FITNESS, BEAUTY OR WELLNESS DEVICE

Abstract

A fitness, beauty or wellness device comprises:

a functional unit (11) wearable on a user's body having a first fastening means (13) forming at least a first support point (A) on the functional unit (11) and a first connecting means (30) forming at least a second support point (B) on the functional unit (11), and

a pump (20) comprising a second fastening means (21) for releasably coupling to the first fastening means (13) and a second connecting means (50) for fluid-tightly coupling to the first connecting means (30);

wherein the pump (20) is retained on the functional unit (11) by coupling the first fastening means (13) to the second fastening means (21) at the first support point (A) and additionally by coupling the first connecting means (30) to the second connecting means (50) at the second support point (B),

wherein at the first support point (A) the pump (20) is retained at an angle () to the functional unit (11), and

wherein for coupling the first connecting means (30) and the second connecting means (50) at the second support point (B), the pump (20) is tilted in the direction of the functional unit (11) by reducing the existing angle () between the pump (20) and the functional unit (11).

Claims

1. A fitness, beauty or wellness device comprising: a functional unit (11) wearable on a user's body having a first fastening means (13) forming at least a first support point (A) on the functional unit (11) and a first connecting means (30) forming at least a second support point (B) on the functional unit (11), and a pump (20) comprising a second fastening means (21) for releasably coupling to the first fastening means (13) and a second connecting means (50) for fluid-tightly coupling to the first connecting means (30); wherein the pump (20) is retained on the functional unit (11) by coupling the first fastening means (13) to the second fastening means (21) at the first support point (A) and additionally by coupling the first connecting means (30) to the second connecting means (50) at the second support point (B), wherein at the first support point (A) the pump (20) is retained at an angle () to the functional unit (11), and wherein for coupling the first connecting means (30) and the second connecting means (50) at the second support point (B), the pump (20) is tilted in the direction of the functional unit (11) by reducing the existing angle () between the pump (20) and the functional unit (11).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised by a support plate (16) reinforcing the functional unit (11), wherein preferably the second support point (B) is formed at the support plate (16).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first support point (A) comprises at least one upper support point (O) and in that the second support point (B) comprises at least one lower support point (U) which is located in the vertical direction below the upper support point (O).

4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first support point (A) comprises at least one lower support point (U) and in that the second support point (B) comprises at least one upper support point (O) which is located in the vertical direction above the lower support point (U).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the first support point (A) and the second support point (B) are arranged at a distance from one another in the horizontal direction.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pump (20) has a housing (23) which is preferably made of plastic.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the first fastening means (13) has a fastening loop (14) and the second fastening means (21) has a fastening hook (22) preferably arranged at the housing (23), wherein the fastening hook (22) can be detachably fastened to the fastening loop (14).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that the first fastening means (13) or the second fastening means (21) comprises a magnet, a clip or a Velcro fastener.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the first fastening means (13) is designed as a pocket and the second fastening means (21) is formed by the housing (23).

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the first connecting means (30) has at least one connecting dome (31) and the second connecting means (50) has at least one connecting nozzle (51), wherein the connecting dome (31) is detachably connected to the connecting nozzle (51).

11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the second connecting means (50) has at least one recess (53), wherein the connecting nozzle (51) is arranged in the recess (53).

12. Device according to claim 11, characterised in that the connecting dome (31) has an outer support surface (40) and the recess (53) has an inner support surface (54), wherein the outer support surface (40) is supported on the inner support surface (54) when the connecting dome (31) is arranged in the recess (53), wherein preferably each of the outer support surface (40) and the inner support surface (54) is conical.

13. Device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the connecting dome (31) comprises a dome connection passage (34) having a depth (T.sub.dom), wherein, in order to form a fluid conduit connection region (37), the connecting nozzle (51) has a length (L.sub.stu) which is less than the depth (T.sub.dom) of the dome connection passage (34).

