BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While manual massage is onc method for palpitation of the skin, it requires expensive, skilled labor, and it is time intensive. Several mechanical devices have been proposed to accomplish stimulation and displacement of the skin. One example is set forth in U. S. Patent 4,883,047 for a massage roller device that utilizes a pair of fixed rollers mounted in a hand-held housing. Vacuum is applied to the housing in which the rollers are mounted, which aids in pulling the skin between the rollers. The pinching effect of the rollers on the skin causes a deeper massaging of the skin tissue.

U. S. Patent 4,729,368 is directed to a similar massage device that utilizes two movable rollers mounted in spaced parallel relationship in a chamber in which vacuum is applied.

The user's skin is pinched to a greater degree with this device than with the prior device.

The disadvantage of these devices is the substantial number of moving mechanical parts, which increases their cost and reduces their reliability. Hence, there is a need for an improved mechanical massaging device that overcomes prior disadvantages while achieving improved performance and enhanced skin appearance in the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a device for treating skin at a treatment site. The device comprises a vacuum chamber, a roller mounted in the vacuum chamber to rotate about a longitudinal axis, drive means for rotating the roller, and a paddle mounted in the vacuum chamber and configured to pivot about a pivotal axis wherein the paddle cooperates with the roller and massaging skin at the treatment site.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the roller includes at least one axle that defines a rotational axis for the roller, and the vacuum chamber includes a pair of openings sized and shaped to support the at least one axle. Ideally, the openings are elongated and have an arcuate shape to permit the roller to move along an axis that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the roller.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the device further includes a stabilizer for holding the roller as is moves along the axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the roller. In one embodiment, the stabilizer has a transverse member pivotally mounted to the vacuum chamber to pivot about a pivotal axis, and a pair of arms depending from the transverse member, each of the pair of arms having one end configured for attachment to the roller axle to hold the roller in fixed alignment with the vacuum chamber. Ideally, the rotational axis of the roller is substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the stabilizer.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the device further includes a housing sized and shaped to hold the vacuum chamber and having a handle to facilitate manual manipulation of the device.

In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention, the device further includes a vacuum tube having a bore formed therein with one end of the bore in pneumatic communication with the vacuum chamber and the other end configured for attachment to a vacuum source. In addition, a sleeve that seals the vacuum tube in pneumatic communication with the vacuum chamber is provided. The sleeve is ideally configured to permit slidable engagement and disengagement of the vacuum tube therewith for easy removal and reassembly.

In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention, a vacuum-assisted massage device for massaging skin at a treatment site is provided. The device comprises a housing, a vacuum chamber mounted in the housing, a first massaging element mounted in the chamber for rotation about a rotational axis, means for rotating the first massaging element, and a second massaging element mounted in the vacuum chamber and configured to cooperate with the first massaging element in massaging skin. The second massaging element has a first portion configured for

pivotal attachment to the vacuum chamber and a second portion configured for contact with the skin in cooperation with the first massaging element.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a vacuum source for applying negative air pressure to the vacuum chamber is provided. The first massaging element and the second massaging element are preferably biased apart form each other.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the first massaging element comprises a roller rotatably mounted in the vacuum chamber, and the second massaging element comprises a paddle pivotally mounted in the vacuum chamber to pivot about a pivotal axis and configured to cooperate with the roller in massaging the skin. Ideally, the rotational axis of the roller and the pivotal axis of the paddle are substantially parallel to one another.

In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention, the paddle comprises a mounting portion and a massaging portion, and further the mounting portion is configured for pivotal mounting to the vacuum chamber and the massaging portion comprises an elongate massaging paddle having a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the roller and further having an arcuate cross-sectional configuration.

As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing, the present invention provides a simpler structure in that a pivoting paddle is used in conjunction with a driven roller for massaging skin. Vacuum applied to the chamber assists in drawing the skin between the paddle and the roller, which are normally biased apart. The housing is easily disassembled and reassembled, which facilitates maintenance and repair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily appreciated as the same become better understood from the detailed description when taken in connection with the following drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a partial cross-section side view of a massage device formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURES 2A and 2B are isometric projections of two views of the right housing member; FIGURES 3A and 3B are isometric projections of two views of the housing member, as formed in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 4 is a cross-section view of a cover; FIGURES 5A-B are a top plan view and rear plan view respectively of the cover of FIGURE 4 formed in accordance with the present invention; FIGURES 6A and 6B are isometric projections from a bottom and top view respectively of a vacuum chamber formed in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 7 is an isometric projection of a swing arm that is mounted in the vacuum chamber in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 8 is a side plan view of the swing arm of FIGURE 7; FIGURES 9A and 9B are bottom and side plan views respectively of a left vacuum tube member formed in accordance with the present invention, the right vacuum tube member being a mirror image of the same; FIGURE 10 is a side plan view of a roller adapted for mounting within the vacuum chamber shown in FIGURES 6A-6B; FIGURE 11 is an alternative embodiment of a paddle configuration formed in accordance with the present invention; and FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view of the paddle and roller biasing mechanisms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Turning first to FIGURE 1, illustrated therein is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum-assisted massage device 10 formed in accordance with the present invention.

The device 10 is comprise of a housing 12 having a top side 14 and a bottom side 16.

A vacuum chamber 18 is mounted in the bottom side 16. A handle 20 projects from the housing 12 to facilitate manipulation of the massage device 10 by a professional care provider, such as a massage therapist.

Mounted within the vacuum chamber 18 is a movable roller 22 and a pivotally-mounted paddle 24. The roller 22 consists of an elongate roller member 26 having an axle pin 28 projecting from each side thereof. Each axle pin 28 is rotatably mounted within an extended arcuate-shaped slot 30 formed in the vacuum chamber walls 32 such that the roller 22 rotates about a rotational axis defined by the axle pins 28.

Mounted within the housing 12 is an electric motor 34 that turns a sprocket 36 mounted to a motor shaft 38. An idler sprocket 40 is mounted within the vacuum chamber 18 having its rotational axis in parallel alignment with the axis of the motor sprocket shaft 38. A second idler sprocket 46 is mounted in spaced parallel relationship to the first idler sprocket 40. A roller sprocket is mounted to one of the axle pins 28 projecting from the movable roller 22.

A drive chain 44 engages the teeth of the motor sprocket 36 and first idler sprocket 40. Similarly, a driven chain 48 engages the teeth of the second idler sprocket 46 and the roller sprocket 42. Thus, the motor 34 rotates the drive chain 44 which in turn rotates the first driven chain 48 to cause the movable roller 22 to rotate about its axle pin 28. This aids in moving the massage device 10 across the patient's skin and in massaging the skin, as will be described more fully herein below.

The paddle 24 has a J-shaped cross-sectional configuration comprising a substantially planar wall 52 and an arcuate-shaped lower portion 54. The free end 56 of the wall 52 is pivotally mounted to an attachment point 58 formed in the vacuum chamber 18. Thus, the paddle 24 pivots about a pivotal axis at the attachment point 58 in an arc as shown in FIGURE 1. The paddle 24 is sized and shaped so that the arcuate lower portion 54 projects slightly beyond the bottom 60 of the vacuum chamber wall 32.

Similarly, the movable roller 22 has a diameter sized so that the roller 22 projects slightly below the bottom 60 of the vacuum chamber wall 32. This effects positive contact with the patient's skin for massaging purposes.

A vacuum opening 62 is formed in the upper portion of the vacuum chamber walls 32 that communicates with an opening 64 in the top side 14 of the housing 12. A vacuum tube 66 having an open longitudinal passageway 68 acts as a conduit between the vacuum chamber opening 62 and the housing opening 64. A

vacuum hose fitting 70 projects out of the housing opening 64 to which is connected a vacuum source. Thus, a vacuum applied at the vacuum hose fitting 70 causes a negative air pressure inside the vacuum chamber 18, which facilitates pulling of the patient's skin between the movable roller 22 and the paddle 24 for massaging purposes.

A slider switch 71 mounted in the handle 20 controls the operation of the motor 34. More particularly, the slider switch 71 allows a user to easily change the direction and/or speed of rotation of the movable roller 22. The switch 71 can also be connected to the vacuum source (not shown) to control the amount of suction applied to the vacuum chamber 18.

