ELECTROMECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR EXTERNAL BODY

STIMULATION

Technical field

This invention relates to an electromechanical apparatus for external body stimulation

More specifically, the invention relates to an electromechanical apparatus which can induce external stimulations of various types, for example pleasant or beneficial, massages, etc ., to the body of a living being, for example to a human being.

Background Art

There have been for some time been prior art apparatuses for imparting stimuli of various types through the surface of the human body.

US patent 2004/068213 describes, for example, a massaging apparatus with an improved vibrating head comprising a motor equipped with a rotating shaft to which a counterweight is associated that causes the shaft to vibrate when the motor is energised.

However, the prior art apparatuses have limitations due to the movement and the shape of the head provided to induce external stimulation of the body of a living being. Both the movement of the head and its shape are generally such as to not allow the use of the same apparatus to induce stimulations of different types and on different parts of the body of the living being.

A main aim of this invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing an electromechanical apparatus for external body stimulation which is able to impart new sensations and substantially on any part of the body of a living being.

Another aim of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the above- mentioned type which is considerably versatile, making it ideal for imparting on the body of a living being sensations which are always new and different.

A further aim of this invention consists in providing a stimulation apparatus which is able to transmit stimulations to the body of a living being both on a substantially concentrated point and on larger surfaces.

Yet another aim of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the above- mentioned type which can be made with simple tools and is inexpensive and which is therefore suitable for large-scale industrial production.

Disclosure of the invention

The above-mentioned aims are achieved by the stimulation apparatus as claimed in one or more of the appended claims.

Advantageously, the stimulation apparatus according to this invention comprises a movable contact surface, which can move with alternating motion along a rectilinear or slightly curved trajectory, extending in a constant plane.

Advantageously, the apparatus according to this invention has a moving arm provided with an engagement portion in which an interchangeable body which defines the contact surface can be engaged. Thanks to this feature, the contact surface can be attributed with various shapes and dimensions (for example, to increase or decrease the surface affected by the stimulation) and be made from various materials which, when necessary, can transmit to the contact part a sensation of heat or cold. Since the contact area is also determined by the part which rests thereon, it is possible, by changing the shape using interchangeable components, to vary the amplitude (single point or larger area) using the same apparatus.

Advantageously, the apparatus according to this invention comprises a motorized control unit which is simple and inexpensive to make, which imparts the alternating rectilinear or curvilinear motion in a constant plane to the contact surface associated with the moving arm.

Advantageously, always according to this invention, the motion transmitting unit comprises an eccentric rotating mass, preferably made of metal, which is capable of imparting vibrations to the arm during the alternating translating or oscillating motion of the arm generated by the motor or by the electromagnets.

The apparatus according to this invention can find advantageous uses in various fields of application both to obtain sensations of well-being, relaxation and enjoyment in localised points of the human body and to achieve the reactivation of the deep micro-circulation in the areas of contact and in all those cases in which it is necessary to stimulate internal tissues by an external surface intervention on the body of a living being. Moreover, advantageously, as the apparatus according to this invention can be positioned as desired substantially on any area of the body of a living being, it will be possible to continuously vary the areas of contact and/or the pressure and/or speed exerted on the part in question, thereby consequently varying the intensity of the stimulation transmitted.

Brief description of drawings

Some preferred embodiments of this invention will be given by way of example and without limiting the scope of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a cross section of the stimulation apparatus in a first embodiment according to this invention;

- Figures 2A to 2C show embodiments of the interchangeable body which carries the contact surface;

- Figure 3 is a cross section of the stimulation apparatus in a second embodiment according to this invention;

- Figure 4 is a cross section of the stimulation apparatus in a third embodiment according to this invention;

- Figure 5 is a cross section of the stimulation apparatus in a fourth embodiment according to this invention;

- Figure 6 is a cross section of the stimulation apparatus in a fifth embodiment according to this invention;

- Figures 7A and 7B are front views of the stimulation apparatus in a preferred embodiment of the casing, which is illustrated closed and open, respectively.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

The same numerals are used in all the drawings to distinguish equal or operationally equivalent components.

Figure 1 shows an electromagnetic apparatus for external body stimulation according to a first embodiment of the invention.

With reference to Figure 1 , the numeral 1 1 denotes in its entirety the apparatus according to this invention and comprises a moving arm 13 provided with a contact surface 15 shaped so as to induce external stimulation of the body of a living being, especially when moved, as becomes clear in the description below.

According to this invention, the contact surface 15 is associated with a first end 13a of the moving arm 13.

Preferably, the moving arm 13 comprises a free engagement position formed at the end 13a at which a moving body 17, made for example of plastic material, can advantageously be engaged, for example by interlocking or simply pressing, and equipped with means of engagement with the arm 13, for example an engagement hole 17a, on which the contact surface 15 is formed. It should be noted that Figure 1 shows the body 17 disengaged from the arm 13 for ease of illustration.

