The invention relates to an erotic massage device according to the preamble of Claim 1.

A device of this type is known from DE-A-32 37 427, where a vibrator is disclosed having a, for example, rod- like massage-housing part and an electric vibration motor which can set the massage-housing part vibrating. The vibrator furthermore has a control unit which is connecte to the vibrator. The control unit can be connecte up to a sound output of a television, a radio or a record player.

The control unit is designed such that a change in the sound signal emitted by the sound output results in a change in frequency and/or amplitude in the vibration of the massage-housing part. Thus the vibration motor runs faster, for example, if the sound signal becomes stronger.

From DE-A-43 06 670, a vibrator is known having a rod-like housing accommodating a vibration unit for induc- ing mechanical vibrations and an electrical power source.

The vibration unit is connecte to a control unit such as a potentiometer or a switch, by which the vibration unit is able to be controlled in terms of frequency and amplitude.

The vibrator is further provided with a loudspeaker for the emission of sound, for example vocal sound or music, if the vibrator is in operation.

It should be noted that erotic massage devices, besides the abovenamed rod-like vibratos, are known in many forms, which are all used for the private pleasure of the individual using the erotic massage device.

A drawback with the known erotic massage devices is that usage thereof takes place in a strictly personal domain. Although the interactive command via the television, radio or record player from DE-A-32 37 427 and the emission of vocal sound or music from DE-A-43 06 670 help to enliven the erotic experience, a sense of emptiness and loneliness is often felt by the user.

The object of the present invention is to overcome

the abovenamed drawback and, more particularly, to provide an erotic massage device with which an interaction with known or unknown individuals can be achieved on a remote basis. The aim is to overcome the purely personal character of the known erotic massage devices and to design these such that they allow a use which yields an added effect compare to the use of the known erotic massage devices.

The object of the invention is additionally to provide an aid to making erotic appointments with known or unknown individuals.

These objects are achieved according to the inven- tion by an erotic massage device according to Claim 1. The device comprises a housing containing a vibration unit which is connecte to an electrical energy source. Placed between the vibration unit and the electrical energy source there is a control unit having a receiver. The receiver is a telecommunications receiver having a dedicated telephone number, which can be activated remotely by means of a tele- phone call signal for emitting a control signal to the vibration unit. The erotic massage device according to the invention has the avantage that it can be used by arrange- ment between two or more individuals, whereby an added effect is generated for the users by the fact that it is not known or does not need to be known in advance who will be activating the erotic massage device, nor is it known at what moment the erotic massage device will be activated. In the imagination of a user of the erotic massage device, an erotic experience is shared with another individual. The fact that the other individual commands the massage device means that the device becomes, as it were, a physical extension of the individual at the other end of the tele- phone line.

The erotic massage device is preferably portable.

The device can also be transported outside the home, for example in a carrying case which is recognizable to insiders, thereby promoting the making of contacts.

The telecommunications receiver advantageously comprises a sema-phone receiver. This enables a telephone call signal to be received without wires. The semaphone

receiver can be linked, for example, to the telephone net- work or GSM network, so that the semaphone receiver can be activated, for example via a national semaphone network or, in Europe, the European ERMES network, by simply keying in a telephone number, after which the vibration unit is set off.

The erotic massage device can furthermore be pro- vided with means which can enhance the pleasure in using it. Thus, the complete anonymity of third-party users can be eliminated by additionally providing a display which is connecte up to the telecommunications unit, thereby enabl- ing the erotic massage device to be used within the frame- work of making an appointment between a plurality of indi- viduals (dating). The anonymity of the person who actually activates the vibration unit can thus be overcome by the caller. The display can then, for example, convey the name or the telephone number or an agreed code of the individual who has activated the vibration unit. More particularly, the device contains a memory in which various recently delivered messages can be stored.

It is furthermore desirable that the device con- tains a clock unit which is connecte up to and can be activated by the telecommunications receiver, and to which clock unit the vibration unit is connecte for the deactivation of the vibration unit following expiry of a timespan determined by the clock unit, for example 100-120 seconds. This makes the erotic massage device particularly suitable for multiple usage, where a plurality of individ- uals interact anonymously or by arrangement to activate the massage device at specified or unspecified times without the wearer or user of the device having to deactivate it each time.

It is preferable for the timespan determined by the clock unit to be adjustable. In this way, the use of the erotic massage device can be fully geared to the needs and desires of the user.

This can be still further promoted by providing means by which the frequency and/or amplitude of the vibra- tion unit can be adjusted.

Audio and/or visual means can also be provided, which are connecte up to the telecommunications receiver and which, in dependence on the telephone call signal, emit a sound and/or light signal. Apart from setting off the vibration unit, this also draws the attention of the user.

The invention further relates to a method for acti- vating an erotic massage device, as set out in Claim 8.