Illustrated in FIGURES 2A-B and FIGURES 3A-B are the right and left housing members 72,74, respectively. More particularly, two views of the right housing member 72 are shown in FIGURES 2A-B and two views of the left housing member 74 are shown in FIGURES 3A-B. The right housing member 72 has a mating edge 94 that meets with a corresponding mating edge 96 on the left housing member 74.

The opening created by the left and right housing members, including the left side wall 78 and right side wall 80 is sized and shaped to accommodate the vacuum chamber 18.

The joining together of the right and left housing members 72,74 forms the bottom half of the device 10. The vacuum chamber 18 is mounted between a left side wall 78 on the left housing member 74 and a right side wall 80 on the right housing member 72.

A cover 76, illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5A-B, is placed over the assembled left and right housing members 72,74. The cover 14 includes an access opening for the switch 71. The vacuum fitting 70 is preferably integrally formed as part of the cover 14. However, it is to be understood that the fitting 70 may be a separate part that is glued, threaded, or attached in a conventional manner to the cover 14.

FIGURES 6A-B are isometric views of the vacuum chamber 18 sized and shaped for mounting into the right and left housing members 72,74. FIGURE 6A shows the view of the top surface 84 while FIGURE 6B shows the view of the bottom surface 86 and interior 88 of the vacuum chamber 18. As can be seen more clearly in FIGURE 6A, vacuum port 90 is formed in the vacuum chamber 18 that communicates with the interior 88. The slots 30 formed in the vacuum chamber walls 32 accommodate the movable roller 22. An opening 92 is provided in the top surface 84 on both sides of

the vacuum port 90 to give access to the attachment point 58 from the interior 88 for the pivotal paddle 24. Attachment points 98 are formed on the vacuum chamber 18 to permit the use of fasteners to ensure positive engagement and retention of the vacuum chamber 18 in the left and right housing members 74,72.

FIGURES 7 and 8 show a swing arm 100 comprising a pair of arms 102 projecting away from an integrally formed cross member 104. The cross member 104 is mounted in the vacuum chamber 18 so that the arms 102 are positioned adjacent to the slots 30. The openings 106 in the arms 102 accommodate the axle pins 28 on the movable roller 22. The swing arm 100 maintains the roller 22 in alignment in the slots 30 and prevents it from becoming askew and binding up.

Referring next to FIGURE 12, the roller 22 and movable paddle 24 are shown biased away from each other by a compression spring 120 for the roller and a coil spring 122 for the paddle 24. The compression spring 120 has a first end 124 connected to attachment point 126 on the swing arm 100 and a second end 128 attached to a mounting member 130 on the vacuum housing 122 by a fastener 132. The coil spring 122 has a first end 134 looped through a hole 136 formed in an embossment 138 on the movable paddle 24 and a second end 140 similarly looped through an opening 142 on an embossment 144 formed in the vacuum chamber 18.

FIGURES 9A-9B illustrate a left-half 108 of the vacuum tube 66, the right half (not shown) being substantially a mirror image thereof. The tube body 110 has an upper end 112 sized and shaped to mate with the vacuum fitting 70 in the cover 14. Arms 114 projecting from the upper end 112 are used to facilitate attachment of the tube 66 to the cover 14. The lower end 116 is sized and shaped to mate with the vacuum port 90 in the vacuum chamber 18. The body 110 curves slightly to accommodate the motor 34 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 1. The vacuum fitting 70 may be formed as a sleeve or include a sleeve member that seals the vacuum tube 66 to the cover 16 and pneumatically to the vacuum chamber 18.

FIGURE 10 shows a side view of a roller 22 formed in accordance with the present invention.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made

therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, the pivotal paddle 24 may be formed to have a"fish-hook"configuration, i. e., wherein the planar wall 52 has a curvature as viewed from the side similar to the curve shaft of a fishing hook. In addition, the arcuate lower portion 54 may be formed in the shape of a paddle, such as is shown in FIGURE 11. More particularly, the paddle 118 has a 180 degree arc as shown.