U.S. patent number 3,779,238 [Application Number 05/267,578] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-18 for waterproof battery operated vibrator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Vibra-Spa Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lester M. Cutler, Paul Friedman.
United States Patent |
3,779,238 |
Cutler , et al. |
December 18, 1973 |
WATERPROOF BATTERY OPERATED VIBRATOR
Abstract
The casing of this vibrator comprises three molded parts. The
first molded part comprises a head having a bottom wall from which
an annular side wall extends upwardly. An integral sleeve handle
extends from the side wall at right angles to the axis of the
bottom wall. The second molded part comprises a top cover fitted on
the side wall and having a heat-sealed watertight connection
therewith. The third molded part comprises a cap which has a
bayonet, removable, rotary connection to the outer end of the
sleeve. An electric motor in the sleeve projects into the interior
of the head. An integral flange or wall extends up from the bottom
wall and is formed with a hole into which the forward end of the
motor projects for support. Dry batteries back up the motor in
tandem, within said sleeve handle. The cap carries a switch for ON
and OFF connection of the rearmost battery in circuit with a
connector to the motor, upon turning the cap. An eccentric weight
is fixed to the central motor shaft to vibrate the casing. An
O-ring on the cap presses against an annular shoulder on the rear
end of the sleeve to render the capped end of the sleeve
watertight.
Inventors: |
Cutler; Lester M. (Roslyn
Heights, NY), Friedman; Paul (Old Westbury, NY) |
Assignee: |
Vibra-Spa Products, Inc.
(Roslyn, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23019378 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/267,578 |
Filed: |
June 29, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
601/73;
601/154 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H
23/0263 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61H
23/02 (20060101); A61h 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/34-36,24.1,24.2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
RAS Enterprises, Inc.-Surgical Supply Division, Received in U.S.
Pat. Off. July 1, 1971.
|
Primary Examiner: Trapp; Lawrence W.
Claims
We claim:
1. A vibrator comprising a casing, said casing comprising a one
piece molded member having an enlarged head and a sleeve integrally
formed with said head and extending outwardly from said head, said
head being open at one end, a cover closing the open end of said
head and having a watertight connection to said head, a cap
rotatably and removably mounted on the outer end of said sleeve,
means to provide a watertight connection between said cap and said
sleeve, an electric motor in said sleeve and projecting into said
head, batteries in tandem in said sleeve and behind said motor,
means to connect said motor and batteries in series circuit, said
means including switch means on said cap to close said circuit, and
a weighted means in said head, eccentrically mounted on the rotary
shaft of said motor.
2. The combination of claim 1, said one piece molded member
comprising a transverse wall perpendicular to the axis of said
sleeve, said wall having means to support the front end of said
motor.
3. The combination of claim 1, and a layer on the outside of said
motor to hold the motor tight in said sleeve.
4. The combination of claim 1, said switch comprising a portion
formed with a hole, a pin on said cap passing through said hole and
having a head contacting said portion.
5. The combination of claim 4, said cap having a radial groove to
partially receive said portion of said switch.
6. The combination of claim 1, said switch comprising a portion
fixed to the interior of said cap, and a bent back portion
contacting the easing of the rearmost battery, said means to
connect said motor and batteries in series circuit, comprising a
connector connected at one end to a terminal of the motor, said
switch having a means to resiliently contact said connector upon
rotating said cap on said sleeve.
7. The combination of claim 1, said cover being heat-sealed to said
head to provide said watertight connection between said head and
cover.
8. The combination of claim 1, said means to connect said motor and
batteries in series circuit including a connector of conductive
material connected at one end to a terminal of said motor, said
switch means being movable into contact with the opposite end of
said connector, said sleeve having a longitudinal groove in the
inner surface thereof, said connector being disposed in said
longitudinal groove, and said sleeve having flat surfaces on
opposite sides of said longitudinal groove and extending to an
inner cylindrical surface said flat surfaces lying in a plane
tangent to a circle of less radius than the radius of the
cylindrical inner surface of the sleeve which interconnects the
outer limits of said flat surfaces.
9. The combination of claim 8, said sleeve being formed at the
outer end thereof with an indentation disposed between said
longitudinal groove and the outer surface of said sleeve and spaced
from said groove, said outer end of said connector having a portion
bent around the portion of said sleeve between the rear end of said
longitudinal groove and said indentation and projecting into said
indentation.
10. The combination of claim 9, said switch comprising a spring
strip having a portion attached to the inner wall of the cap by
material integral with the molded cap, said portion of said spring
strip having a spring end adapted to contact said bent back portion
of said connector, and said strip having a bent back spring arm
contacting the rear end of the rearmost battery.
11. The combination of claim 10, said portion of said spring strip
being received in a groove at the inside of said cap to prevent
turning of the spring strip relative to said cap.
12. A watertight battery operated vibrator comprising an enlarged
hollow head, a handle sleeve extending from said head, and
communicating with the interior of said head, an electric motor in
said sleeve provided with an axial drive shaft, and projecting into
said head, battery means in said sleeve in tandem with and behind
said motor, a cap rotatably mounted on the outer end of said
sleeve, means to connect said battery means in series circuit with
said motor and switch means on said cap to control said circuit
upon rotating said cap, and an eccentric weighted means fixed on
the motor shaft, said head having a top wall, a bottom wall and a
side wall, the top wall of said head comprising a cover on said
side wall, said cover having an air-tight connection to said side
wall.
13. The combination of claim 12, said vibrator being of weight and
volume to be floatable in water.
14. The combination of claim 12, and means within said head to
support the end of said motor which projects into said head.
15. A watertight battery operated vibrator comprising an enlarged
hollow head, a handle sleeve extending from said head, and
communicating with the interior of said head, an electric motor in
said sleeve provided with an axial drive shaft, and projecting into
said head, battery means in said sleeve in tandem with and behind
said motor, a cap rotatably mounted on the outer end of said
sleeve, means to connect said battery means in series circuit with
said motor, and switch means on said cap to control said circuit
upon rotating said cap, and an eccentric weighted means fixed on
the motor shaft, said head having an inwardly curved surface to fit
an arm or leg of the user.
16. The combination of claim 15, said surface extending
transversely of said sleeve.
17. The combination of claim 12, and an O-ring between said cap and
sleeve to render the sleeve watertight.
18. The combination of claim 12, said sleeve having a watertight
connection to said head.
19. The combination of claim 12, said cap having a bayonet
connection to the rear end of said sleeve.
20. A watertight battery operated vibrator comprising an enlarged
hollow head, a handle sleeve extending from said head, and
communicating with the interior of said head, an electric motor in
said sleeve provided with an axial drive shaft, and projecting into
said head, battery means in said sleeve in tandem with and behind
said motor, a cap rotatably mounted on the outer end of said
sleeve, means to connect said battery means in series circuit with
said motor, and switch means on said cap to control said circuit
upon rotating said cap, and an eccentric weighted means fixed on
the motor shaft, said head being annular, said sleeve extending
radially of said head.
21. A watertight battery operated vibrator comprising an enlarged
hollow head, a handle sleeve extending from said head, and
communicating with the interior of said head, an electric motor in
said sleeve provided with an axial drive shaft, and projecting into
said head, battery means in said sleeve in tandem with and behind
said motor, a cap rotatably mounted on the outer end of said
sleeve, means to connect said battery means in series circuit with
said motor, and switch means on said cap to control said circuit
upon rotating said cap, and an eccentric weighted means fixed on
the motor shaft, said head being circular and the axis of said
sleeve being at right angles to the axis of said head.
22. The combination of claim 21, said sleeve being of circular
cross-section, the diameter of said head being larger than the
diameter of said sleeve.
23. The combination of claim 12, said head having a top wall, a
bottom wall, and a side wall interconnecting said top and bottom
walls, said sleeve extending from said wall.
24. The combination of claim 23, said sleeve being disposed between
the levels of said top and bottom walls of said head.
Description
This invention relates to vibrators.
One object of this invention is to generally improve the
construction disclosed in our copending application Ser. No.
162,976 filed July 15, 1971.
Another object of this ivnention is to provide a vibrator of the
character described in which the bottom wall and side wall of the
head, and the sleeve are made as a single molding, which molding
also includes an integral wall extending up from the bottom wall
and formed with an opening into which the front end of the motor
projects, for support.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a vibrator of
the character described provided with a simplified switch to
control the circuit for the motor, upon rotating the cap.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong,
rugged and durable vibrator of the character described which shall
be watertight, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to
assemble, and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high
degree in use.
Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part
hereinafter pointed out.
This invention accordingly consists in the features of
construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts
which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter
described, and of which the scope of the invention will be
indicated in the following claims.
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a vibrator embodying the invention,
with part of the top wall broken away;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the rear end of the handle and cap
shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a rear end view of the sleeve, with the cap removed,
and
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the spring switch.
Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a vibrator
embodying the invention. Said vibrator comprises a casing 11
composed of three separately molded parts 12, 13, 14. Molded part
12 comprises a bottom wall 14 having an upwardly and inwardly
curved part-cylindrical wall portion 15 from which substantially
vertical parallel end walls 16 extend upwardly, forming horizontal
under-shoulders 17. Extending up from said bottom wall 15, and
shoulders 17 and interconnecting the ends of said walls 16, is an
upwardly and outwardly tapering side wall 19 merging with a
substantially cylindrical upper side wall portion 20. At the upper
end of wall 20 is an outer annular shoulder 21 and an upstanding
reduced annular flange 22 surrounding said shoulder.
Integrally formed with side wall 19, 20, is an integral outwardly
extending tubular radial sleeve handle 23. An annular thickened
boss 24 is located at the junction of sleeve 23 with side wall
19,20 for strength. The flange 22 is located at a level just above
the level of boss 24. A vertical transverse wall 26 projects
upwardly from wall 15 and is located between the axis of said
bottom wall 14 and the boss 24. Said wall 26 has a circular opening
27 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. At the ends of wall 26
are forwardly extending webs 29 of triangular shape interconnecting
said wall 26 with the bottom wall.
Vertical planes perpendicular to the axis of sleeve 23 cut wall 15
in straight parallel lines. Said bottom wall portion 15 thus fits
the arms or legs of the user, to render massaging or vibration of
the body comfortable and assuring smooth movement of the vibrator
over the body.
The inside of sleeve 23 is formed with a longitudinal top groove 30
for the purpose hereinafter explained. Said sleeve also has a pair
of aligned inner flat surfaces 31 on opposite sides of the groove
30. The flat surfaces 31 are in a plane tangent to a circle of less
radius than the radius of the cylindrical surface of the sleeve.
Said sleeve 23 also has an outwardly extending annular ridge 32
spaced inwardly of the outer end thereof. Said ridge 32 has an
outer annular surface 33 in a vertical plane perpendicular to the
axis of sleeve 23. The outer surface of said sleeve, longitudinally
outwardly of said ridge 32, has in its outer surface, a pair of
similar bayonet slots 35. Each slot 35 has a part circular portion
36, spaced from ridge 32, and a longitudinal portion 37 extending
from one end of slot portion 36 to the outer end of the sleeve.
The outer end of the sleeve has a blind indentation 38 spaced
ridigly outwardly somewhat from groove 30. Grooves 30,38 are
interconnected by a recessed groove 39 at the rear end of the
sleeve.
Rotatably and removably fitted on the outer end of the sleeve 23 is
the cap 14. Said cap 14 has a circular back wall 40 from which
there extends forwardly a cylindrical wall or flange 41 which fits
onto the rear end of sleeve 23. Said cylindrical wall 41 is formed
with a pair of diametrically opposed radially inwardly extending
lugs 42 which can slide longitudinally into bayonet slot portions
37 and then rotatably into bayonet slot portions 36. At the ends of
cylindrical wall 41 of the cap is an annular groove 45 forming a
reduced flange 46, to accommodate an O-ring 47 which abuts the
vertical annular shoulder a surface 33 of ridge 32 and a vertical
annular shoulder 48 on the cap to render the sleeve watertight and
yet allow the cap to turn. The circular portions 36 of the bayonet
slots are less than 180.degree. in angular extent. When the lugs 42
reach the ends of slots 36 remote from slots 37, the cap stops
rotating in one direction, and can then only be rotated back in an
opposite direction.
At the center of the inner surface of wall 40 of cap 14 is a
shallow diametric longitudinally curved groove 50. An integral
axial pin 51 extends from wall 40 at the middle of groove 50. A
switch member 52 is attached to the cap. Said switch member 52 is
made of a strip of resilient hardened spring steel or other
conductive metal. Said strip maybe nickel plates and comprises a
rear diametric portion 53 fitted into shallow groove 50, and formed
with a center hole 54 through which the center pin 51 projects. The
forward end of the pin is swaged or headed or riveted as at 51a,
onto the front side of switch portion 53 to hold the switch fast
against the cap and to prevent turning of switch relative to the
cap. The outer end 54 of switch portion 53 contracts the rear
circular edge of the sleeve. Extending from the opposite end of
switch portion 53 is a bent back portion 57 having a hole 58
centered with respect to the axis of sleeve 23. A battery contact
59 projects through hole 58 and is riveted to the bent back arm
57.
In the sleeve 23 are a pair of dry batteries 60 in tandem and
behind an electric battery operated motor 61.
Battery contact 59 engages the rear end of the casing of the
rearmost battery 60. The anode of that battery contacts the rear of
the casing of the front battery 60. The anode of the front battery
contacts are terminal of the motor 61. The front end of the motor
fits into the hole 27 in wall 26. A sleeve or coating 65 of plastic
or rubber may cover the outer surface of motor tightly in the
sleeve against turning. An eccentric weight 67 fixed on the motor
shaft 68 will vibrate the casing when the motor is energized in the
manner hereinafter appearing.
A conductor connector strip 70 fitted in groove 30 has as its
forward end, an offset portion 71 from which a longitudinal end
portion 72 extends into contact with an opposite terminal of the
motor. The forward end of contact strip 70 is bent back as at 75
into recess 39 and around the rear end edge of sleeve 23 at said
recess, and is inserted into blind groove 38.
A bump 45a on the front side of spring end 54 contacts the portion
75 of the connector to close the circuit.
Upon rotating the cap in one direction until stop lugs 42 reach the
ends of slots portions 36, bump 54a on spring end 54 will contact
bent back portion 75 of the conductor strip 70 to complete the
circuit through the motor to energize the latter and operate the
vibrator. To stop the motor, the cap is merely rotated in an
opposite direction to open the circuit. To remove the cap, said cap
need only be turned until the lugs 42 reach the opposite ends of
slots 36 to allow the cap to be pulled through slots 37 and off the
sleeve, rearwardly.
The outer surface of sleeve 23 just rearwardly of ridge 32 has a
curved recessed groove 80 to accommodate the inner periphery of the
O-ring and to seat the O-ring in the groove and between surfaces
33, 48.
The cover 13 has a circular flat wall 13a from which a peripheral
flange 13b fits onto flange 22 and sits on shoulder 21. Flange 13b
is preferably heat-sealed to flange 22 to render the casing
watertight. The internal diameter of the head of the casing is
about four times the internal diameter of the sleeve 23. The height
of the head at its center, from the bottom wall 14 to the underside
of the corner wall 13a is somewhat greater than the inner diameter
of said sleeve 23. The vibrator is floatable in water so that it
can float in a bath tub. The vibrator can be used safely in a bath
tub because it is watertight.
It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the
several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well
adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.
As various possible embodiments might be made of the above
invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment
above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set
forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as
illustrative.
* * * * *