling device.

The present invention aims to remedy these various drawbacks and for this purpose relates to a skin massage device according to claim 1.

The skin fold thus formed between the two rollers moves on the skin at the same time as and in the same direction as the latter, which produces a particularly effective massage effect. This massage effect is obtained using very simple means, without suction and very convenient for the user.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale d'un appareil de massage selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne brisée II/II de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne III/III de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne IV/IV de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne V/V de la figure 3 ;
• les figures 6 à 8 sont des vues en coupe transversale simplifiées montrant la cinématique de fonctionnement de l'appareil pour un décollement et un brassage du tissu.

The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example, will make it easier to understand how the invention is implemented:

• Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a massage device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view along the broken line II / II of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III / III of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a sectional view along line IV / IV of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line V / V of Figure 3;
• Figures 6 to 8 are simplified cross-sectional views showing the operating kinematics of the device for detachment and mixing of the fabric.

According to a preferred embodiment the massage device 1, designated as a whole, consists of a housing 2 ergonomically designed for a good grip by the user and enclosing for the front AV a first driving roller 3 and towards the rear AR a second driven roller 4.

The front and rear rollers 3 and 4 are arranged in a substantially parallel manner between two bearings 3A, 3B and 4A, 4B respectively secured to an element of the housing 2.

According to the invention, the device comprises detachment and stirring means constituted precisely by the front rollers 3 and rear 4. The roller 3 constitutes a driving roller thanks to an electric drive motor 5 acting on it by means of a reduction gear train 6, designated as a whole.

• un pignon moteur A entraîne un pignon B
• le pignon B entraîne le pignon C
• le pignon C entraîne le pignon D qui est disposé librement sur le même axe X-X′ sue le pignon B
• le pignon D entraîne le pignon E qui est disposé librement sur le même axe Y-Y′ que le pignon C
• le pignon E entraîne le pignon F
• le pignon F entraîne le pignon G
• le pignon G entraîne le pignon H qui en liaison avec le rouleau 3 par l'intermédiaire des moyens 7 sur le même axe Z Z′ dudit rouleau 3.

This train is schematically constructed as follows:

• a drive pinion A drives a pinion B
• the pinion B drives the pinion C
• the pinion C drives the pinion D which is arranged freely on the same axis XX ′ on the pinion B
• the pinion D drives the pinion E which is arranged freely on the same axis YY ′ as the pinion C
• the pinion E drives the pinion F
• the pinion F drives the pinion G
• the pinion G drives the pinion H which in connection with the roller 3 via the means 7 on the same axis ZZ ′ of said roller 3.

The diameters and teeth of the pinions A to G are determined according to the gear ratio sought.

In any event, this ratio will be such as to obtain a speed of rotation of the roller 3 greater than that of the roller 4.

Consequently, the roller 3 is driven in a direction of rotation F₁ identical to the direction of rotation F₂ of the roller 4 when it is driven, during a movement F of the device, by means of a skin sliding fold 8 , which forms between said rollers 3 and 4 and is housed in a suitable bowl 9 made under the apparatus 1, as soon as it is started.

In this case, the difference in rotational speed between the front and rear rollers 3 and 4 is obtained by permanent braking of the driven roller 4 by means of friction means 10 acting on the latter 4 according to a determined coefficient of friction.

These friction means 10 are constituted by a disc 11 integral in rotation with said roller 4 by means of a pinion 12 in connection with the roller 4 by means 13 disposed on its axis W-W ′.

The disc 11 is movable in translation according to a play determined on an axis 14, to come to bear freely on a fixed lining 15 forming a brake shoe, by means of an elastic thrust member 16, such as elastic washer or spring, calibrated according to the friction coefficient to be obtained and having the role of automatic wear compensator for the lining 15. The rear driven roller 4 and the front driving roller 3 are arranged at a variable distance between a distance L corresponding to a first pinch position of the fold 8 and a distance L ′ corresponding to a second, less strong pinch position of said fold 8. This is obtained by means of adjustment 17 (Figure 4) disposed, at least in part, on the rear roller 4 and which are constituted by slots 18 formed opposite one another on two opposite end walls 19 articulated on the casing 2 by the yoke 23. The slots 18 in this case comprise two adjustment notches 20 and 21 offset between them angularly and capable of constituting in turn a bearing 4A to a rotation shaft 22 of the rear roller 4.

Of course, other means are possible for adjusting the distance between the two rollers.

As can be seen from the comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3, the length of the front roller 3 offers a greater path than that of the rear roller 4.

The front 3 and rear 4 rollers consist of a succession of toothed drive elements 3C, 4C of curved longitudinal profile, the cross section of which is inscribed in a circle and comprising an axial housing 23, 24 of shape corresponding to a drive square 23A, 24A formed by the same shaft of the corresponding roller 3, 4, on which said toothed elements 3C, 4C are threaded.

The toothed drive elements 3C forming the front driving roller 3 are offset from each other so that each of the 3D teeth of one is arranged between two consecutive teeth (3D) of the other.

The toothed drive elements 4C forming the rear roller 4 can also be offset from one another.

The operation of the device is based on the following principle: the front roller 3 rotating faster than the rear roller 4, for an imposed direction F of displacement, it is obtained simultaneously by friction, on the one hand the detachment of the tissue for the constitution of a skin fold 8 between said rollers 3, 4, and on the other hand the stirring of the fold 8 thus formed during a translational movement of the device 1 according to F, having the effect to cause the continuous sliding of said fold 8 between the rollers 3, 4 for the massage of a corresponding area of skin.

• on met sous tension le moteur 5 ayant pour effet de faire tourner le rouleau avant 3 dans le sens F₁,
• on pose selon le sens F₃ le rouleau arrière 4, qui est freiné et pour l'instant immobile, sur la peau 8A (figure 6),
• on bascule l'appareil 1 en rotation selon le sens F₄ mettant en contact le rouleau avant 3 avec la peau pour initier la formation du pli 8, par son entraînement selon F₁ (figure 7)
• la formation complète du pli 8 constituera l'organe d'entraînement par friction du rouleau freiné 4 selon le sens F₂ identique à F₁ pour un sens de déplacement F de l'appareil (figure 8).

The implementation of such a massage device is carried out as follows:

• the motor 5 is energized, having the effect of rotating the front roller 3 in the direction F₁,
• the rear roller 4, which is braked and for the moment immobile, is placed in the direction F₃ on the skin 8A (FIG. 6),
• the device 1 is tilted in rotation in the direction F₄ bringing the front roller 3 into contact with the skin to initiate the formation of the fold 8, by its drive according to F₁ (FIG. 7)
• the complete formation of the fold 8 will constitute the friction drive member of the braked roller 4 in the direction F₂ identical to F₁ for a direction of movement F of the device (FIG. 8).

In a simplified version of the invention, the roller located at the rear of the device is replaced by a member having a fixed surface intended to bear on the skin and adaptable to achieve a friction effect with this skin.

In another version, the rear roller is rotated at a speed lower than that of the motor 5 which drives the roller 3 located at the front. This also results in a braking effect forming the skin fold between the two rollers.

In another variant, the rear roller is replaced by two rollers driven in rotation by contact with the skin, the axes of these two rollers forming an obtuse angle between them. This arrangement generates, during the movement of the device, friction with the skin which forms the desired skin fold.

Claims (11)

1. Skin massage device (1) comprising a casing (2) liable to be handled with the hand in order to move the device on the skin, said casing (2) having on the face thereof adjacent to the skin a roller (3) and an element (4), means being provided to have between the roller (3) and the element (4) during the displacement of the device a cutaneous pinch (9) protruding towards the inside of the device, the roller (3) located in front according to the displacement direction (F) of the device being rotary moved by an electric motor (5) housed inside the casing (2), the element (4) located at the rear of the device being fitted to bear on the skin and to produce an enough braking action to make said cutaneous pinch (9) between the roller (3) and the element (4), said element (4) being a rotary driven roller, characterized in that means are provided to brake enough said roller (4) to make said cutaneous pinch (9), said braking means comprising friction means (10) acting on said roller (4) according to a determinated friction coefficient.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the friction means (10) in order to brake the roller (4) comprise a disc (11) rotary integral with said roller (4) but translation movable in order to bear against a fixed lining (5) making a braking pad via a pushing spring element (16) loaded according to the involved friction coefficient and acting as a lining wear automatic compensation means (15).
3. Device according to anyone of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the rear roller (4) and the front drive roller (3) are located according to a variable spacing according to the required involved pinching of the adjusting means.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said adjusting means are provided on the rear roller (4) and comprise apertures (18) located in opposition on two opposed end walls (19) of the protection casing (2) of the device (1) and having at least two adjusting notches (20,21) angularly offset and liable to provide one to another a bearing (4A) for a rotating shaft (22) of the rear roller (4).
5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the front roller length (3) implies a broader path than the one of the rear roller (4).
6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the front roller (3) and the rear roller (4) are formed of a series of toothed driving elements (3C,4C) with a longitudinal bent profile, the cross section of which is inscribed in a circle, and having an axial housing (23,24) with a shape corresponding to a driving square (23A,24A) made by the proper shaft of the corresponding roller (3,4) on which are provided said toothed elements (3C,4C).
7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the driving teeth elements (3C) making the driving front roller (3) are offset therebetween in order that each of the teeth (3D) of one is provided between two successive teeth (3D) of the other.
8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the driving front roller (3) is rotary driven by the electric motor (5) and via a demultiplicating gear assembly (6).
9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the element (4) has a fixed surface liable to bear on the skin and able to provide a friction action with said skin.
10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the element (4) is a rotary driven roller with a speed less than that of the motor (5) which drives the front roller (3).
11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the element (4) comprises two rotary driven rollers in contact with the skin, the axes of said two rollers forming together an obtuse angle.

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