Therapeutic device

Abstract

A handheld device includes a casing having a cylinder presenting an opening for placement upon a user's skin. A motor is housed within the casing. A piston driven by the motor oscillates within the cylinder toward and away from the skin of a user to cause a pressure fluctuation thereagainst.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a therapeutic device for application to/through the skin of a user to body fat therebeneath. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a handheld, battery operated device for applying a physical pressure oscillation through the skin of a user. Such devices might be said to provide some slimming effect.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved handheld therapeutic device for providing an oscillating pressure to the skin.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a handheld device, comprising:

a casing having a cylinder presenting an opening for placement upon a user's skin,

a motor housed within the casing,

a piston driven by the motor to oscillate within the cylinder toward and away from the skin of a user.

Preferably, the device further comprises a wheel driven by the motor, the wheel comprising an eccentric pin, the piston having extending therefrom a follower against which the pin bears to cause linear oscillation of the piston.

Preferably, the device further comprises all a battery located within the casing and a switch connected electrically between the battery and the motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation of a handheld therapeutic device,

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional front elevation of the device of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is another schematic cross-sectional front elevation of the device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a handheld therapeutic device 10. The device 10 includes a casing 11 typically formed as a moulded plastics enclosure of one or more parts. The casing 11 houses a motor 12 and one or more batteries 13. The motor 12 is connected electrically with the batteries 13 via an externally activated switch 14 presenting at the surface of the casing.

Extending from the casing 11 is a cylinder 15. Mounted within the cylinder to oscillate linearly as indicated by the straight arrow in FIG. 1 is a piston 16. The piston is sealed against the internal cylindrical wall of the cylinder 15.

Coupled directly to the output shaft of the motor 12 is a wheel 19 having an eccentric pin 18 extending therefrom. The pin 18 is eccentric from the output shaft of the motor 12.

Attached to or formed integrally with the piston 16 is a pin follower 17 which comprises a lateral slot into which the pin 18 is received. Rotation of the pin 18 as indicated by the curved arrow in FIG. 1 causes oscillation of the piston 16 due to its being captured within the slot.

In use, the opening of cylinder 15 is placed in sealing contact against the user's skin—typically at an area of underlying fat. Depression of switch 14 activates motor 12 to cause reciprocation of piston 16 toward and away from the user's skin to cause a pressure oscillation between the piston 16 and the skin. This will apply a suction action through the skin to the underlying fat.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, rather than providing a wheel 19 with an eccentric pin 18, those two components could be replaced by a cam. A cam follower might present a simple bearing surface against the cam. In this case a return spring would be needed for the piston 16. Furthermore, rather than being powered by internal batteries, power could be provided from an external AC or DC source.

Claims

1. A handheld device, comprising:

a casing having a cylinder presenting an opening for placement upon a user's skin,

a motor housed within the casing,

a piston driven by the motor to oscillate within the cylinder toward and away from the skin of a user.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wheel driven by the motor, the wheel comprising an eccentric pin, the piston having extending therefrom a follower against which the pin bears to cause linear oscillation of the piston.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a battery located within the casing and a switch connected electrically between the battery and the motor.