IP Verse

Massage Device Having Variable Stroke Length

Patent No. US11285075 (titled "Massage Device Having Variable Stroke Length") was filed by Acp Post Oak Credit I Llc on Feb 9, 2018.

What is this patent about?

’075 is related to the field of deep muscle stimulation devices , specifically those used to increase muscle metabolism, aid the lactic acid cycle, and relieve pain. Existing vibrating massage devices are often bulky, generate excessive heat and noise, and are difficult to use for extended periods.

The underlying idea behind ’075 is to provide a massaging device with a variable stroke length achieved through a hydraulic lost motion system. This allows the user to adjust the depth and intensity of the massage, making it suitable for different muscle groups and levels of soreness. The stroke length is controlled by adjusting the range of movement of a floating piston within a control bore, which in turn affects the reciprocation range of the output piston connected to the massage head.

The claims of ’075 focus on a massaging device that includes a motor, a hydraulic lost motion system , and a massaging head. The lost motion system consists of an input piston, an output piston, a control bore with a floating piston, and an adjustment device (cam) to control the floating piston's range of reciprocation. By adjusting the cam, the user can vary the stroke length of the massaging head.

In practice, the motor's rotation drives a flywheel, which in turn causes the input piston of the hydraulic system to reciprocate. This movement is transferred to the output piston, which drives the massaging head. The adjustment cam allows the user to change the stroke length by controlling the movement of the floating piston, effectively altering the amount of fluid displacement within the hydraulic system and thus the output piston's range of motion. A quick release connection allows for easy switching of massage heads.

This design differentiates itself from prior art by incorporating a hydraulic lost motion system for variable stroke length control . Unlike traditional massage devices with fixed stroke lengths, this invention allows for a more customizable massage experience. The use of a floating piston and adjustment cam provides a mechanical means to precisely control the hydraulic fluid displacement, resulting in a smooth and adjustable stroke length for the massaging head.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the early 2010s when ’075 was filed, vibrating massage devices were at a time when they were typically implemented using a motor to create vibrations. At this time, many devices were bulky and prone to overheating, and hardware or software constraints made it non-trivial to control the massage intensity or stroke length.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the application because the prior art, whether considered individually or in combination, did not disclose all of the structural and functional limitations recited in the claims. Specifically, the prior art did not disclose a hydraulic lost motion system with a lost motion input configured to reciprocate over a fixed input reciprocation range, a lost motion output configured to reciprocate over an output reciprocation range, and a lost motion controller to control the output reciprocation range. Also, the prior art did not disclose a process for deep tissue massaging comprising operating a massaging device at a first reciprocation speed and at a predetermined reciprocation stroke length, wherein the predetermined stroke length is varied by rotating a cam.

Claims

This patent contains 22 claims, with independent claims 1, 6, and 10. Independent claims 1 and 6 are directed to a massaging device having a variable stroke length that uses a hydraulic lost motion system. Independent claim 10 is directed to a process for deep tissue massaging using a massaging device. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the features and parameters of the massaging device and the deep tissue massaging process.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Adjustment device
(Claim 1, Claim 6)		“The Detailed Description merely describes exemplary embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention is broader than and unlimited by the exemplary embodiments, and unless specifically indicated otherwise, the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning.”A component that controls the range of reciprocation of the floating piston within the control bore, thereby influencing the output reciprocation range.
Hydraulic lost motion system
(Claim 1, Claim 6)		“The Detailed Description merely describes exemplary embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention is broader than and unlimited by the exemplary embodiments, and unless specifically indicated otherwise, the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning.”A system that uses fluid to transfer motion from an input to an output, while also allowing for a variable amount of lost motion to control the output's reciprocation range.
Lost motion controller
(Claim 1)		“The Detailed Description merely describes exemplary embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention is broader than and unlimited by the exemplary embodiments, and unless specifically indicated otherwise, the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning.”A component of the hydraulic lost motion system that controls the output reciprocation range of the lost motion output using a floating piston and an adjustment device.
Lost motion input
(Claim 1)		“The Detailed Description merely describes exemplary embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention is broader than and unlimited by the exemplary embodiments, and unless specifically indicated otherwise, the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning.”A component of the hydraulic lost motion system that receives input motion and reciprocates within a fixed range.
Lost motion output
(Claim 1)		“The Detailed Description merely describes exemplary embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention is broader than and unlimited by the exemplary embodiments, and unless specifically indicated otherwise, the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning.”A component of the hydraulic lost motion system that reciprocates in response to the lost motion input, with its reciprocation range controlled by the lost motion controller.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
3:25-cv-01074Sep 12, 2025Hyper Ice, Inc. v. Namirsa, Inc.

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US11285075

ACP POST OAK CREDIT I LLC
Application Number
US15892665
Filing Date
Feb 9, 2018
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Jan 22, 2037
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents