Body massage apparatus

What is this patent about?

’669 is related to the field of automated massage devices, specifically portable back massagers designed for use in chairs or as standalone cushions. Traditional massagers often rely on complex control systems, multiple motors, and limit switches to manage the movement of massage heads across a user’s body. These complexities increase manufacturing costs and mechanical failure points, particularly when trying to achieve both localized kneading and broad longitudinal travel simultaneously.

The underlying idea behind ’669 is the use of a mechanical conversion system that allows a single motor spinning in one constant direction to produce complex, multi-directional motion. Instead of using electronic sensors or reversing motor polarity to move a massage carriage up and down a track, the invention employs a slider-crank mechanism. This mechanical linkage naturally converts continuous circular rotation into a reciprocating linear stroke, ensuring the massage nodes travel the length of the housing and back without requiring any change in motor direction or sophisticated logic.

The claims of ’669 focus on a massage assembly where a motor is operably coupled to a carriage and housing to drive translation in at least two opposed directions through continuous unidirectional rotation. The independent claims also protect a specific planetary-like rotation where a massage bracket rotates around a primary axis while a massage node mounted on that bracket simultaneously rotates around its own offset secondary axis. Furthermore, the claims cover the integration of multiple kneading mechanisms on a single carriage, all powered by the same central motor output shaft.

In practice, the motor drives a series of worm gears and spur gears that perform two tasks at once: they spin the massage brackets to provide a kneading sensation and drive a reduction gear connected to a two-part linkage. As the first link rotates like a clock hand, it pushes and pulls a second link anchored to the housing, forcing the entire carriage to slide along longitudinal channels. This creates a seamless transition from upward to downward travel, while the massage nodes themselves perform a dual-rotation movement that mimics the complex pressure of a manual massage.

This approach differs from prior solutions by replacing expensive electronics with robust mechanical geometry. By utilizing a unidirectional drive to achieve bidirectional travel, the design eliminates the wear and tear associated with frequent motor reversals and the need for end-of-travel limit switches. The result is a simplified internal architecture that provides a sophisticated, multi-zone kneading effect—where nodes revolve and rotate simultaneously—while maintaining a high level of mechanical reliability and lower production costs.