Advantageously, it will therefore be possible to replace the moving body

17 and with it the contact surface 15, which is therefore interchangeable and can adopt different shapes according to the stimuli to be provoked. As can be more clearly seen in Figures 2A to 2C, the body 17 can adopt different shapes which are able to attribute to the contact surface 15, for example, a convex or hemispherical shape, or which substantially reproduce the shape of the end portion of a human finger (Figure 2a), or a tapered conical or truncated cone shape (Figure 2B) or an undulated shape (Figure 2C). According to this invention, the body 17 may however adopt substantially any shape compatible with the stimulation to be imparted.

Referring again to Figure 1 , according to this invention the apparatus 1 1 comprises a motorized control unit 19 which drives an alternating motion of the moving arm 13 in a constant plane, so as to cause the contact surface 15 to move along a substantially rectilinear trajectory in the constant plane (arrows F1 , F2).

According to this embodiment of the invention, the motorized control unit 19 comprises an electric motor 21 provided with a rotating shaft 23 and a motion transmitting unit 25 for transmitting motion from the rotating drive shaft 23 to the arm 13.

According to this first embodiment of the invention, the motion transmitting unit 25 comprises at least one rod-crank mechanism 27.

Moreover, advantageously, always according to this invention, the motion transmitting unit 25 comprises an eccentric rotating mass 25a preferably made of metal which forms an inertial mass capable of imparting vibrations to the arm 13 during the alternating motion generated by the motor 21 . Always according to this embodiment there is a linear guide 29 for moving the arm 13 alternately in the constant plane.

The guide 29 preferably comprises a sledge 31 to which is associated the moving arm 13, slidable linearly along the linear guide 29 which defines the rectilinear trajectory of the alternating motion of the arm 13 which moves parallel to itself in a constant plane.

Always according to this invention, the motorized control unit 19 is housed in a supporting frame 33 to which a casing 35 may be stably associated, which encloses the apparatus and in which, for example, the power supply batteries (not illustrated) to allow a portable use of the apparatus, the electrical circuits and the control electronics may be housed. The casing

35 will also be advantageously shaped for being gripped easily and manoeuvred for carrying the contact surface 15 into contact substantially with any part of the body of a living being.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the apparatus according to this invention wherein the sledge 31 is guided in its alternate rectilinear motion by a pair of levers 51 associated with the opposite ends 31 a, 31 b, of the sledge 31 , and the frame 33. Advantageously, also in this embodiment there is an eccentric rotating mass 25a, associated with the rod-crank mechanism 27 and which can induce vibrations on the arm 13 during the oscillating movement.

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of this invention, wherein the moving arm 13 is hinged to a pin 41 fixed to a pair of protrusions 43 of the frame 33.

According to this embodiment, the moving arm 13 can perform an oscillating movement about the pin 41 due to the movement of the rod- crank mechanism 27. Consequently, according to this embodiment of the invention, the contact surface 15 associated with the free end of the moving arm 13 can move along a curved trajectory in a constant plane (arrows C1 , C2), wherein the radius corresponds substantially to the distance between the pin 41 and the contact surface 15. Advantageously, also in this embodiment there is an eccentric rotating mass 25a, associated with the rod-crank mechanism 27 and which can induce vibrations on the arm 13 during the oscillating movement. Figure 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention wherein the motorized control unit comprises an electromagnetic system 51 and the arm 13 is hinged to a pin 57 at the base for performing oscillations in a constant plane consequently determining the movement of the contact surface 15. In this embodiment, at least one metallic mass 53 offset from the axis of the arm 13 is associated with the substantially central portion of the arm 13 and is attracted alternately by electromagnets 55 located laterally and associated with the frame 33 of the apparatus.

The mass 53 advantageously represents an inertial mass capable of imparting vibrations to the arm 13 during the alternating motion generated by the electromagnetic system 51 .

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the fourth embodiment wherein one of the electromagnets 55 is replaced by an elastic return spring 59 or equivalent.

Figures 7 A and 7B show the casing 35 of the apparatus according to this invention which advantageously comprises a portion 35a integral with the supporting frame 33, which can also be integrated in the portion 35a and a removable cover 35b which can be removed to provide access to the contact surface 15.

The portion 35a of the casing will also be fitted with a switch 61 to control operation of the electric motor 21 and any other signalling devices, such as LEDs, or adjustment devices to adjust, for example, the speed of the electric motor 21 or the frequency of the system of electromagnets 51 . The apparatus as described and illustrated is susceptible to numerous variations and modifications which lie within the scope of the inventive concept.