Massage Device With A Releasable Connection For A Massaging Head
Patent No. US12208051 (titled "Massage Device With A Releasable Connection For A Massaging Head") was filed by Hyper Ice Inc on Jul 1, 2024.
What is this patent about?
’051 is related to the field of percussive massage devices , specifically those designed for deep muscle stimulation and pain relief. Traditional vibrating massagers often suffer from issues like bulkiness, overheating, excessive noise, and difficulty in prolonged use. The patent addresses these shortcomings by introducing a novel design for a more efficient and user-friendly massage device.
The underlying idea behind ’051 is to create a compact and efficient percussive massager using a Scotch yoke mechanism driven by a motor to generate reciprocating motion of a piston. This piston, in turn, drives a massage head. Key to the design is the strategic placement of the motor and handle on opposite sides of the piston's longitudinal axis, contributing to a balanced and ergonomic device. The design also incorporates a quick-connect system for easy interchange of massage heads.
The claims of ’051 focus on a percussive massager featuring a housing, a reciprocating piston with a bore at its distal end, a motor driving the piston's reciprocation along a longitudinal axis at a specific speed, a bearing to constrain the piston's movement, a drive mechanism defining the piston's stroke length, and a quick-connect system that allows for swapping massage heads while the piston is actively reciprocating.
In practice, the motor's rotary motion is converted into linear, back-and-forth motion of the piston via the Scotch yoke. The crank bearing within the piston pocket is designed with spring bars to minimize noise and wear by reducing the impact between the bearing and the pocket walls. This allows for smoother and quieter operation, especially at higher speeds. The quick-connect system, utilizing magnets, enables users to easily switch between different massage heads without interrupting the massage.
The design differentiates itself from prior approaches by optimizing the internal layout for balance and ergonomics. The placement of the motor and handle relative to the piston's axis contributes to a more comfortable grip and reduces user fatigue. The heat sink and fan system , isolated from the motor, prevents dust and lint buildup, improving the device's longevity and reliability. The quick-connect mechanism further enhances usability by allowing for rapid customization of the massage experience.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’051 was filed, vibrating massage devices were available, but at a time when hardware or software constraints made it non-trivial to create devices that were not bulky, did not overheat, and were easy to use for extended periods. At a time when such devices were typically implemented using dedicated hardware circuits for control and actuation.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The claims were rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention. Claims 1-2 and 6 have been amended. The Office action was made final.
Claims
This patent contains 15 claims, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Independent claim 1 is directed to a percussive massager that includes a housing, piston, motor, bearing, drive mechanism, and a quick-connect system. The dependent claims generally add specific features or limitations to the elements recited in the independent claim, further defining the components and their relationships.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
Patent Family
File Wrapper
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Date
Description
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US12208051
- Application Number
- US18760568
- Filing Date
- Jul 1, 2024
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Jun 27, 2034
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents