US4732140A — Vibratory massager retained against body with bel…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 263 words

A vibrating massage device, comprising: (a) vibrator means for producing vibrations for purposes of massaging a human body part, said vibrator means including a casing having a top portion to be directed toward said human body part and a base portion against which to apply a force to hold said top portion against said human body part; (b) belt means, including a substantially flexible, inelastic web adapted to be releasably attached around a particular human body part, for supporting said vibrator means with said top portion of said casing against said particular human body part, said web having thereon at least one vibrator location for the releasable attachment of said vibrator means thereto; (c) an elastic band having a pair of longitudinal ends anchored to said web on longitudinally spaced apart opposite sides of the vibrator location for use in attaching said vibrator means to said web with the top portion of said casing disposed toward said web and the base disposed toward said elastic band; (d) said elastic band having a size such that when said vibrator means is placed between said elastic band and said web with the web disposed generally flat, said elastic band stretches slightly over said base portion of the casing, and such that when said web is then placed around said particular human body part, said elastic band stretches more to press said top portion of said casing toward said particular human body part; and (e) retaining strap means associated with said belt means for releasably retaining said vibrator means against movement transversely of said belt means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 263 words

A vibrating massage device, comprising: (a) vibrator means for producing vibrations for purposes of massaging a human body part, said vibrator means including a casing having a top portion to be directed toward said human body part and a base portion against which to apply a force to hold said top portion against said human body part; (b) belt means, including a substantially flexible, inelastic web adapted to be releasably attached around a particular human body part, for supporting said vibrator means with said top portion of said casing against said particular human body part, said web having thereon at least one vibrator location for the releasable attachment of said vibrator means thereto; (c) an elastic band having a pair of longitudinal ends anchored to said web on longitudinally spaced apart opposite sides of the vibrator location for use in attaching said vibrator means to said web with the top portion of said casing disposed toward said web and the base disposed toward said elastic band; (d) said elastic band having a size such that when said vibrator means is placed between said elastic band and said web with the web disposed generally flat, said elastic band stretches slightly over said base portion of the casing, and such that when said web is then placed around said particular human body part, said elastic band stretches more to press said top portion of said casing toward said particular human body part; and (e) retaining strap means associated with said belt means for releasably retaining said vibrator means against movement transversely of said belt means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The device of claim 1, in which the length of said elastic band when distended is substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of said vibrating means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 1, in which the material of said web is cotton.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The device of claim 1, wherein: said top portion of said casing defines a substantially smooth surface adapted to lie against said web when said vibrating means is attached to said belt means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 64 words

A vibrating massage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the vibrator means includes: (a) a motor fixedly mounted on said casing, said motor including a shaft; (b) an eccentric mounted on said shaft for imparting vibration thereto when said shaft rotates; and (c) a carrier bearing fixedly mounted in said casing for rotatably supporting the end of said shaft remote from said motor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 85 words

A vibrating massage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the vibrator means includes: (a) a motor fixedly mounted on said casing, said motor including a shaft; (b) an eccentric mounted on said shaft for imparting vibration thereto when said shaft rotates; and (c) openings formed in said casing in alignment with said eccentric and also on the side of said motor opposite the side on which said eccentric is placed, whereby the motion of said eccentric causes cooling air to flow past said motor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 65 words

A vibrating massage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the vibrator means includes: (a) a motor fixedly mounted on said casing, said motor including a shaft; (b) an eccentric mounted on said shaft for imparting vibration thereto when said shaft rotates; (c) a resilient buffer pad covering one outer surface of said casing; and (d) a thin, flexible, smooth-surfaced cover covering said buffer pad.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

A vibrating massage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the vibrator means includes: first electrical connector means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 41 words

A device as recited in claim 8, further comprising second electrical connector means adapted to be positioned adjacent said vibrator means and adapted to selectively receive said first electrical connector means of either one or a plurality of said vibrator means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The device of claim 8, including a plurality of said belt means of varying size ranges for selectively attaching said vibrator means to different parts of the body.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elastic band generally conforms to the shape of a portion of said vibrating means when said web is disposed in a generally flat position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The device of claim 11, in which the length of said elastic band when distended is substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of said vibrating means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 11, in which the material of said web is cotton.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 11, in which the surface of said vibrating means which lies against said web when attached to said belt means is substantially smooth.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 73 words

The device of claim 11, in which said device includes electrical conduit means for connecting said vibrator means to a source of power, said conduit means having control means interposed therein for controlling said vibrator means, said control means being so positioned along said conduit means as to be conveniently accessible to a person using said device during use of said device regardless of the position of said device on said person's body.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-03-22	1991-09-21	1992-03-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-03-22	1995-09-21	1996-03-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-03-22	1999-09-21	2000-03-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vibratory massager retained against body with belt having elastic strap

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