In order to increase the commercial possibilities, it is possible to purchase telephone numbers/exchange capacity from a telecommunications company for driving the erotic massage device by telephone. An agreement can be reached whereby the proceeds per call to an erotic massage device go fully or partially to whoever has purchased the numbers/capacity. Furthermore, for each device, a financial compensation can be agreed as remuneration for the tele- phone proceeds per call.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the appende drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view in perspective of a rod-shaped erotic massage device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of a second embodiment; Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing dismantled parts of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic view of an erotic massage device comprising a vibrating egg; and Fig. 5 shows a work plan for the activation of an erotic massage device according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, a rod-shaped vibrator is denoted by the reference numeral 1. This vibrator has a housing accommodating a power supply 2, usually a suitable battery, which serves to feed some further functional units of the vibrator 1. The vibrator 1 is furthermore provided with a vibration unit 6, which is fed by the power supply 2, as well as with a telecommunications receiver 5 fed by the power supply 2. This telecommunications receiver 5 is linked in a controlling manner to the vibration unit 6 and serves to remotely activate the vibrator 1. In a specific embodiment, a display 4 and a bleeper 7 can also be con- nected « up to the telecommunications receiver 5 and the

vibrator 1 is also generally provided with an on/off or standby switch 8 and a control panel 3, the latter provid- ing some adjustment options for the vibrator 1, which adjustment options shall be indicated below.

Preferably, the housing also accommodates a clock unit (not shown), which is connecte up to and can be acti- vated by the telecommunications receiver 5, to which clock unit the vibration unit 6 is connecte for the deactivation of this vibration unit 6 following expiry of a timespan determined by the clock unit. This timespan can be adjusted by means of the control panel 3. In addition, the control panel 3 serves to adjust the frequency and/or amplitude of the vibration unit 6.

The housing is constructed in two parts, it being possible for the parts to be joined together by means of a bayonet fastening. In order to protect the internal parts of the vibrator from dirt and moisture, a sealing ring 10 is provided.

The telecommunications receiver 5 can also be pro- vided with or linked to a separate dedicated power supply.

In Fig. 1, this separate power supply is schematically represented as two batteries 11, which are accommodated in that part of the housing which also contains the telecommunications receiver 5.

In Figs. 2 and 3, a variant of an erotic massage device is shown, having a hard plastic housing 20. The housing 20 comprises a two-part handle part, of which the parts 21,22 are provided with complementary latching fin- gers and recesses, which parts together, in the latched position, delimit a cavity 23. A telecommunications receiver, for example a semaphone receiver, can be placed in the cavity 23. On the handle part 22, there is provided a read-out window of a display 25. The display 25 is con- nected to the telecommunications receiver. The handle part adjoins a cylindrical bush 26, in which two batteries 27 can be placed. A motor of a vibration unit 28 can be attache to the front end of the bush 26 (schematically represented in Fig. 2). A cover 29, made of latex, for example, can be slipped onto the bush 26 and screwed to it

by means of a screw connection 30. In order to obtain a good seal, a sealing ring 31 is additionally provided. The device can be hung from a wall using a clip 32.

According to the invention, the telecommunications receiver is linked in a controlling manner to the vibration unit 28. The telecommunications receiver can emit a control signal by which the vibration unit 28 is set off and starts to vibrate. The telecommunications receiver has a dedicated telephone number and emits the control signal as soon as it receives an external telephone call signal.

The invention can be used in various erotic massage devices. Thus, apart from a vibrator, it is also possible to envisage a penis ring, an artificial vagina, an artifi- cial mouth, an inflatable doll and a sex butterfly, as well as lingerie incorporating vibration unit, might also be envisage. In a number of these applications, the telecom- munications receiver does not need to be integrated in the vibrating housing part. An example thereof is shown in Fig.

4, in which an egg-shaped housing 40 is connecte by a flexible cord 41 to a telecommunications receiver 42. The telecommunications receiver 42 is connecte up to a display 43 and has a number of control buttons 44. In the egg- shaped housing 40 a vibration unit is provided, which can be set off by a control signal transmitted via the cord 41 and originating from the telecommunications receiver 42.

The way in which the erotic massage device works is, for example, as follows (see Fig. 5): A user advertises the telephone number of his/her erotic massage device, for example by means of an adver- tisement in the newspaper, on the internet or through per- sonal distribution. An (anonymous) caller responds to the advertisement and keys in the telephone number of the erotic massage device. After the telephone number has been keyed in, a call signal is sent and the erotic massage device, having received this, starts to vibrate intensely for a specific timespan. The caller can send a message along which is displayed on a display of the device and may be stored in a memory. The user can stimulate him- self/herself and take pleasure in the thought that this was

started up by someone else. If a telephone number is left as a message, the user can ring back the caller so as then to hold an erotic conversation with him/her or to make an appointment. The call number of another erotic massage device can also be left as a message. This has the advan- tage that the caller remains anonymous, whilst still offer- ing the opportunity for his/her erotic massage device to be set off without warning and a message of one's own to be left on it.

The previously described exemplary embodiments of the erotic massage device according to the invention relate only to a few basic options and principles. A number of variants on these embodiments are however conceivable, which all lie within the scope of protection of the follow- ing claims. The previous description serves only to illus- trate these claims, and this description is not intended in any way to restrict the scope of protection in question.