14. Device according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the connecting dome (31) has a dome diameter (D.sub.dom) and the connecting nozzle (51) has a nozzle diameter (D.sub.stu), wherein preferably the dome diameter (D.sub.dom) corresponds approximately to the nozzle diameter (D.sub.stu) in order to create a force-fit connection between the connecting dome (31) and the connecting nozzle (51).

15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the dome connection passage (34) has an inner circumferential surface (35) which forms a pump connection region (36), wherein preferably the inner circumferential surface (35) is provided with an inner lining (38) along the pump connection region (36), wherein further preferably the inner lining (38) consists of an elastically deformable material, in particular silicone.

16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the support plate (16) consists of a deformable material which is preferably elastic.

17. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised by a receptacle (18) into which the support plate (16) is inserted, in particular sewn.

18. Pump (20) for a fitness, beauty or wellness device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterised by multiple support on the functional unit (11) as a result of the coupling of the first fastening means (13) with the second fastening means (21) at the first support point (A) and, additionally, of the coupling of the first connecting means (30) with the second connecting means (50) at the second support point (B), wherein at the first support point (A), the pump (20) is retained at an angle () relative to the functional unit (11), and wherein, for coupling the first connecting means (30) and the second connecting means (50) at the second support point (B), the pump (20) is tiltable in the direction of the functional unit (11) by reducing the existing angle () between the pump (20) and the functional unit (11).

19. Functional unit (11) for a fitness, beauty or wellness device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterised by multiple support on the functional unit (11) as a result of the coupling of the first fastening means (13) with the second fastening means (21) at the first support point (A) and, additionally, of the coupling of the first connecting means (30) with the second connecting means (50) at the second support point (B), wherein at the first support point (A) the pump (20) is retained at an angle () relative to the functional unit (11), and wherein, for coupling the first connecting means (30) and the second connecting means (50) at the second support point (B), the pump (20) is tiltable in the direction of the functional unit (11) by reducing the existing angle () between the pump (20) and the functional unit (11).

20. Method for fastening the pump (20) to the functional unit (11) for a fitness, beauty or wellness device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, comprising the steps: coupling of the first fastening means (13) with the second fastening means (21) at the first support point (A) at an angle (); tilting the pump (20) in the direction of the functional unit (11) for coupling the first connecting means (30) and the second connecting means (50) at the second support point (B) by reducing the existing angle () between the pump (20) and the functional unit (11).

Description

[0043] In the following, the invention is described in more detail using an exemplary embodiment, which is illustrated schematically in the drawings. Shown are:

[0044] FIG. 1a fitness, beauty or wellness device with a functional unit in the form of trousers;

[0045] FIG. 2 fastening of a pump to the functional unit;

[0046] FIG. 3a a first connecting means;

[0047] FIG. 3b the first connecting means in a receptacle of the functional unit;

[0048] FIG. 4a first fastening means and the first connecting means arranged on the functional unit;

[0049] FIG. 5a a partial cross-sectional view of a pump fastened to the functional unit;

[0050] FIG. 5b an enlarged view of the area marked Vb in FIG. 5a;

[0051] FIG. 6 an alternative design of the first and second fastening means;

[0052] FIG. 7a a perspective view of the pump from the front;

[0053] FIG. 7b a perspective view of the pump from behind;

[0054] FIG. 8 an alternative design of the pump;

[0055] FIG. 9 the alternative design of the pump, arranged on the functional unit.

[0056] The functional unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 for a fitness, beauty or wellness device is designed as a pair of trousers which can be worn on a user's body 10. The functional unit 11 has several fluid conduits 12. A pump 20 is fastened to the functional unit 11. Fluid conduits 12 are arranged on functional unit 11 in such a way that they wind around the user's thighs and buttocks. The fluid conduits 12 are connected to the pump 20 so that the fluid conduits 12 can be pressurised with a pressure medium, in particular air. The pressure, which preferably builds up and diminishes in an alternating manner, produces a massage effect on the user's body.

