SKIN MASSAGE DEVICE USING OPTICAL CRYSTAL

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a skin massage device, and more particularly, to a skin massage device which can minimize rejection or allergic symptoms through the use of an optical crystal while providing the user's skin with proper stimulation whenever corners of chamfered portions of the optical crystal contact with the skin, and which can achieve visual aesthetic and psychological treatment effects from light, generated by a plurality of light emitting diodes, each having two red and blue luminous chips, and emitted via the chamfered optical crystal, resulting in enhanced massage effects of the skin massage device.

[2]

Background Art

[3] With the latest economic development, many people are increasingly concerned about health and beauty, and especially, a skin massage device market has been grown at 200 % a year in Korea.

[4] However, conventional skin massage devices are, for the most part, simple electric or ultrasonic devices, and are unsuitable to fulfill customer's various requirements.

[5] Further, since the conventional skin massage devices are designed so that a massager portion thereof, which comes into contact with the user's skin, is made of jade, they may cause dermal rejection and allergic symptoms due to iron contained in the jade. The conventional skin massage devices using the jade, furthermore, tend to provide an unpleasant sensation when the jade is moved on the user's skin in a frictional contact state, although the jade feels comfortable so long as it is stably gripped.

[6] Among the conventional skin massage devices, especially, ones having hot and cold massage functions are designed so that the jade comes into contact with a thermal module. In this case, however, the thermal module undergoes movement after long- term use, causing failure of the skin massage devices.

[7] Moreover, where a heat sink is provided in the conventional skin massage devices, the heat sink, having a rectangular form, must be fastened to the skin massage device as screws are fastened through fixing holes perforated at respective corners of the heat sink. Such a fastening structure results in damage to the jade of the skin massage devices, and restricts not only simplification of the manufacturing process but also reduction of the manufacturing cost of the skin massage devices.

[8]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a skin massage device using an optical crystal which can minimize rejection or allergic symptoms while achieving visual aesthetic and psychological treatment effects.

[10] It is another object of the present invention to provide a skin massage device in which a thermal module is tightly fitted in a fixing aperture defined in a device case to have the same shape as the thermal module, thereby completely preventing movement of the thermal module even after long-term use.

[11] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a skin massage device in which a heat sink is mounted in a heat sink mount portion defined in a device case by fastening screws through only two screw holes perforated at opposite positions of the heat sink, resulting in a simplified manufacturing process and reduced manufacturing costs.

[12]

Technical Solution

[13] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a skin massage device having a ther- motherapy massage function using a thermoelectric element or thermal module provided in a head portion, comprising: a case having the head portion and a heat sink mount portion extending rearward from the head portion and made of thermoplastic resin, the head portion having a center thermal module fixing aperture to receive the thermal module and a plurality of holes arranged around the center thermal module fixing aperture to receive light emitting diodes, respectively; an optical crystal attached to a front surface portion of the case and having a plurality of chamfered planes having a predetermined inclination; the thermal module fitted in the thermal module fixing aperture of the case; a plurality of the light emitting diodes fitted in the holes, respectively, each of the light emitting diodes having a red luminous chip and a blue luminous chip; and a heat sink fixedly mounted in the heat sink mount portion as screws are fastened to the heat sink mount portion by passing through two screw holes perforated at opposite positions of the heat sink, the heat sink serving to conduct heat generated by the thermal module.

[14] Preferably, the plurality of light emitting diodes may be three light emitting diodes spaced apart from one another by a distance of 120° four light emitting diodes spaced apart from one another by a distance of 90 ° or five light emitting diodes spaced apart from one another by a distance of 72 °.

[15] Preferably, the thermoplastic resin may be acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) copolymer resin.

[16] Preferably, the thermal module may have the same shape as that of the thermal module fixing aperture of the case.

[17] Preferably, the skin massage device may further comprise a light emitting diode controller, the controller operating the red luminous chip when it drives the thermal module more than at least 40 ⁰ C in a heat therapy mode, operating the blue luminous chip when it drives the thermal module not more than at least 15 ⁰ C in a cold mode, and operating simultaneously both the red and blue luminous chips in a vibrating driving mode.

[18]

Advantageous Effects

[19] With a skin massage device according to the present invention, it is possible to minimize dermal rejection or allergic symptoms through the use of an optical crystal. The optical crystal further permits light, emitted through chamfered planes thereof, to provide visual aesthetic and psychological treatment effects. Thereby, the massage efficiency of the skin massage device can be dramatically enhanced.

[20] Further, since a thermal module provided in the skin massage device is tightly fitted in a fixing aperture defined in a device case to have the same shape as the thermal module, the thermal module can be stably mounted without the risk of movement thereof even after long-term use.

[21] Furthermore, as a result of coupling a heat sink to a heat sink mount portion defined in the device case by fastening only two screws through screw holes perforated at opposite positions of the heat sink, it is possible to simplify the manufacturing process of the skin massage device and to reduce the manufacturing cost thereof.

[22]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[23] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [24] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a skin massage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [25] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the skin massage device shown in FIG. 1; and

[26] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a light emitting diode containing red and blue luminous chips. [27]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[28] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[29] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a skin massage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[30] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the skin massage device shown in FIG. 1.

[31] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the skin massage device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a skin massage device having a thermotherapy massage function using a thermoelectric element provided at a head portion 110 of the skin massage device. The head portion 110 of the skin massage device is centrally perforated with a thermal module fixing aperture 102 to receive the thermoelectric element, i.e. a thermal module 14. Further, a plurality of holes 106 is perforated around the fixing aperture 102 to receive light emitting diodes 16, respectively.

[32] In the present embodiment, a heat sink mount portion 120 extends rearward from the head portion 110. The head portion 110 and the heat sink mount portion 120 form a unitary case 10 of the skin massage device made of thermoplastic acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) copolymer resin.

[33] As a main element of the skin massage device according to the present invention, an optical crystal 12 is attached to a front surface portion of the case 10. The optical crystal 12 has a plurality of chamfered planes 122 having a predetermined inclination. As other main elements, further, the thermal module 14 is tightly fitted in the thermal module fixing aperture 102 defined in the case 10, and a plurality of the light emitting diodes 16 are fitted in the holes 106, respectively. The light emitting diodes 16 have a high-brightness property and each has a red luminous chip 162 and a blue luminous chip 164.

[34] The skin massage device of the present invention further comprises a heat sink 18.

The heat sink 18 is fixedly mounted in the heat sink mount portion 120 as screws 184 are fastened to the heat sink mount portion 120 by passing through two screw holes 182 perforated at opposite positions of the heat sink 18. The heat sink 18 serves to conduct heat generated by the thermal module 14.

[35] In the present embodiment, the optical crystal 12 is mounted in the case 10 by interposing an O-ring 124.

[36] The plurality of light emitting diodes 16 may be three light emitting diodes spaced apart from one another by a distance of 120 °four light emitting diodes spaced apart from one another by a distance of 90°or five light emitting diodes spaced apart from one another by a distance of 72°.

[37] If the number of the light emitting diodes 16 is not more than three, this makes it impossible to achieve appropriate hot and cold massage effects. On the other hand, if the number of the light emitting diodes 16 exceeds five, this may generate excessive

semiconductive heat, deteriorating cooling efficiency. For this reason, it is most preferable to provide the three to five light emitting diodes 16. [38] Preferably, the thermal module fixing aperture 102 defined in the case 10 has the same shape as that of the thermal module 14. [39] For example, if the thermal module 14 has a square shape, the thermal module fixing aperture 102 preferably has the same square shape. Of course, the shape of the thermal module 14 is not limited to the square shape, and may have a pentagonal or hexagonal shape. [40] Meanwhile, although not shown, the skin massage device of the present invention comprises other various elements, such as a blower fan, PCB substrate, power switch and operating lamp, which are included in conventional skin massage devices. Herein, detailed description of these elements will be omitted. [41] In the skin massage device of the present invention configured as stated above, the optical crystal 12, mounted in the head portion 110, provides a pleasant sensation upon massage, and has less dermal rejection or allergic symptoms because of its perfect purity. Thus, the optical crystal 12 is effective to enhance hot and cold skin massage effects. [42] The optical crystal 12, further, is able to provide the user's skin with proper stimulation whenever corners of the chamfered planes 122 contact with the skin. This can dramatically increase massage effects as compared to the conventional skin massage devices adapted to provide only tender contact. [43] Upon operation of the skin massage device according to the present invention, the chamfered optical crystal 12 permits light emitted therethrough to provide a visual aesthetic effect as well as a psychological treatment effect which will be explained hereinafter. [44] The above described effects are maximized by making use of the light emitting diodes 16 according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the light emitting diodes 16 are dual-chip type light emitting diodes and each has the red luminous chip

162 and the blue luminous chip 164. The operational effects of the dual-chip type light emitting diodes will be explained below in detail. [45] For example, under control of a light emitting diode controller (not shown), when the thermal module 14 is driven more than at least 40 ⁰ C in a heat therapy mode, the red luminous chip 162 is operated. [46] Thereby, the red luminous chip 162 radiates light based on a red wave length, including far-infrared rays. This produces warm air to thereby improve hot massage efficiency. The light having the red wave length also produces a psychological warm environment to maximize the hot massage efficiency. [47] On the other hand, under control of the light emitting diode controller (not shown),

when the thermal module 14 is driven not more than at least 15°C in a cold mode, the blue luminous chip 164 is operated.

[48] Thereby, the blue luminous chip 164 radiates light based on a blue wave length to thereby improve cold massage efficiency by producing cold air. The light having the blue wave length also produces a psychological cold environment to maximize the cold massage efficiency.

[49] Especially, in a vibrating driving mode, the light emitting diode controller permits both the red and blue luminous chips 162 and 164 to operate simultaneously.

[50] In such a vibrating mode, a specific wave length suitable for hot massage and a specific wave length suitable for cold massage are mixed with each other, to produce light having a purple wave length capable of increasing psychological massage effects.

[51] The heat sink 18 of the present invention is able to be simply coupled to the heat sink mount portion 120 as the two screws 184 are fastened through the screw holes 182 perforated at the opposite positions of the heat sink 18. This is possible because the O- ring 124 stably supports the optical crystal 12.

[52] Such a simplified fastening structure prevents damage to the optical crystal 12 and simplifies the manufacturing process of the skin massage device, as compared to the conventional skin massage devices in which four screw holes must be perforated at respective corners of the heat sink.

[53]

Industrial Applicability

[54] As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a skin massage device which can minimize dermal rejection or allergic symptoms through the use of an optical crystal. The optical crystal further permits light, emitted through chamfered planes thereof, to provide visual aesthetic and psychological treatment effects. Thereby, the massage efficiency of the skin massage device can be dramatically enhanced.

[55] Furthermore, according to the present invention, since a thermal module provided in the skin massage device is tightly fitted in a fixing aperture defined in a device case to have the same shape as the thermal module, the thermal module can be stably mounted without the risk of movement thereof even after long-term use.

[56] In addition, as a result of coupling a heat sink to a heat sink mount portion defined in the device case by fastening only two screws through screw holes perforated at opposite positions of the heat sink, it is possible to simplify the manufacturing process of the skin massage device and to reduce the manufacturing cost thereof.

[57] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modi-

fications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.