[0057] As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, functional unit 11 has a first fastening means 13 and a first connecting means 30. The first fastening means 13 includes a fastening loop 14. The pump 20 has a second fastening means 21 and a second connecting means 50. The second fastening means 21 comprises a fastening hook 22. To fasten the pump 20 to the functional unit 11, the fastening hook 22 is hooked into the fastening loop 14. The fluid conduits 12 must be connected to the pump 20 so that the fluid conduits 12 of the functional unit 11 can be pressurised. This is done by coupling the first connecting means 30 of the functional unit 11 with the second connecting means 50 of the pump 20.

[0058] The first fastening means 13 forms an upper support point O on the functional unit 11, and the first connecting means 30 forms a lower support point U on the functional unit 11. When coupling the pump 20 to the functional unit 11, the fastening hook 22 is first hooked into the fastening loop 14 at the upper support point O at an angle , as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. By tilting the pump 20 in the direction of the functional unit 11, the first connecting means 30 is coupled with the second connecting means 50 at the lower support point U. By tilting, the initial angle between the pump 20 and the functional unit 11 is reduced and the first connecting means 30 is coupled to the second connection device 50 in a fluid-tight manner.

[0059] As FIG. 3a shows, the functional unit 11 comprises a support plate 16. The first connecting means 30 is arranged on the support plate 16. In the present case, the first connecting means 30 comprises two identical connection domes 31, but it may also comprise three or more connection domes 31. The connecting domes 31 each have a fluid conduit connection 32. Two fluid conduits 12 each are connected to the fluid conduit connection 32. The fluid conduits 12 extend from the respective fluid conduit connection 32 on the support plate 16 to a fluid conduit edge 17 on the support plate 16 and then extend outside the support plate 16 within the functional unit 11. Movements of the functional unit 11 can exert undesired forces on the fluid conduits 12, which are then transmitted to the respective fluid conduit connection 32 and may impair the function of the fluid conduit connection 32. Therefore, a fluid conduit fastener 33 is provided at the fluid conduit edge 17 of the support plate 16. The fluid conduits 12 can be fastened to the fluid conduit fastener 33 in particular by means of a form-fit connection and/or substance-to-substance bond. This minimizes the transmission of force from the functional unit 11 via the fluid conduits 12 to the respective fluid conduit connection 32.

[0060] FIG. 3b shows the support plate 16 in dashed lines. The first connecting means 30 of the functional unit 11 is conductively connected to the second connecting means 50 of the pump 20. The fluid conduits 12 extend from the pump 20 on the support plate 16 to the fluid conduit edge 17 and then extend further outside the support plate 16. The fluid conduits 12 are fixed to the fluid conduit edge 17 by the fluid conduit fastener 33.

[0061] As FIG. 3b further shows, the functional unit 11 is provided with a receptacle 18. The support plate 16 is mounted in the receptacle 18 and thus reliably fastened to the functional unit 11. On the receptacle 18, there is a dart 19 which essentially corresponds to the contour of the support plate 16. By means of the dart 19, the support plate 16 is retained securely in the receptacle 18.

[0062] The fluid conduits 12 extend in the region of the support plate 16 within the receptacle 18. The dart 19 is therefore interrupted at the fluid conduit edge 17 in order to guide the fluid conduits 12 out of the receptacle 18. The support plate 16 is made of a material which has a higher stiffness than the material which the functional unit 11 is made of, at least in the region of the support plate 16. Furthermore, the receptacle 18 is made of a material which has a higher stiffness than the material which the functional unit 11 is made of, at least in the region of the support plate 16. However, the receptacle 18 is made of a material which has a lower stiffness than the material which the support plate 16 is made of.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows how the support plate 16 is positioned within the receptacle 18. Above the receptacle 18, as viewed from the user's body 10, the fastening loop 14 is positioned on the functional unit 11. To fasten the pump 20 to the functional unit 11, the fixing hook 22 is hooked into the fixing loop 14 and thus forms the upper support point O. The two connecting domes 31 form the lower support point U together with two connecting nozzles 51 shown in FIG. 5b.

[0064] As FIGS. 5a and 5b show, the connecting domes 31 each have a dome connection passage 34 in its interior, which has an inner circumferential surface 35. The inner circumferential surface 35 comprises a pump connection region 36 and a fluid conduit connection region 37. On the inner circumferential surface 35, an inner lining 38 is provided in the pump connection region 36. To the fluid conduit connection 32, two fluid conduits 12 are connected which lead away from the respective connection domes 31. The inner circumferential surface 35 has two fluid openings 39 within the fluid conduit connection area 37 in the region of the adjacent fluid conduit connection 32, through which the fluid conduits 12 are conductively connected to the dome connection passage 34. The outer faces of the connection domes 31 comprise an outer support surface 40, on which the second connecting means 50 of the pump 20 is supported. The outer support surface 40 has an essentially conical shape.

[0065] The second connecting means 50 comprises two connecting nozzles 51, each of which has a nozzle connection passage 52 in its interior. Furthermore, the second connecting means 50 comprises two recesses 53 in each of which a connecting nozzle 51 is arranged. The depth of the recesses 53 corresponds approximately to the length of the respective connecting nozzles 51. The recesses 53 each have an inner support surface 54 which the first connecting means 30 of the functional unit 11 is supported on. The inner support surface 54 has an essentially conical shape.

[0066] In order to couple the first connecting means 30 with the second connecting means 50, the connecting nozzles 51 are each inserted into the designated dome connection passages 34 along the inner lining 38. The connecting nozzle 51 has a nozzle diameter D.sub.stu which corresponds approximately to the diameter Doom of the dome connection passage 34, or advantageously is slightly smaller. The inner lining 38 is made of an elastically deformable material, such as silicone. This causes a slight compression of the inner lining 38 when the connecting nozzle 51 is inserted into the dome connection passage 34, thus ensuring a tight connection between the dome connection passage 34 and the nozzle connection passage 52. The length L.sub.stu of the connecting nozzle passage 52 is less than the depth T.sub.dom of the dome connection passage 34. At the maximum insertion depth of the connecting nozzle 51 into the dome connection passage 34, the connecting nozzle 51 only contacts the pump connection region 36 of the inner circumferential surface 35 and not the fluid conduit connection region 37 of the inner circumferential surface 35. The fluid openings 39 arranged in the fluid connection region 37 are therefore not blocked by the connecting nozzle 51.

[0067] The shape of the recesses 53 of the second connecting means 50 corresponds approximately to the shape of the connecting domes 31. When the connecting nozzle 51 is inserted into the connecting dome 31, the outer support surface 40 of the connecting dome 31 is supported on the inner support surface 54 of the recess 53, and the inner lining 38 is supported on the connecting nozzle 51. This ensures that the pump 20 is retained securely on the functional unit 11.

[0068] The fluid conduit connection 32 projects outwards from the connecting domes 31 in relation to the shape of the connecting domes 31. In this region, the inner support surface 54 is shortened in the direction of the functional unit 11 in order to ensure sufficient space for the fluid conduit connection 32. The fluid conduit connection 32 has a rounded shape tapered in the direction of the fluid conduits 12. In the region of the fluid conduit connection 32, the inner support surface 54 is supported on the fluid conduit connection 32 by a support edge 55. This ensures that the pump 20 is retained securely on the functional unit 11 in the region of the fluid conduit connection 32.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 6, the first fastening means 13 of the functional unit 11 may be designed as pocket 15, and the second fastening means 21 may be formed by the housing 23. The connecting domes 31 are arranged inside the pocket 15. In order to fasten the pump 20 to the functional unit 11, the pump 20 is inserted into the pocket 15 and connected to the connecting domes 31. The first connecting means 30 is thus operatively connected to the second connecting means 50 at the first support point A.

[0070] The pocket 15 may have various designs to facilitate the insertion of the pump 20 into the pocket 15. For instance, the pocket 15 may be made of a combination of velcro and felt that allows the pump 20 to be inserted laterally into the pocket 15.

[0071] By placing the pump 20 in the pocket 15, the housing 23 of the pump 20 is supported by the pocket 15 and provides stability.

[0072] In addition, a support plate 16, as already described above, may be inserted into the pocket 15. Accordingly, the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 differs from the one shown before in that the first fastening means 13 is designed as pocket 15 instead of the fastening loop 14 and in that the second fastening means 21 is formed by the housing 23 instead of the fastening hook 22.

[0073] For a more detailed illustration, FIG. 7a shows the pump 20 in a perspective view from the front. On the inside of pump 20, a battery or accumulator is provided to ensure the mobile operation of the pump 20. In order to be able to charge the accumulator, an electrical connection 24 is arranged in the housing 23. For ergonomic reasons, the electrical connection 24 is located on a side face of the housing 23.

[0074] FIG. 7b shows the pump 20 in a perspective view from behind. As described above, two recesses 53 are provided in the housing 23, in each of which a connecting nozzle 51 with a nozzle connection passage 52 is arranged. When coupling the connecting nozzle 51 with the corresponding connecting dome 31, the connecting domes 31 are supported on the inner support surface 54.

[0075] The fastening hook 22 tapers in the direction of the connecting nozzles 51 in order to facilitate the insertion of the fastening hook 22 into the corresponding fastening loop 14. For a particularly stable support of the pump 20 on the functional unit 11, the fastening hook 22 has a width that corresponds to the horizontal distance between the connecting nozzles 51.

[0076] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a further design of the pump 60. If, for reasons of stability and wearing comfort, the first and second fastening means are not required, the dimensions of the pump 60 may be reduced. The pump 60 still has two connecting nozzles 51. At the first support point A, the pump 60 is plugged onto the connecting domes 31, whereby the first connecting means 30 is operatively coupled to the second connecting means 50 as usual.

[0077] With this minimalist design of the pump 60 and the functional unit 11, a first and second fastening means, and thus a second support point B, are completely omitted. Simply plugging the pump 60 onto the connecting domes 31 can provide sufficient support and stability.

[0078] In addition, elastic straps may be attached to the functional unit 11, which are pulled over the housing 23 of the pump 60 after connecting the pump 60 to the connecting domes 31, thus providing additional support and stability.

[0079] In a further embodiment, the stability may be improved by a velcro strap arranged on the underside of the pump 60, which may be connected to a velcro strap arranged on the functional unit 11.

[0080] In addition, stability may be achieved by a snap-in connection of the pump 60 in the connecting domes 31.

[0081] The fitness, beauty or wellness device described above is characterised by its ease of use and a secure support of the pump 20 on the functional unit 11. This is mainly due to the three-point connection resulting from the connection of the two connecting domes 31 with the connecting nozzles 51 at the lower support point U on the one hand and the connection of the fastening loop 14 with the fastening hook 22 at the upper support point O on the other hand.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 10 body 11 functional unit (trousers) 12 fluid conduits 13 first fastening means 14 fastening loop 15 pocket 16 support plate 17 fluid conduit edge 18 receptacle 19 dart 20, 60 pump 21 second fastening means 22 fastening hook 23 housing 24 electrical connection 30 first connecting means 31 connecting domes 32 fluid conduit connection 33 fluid conduit fastener 34 dome connection passage 35 inner circumferential surface 36 pump connection region 37 fluid conduit connection region 38 inner lining 39 fluid opening 40 outer support surface 50 second connecting means 51 connecting nozzle 52 nozzle connection passage 53 recess 54 inner support surface 55 support edge D.sub.stu nozzle diameter T.sub.dom depth of the dome connection passage L.sub.stu length of the connecting nozzle D.sub.dom diametre of the dome connection passage A first support point B second support point O upper support point U lower support point angle