DEVICE FOR EAR MASSAGE

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for ear massage, comprising a plate with a massage part. The device has two drives which can be controlled independently from each other and are motion-coupled to the plate at least to some extent by means of coupling elements.

Claims

1. A device for ear massage with a plate having a massage part, wherein two drives, actuatable independently of each other, are provided, which are at least partially movement-coupled to the plate by means of coupling elements.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling elements are formed as pins, which interact with recesses in the plate.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drives are rotary drives, which are preferably implemented electrical.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein drive axles of the drives are connected to eccentrics, wherein the coupling elements are arranged on the eccentrics.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a guide pin, which interacts with a further recess in the plate, is secured to a housing of the device.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the recesses and/or the further recess are designed in the form of an elongated hole preferably open on one side.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling elements each have at least one railpreferably two rails eachon which the plate is guided.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the massage part is detachably secured to the plate.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the massage part is implemented spherical at least in sections.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plate is mounted movably on a housing of the device.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the massage part is mounted spring-loadedpreferably in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein apreferably cylindricalsleeve is secured to the plate and apreferably cylindricalram is secured to the massage part, wherein the ram is arranged in the sleeve.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein a clearance, which allows the ram to tilt relative to the sleeve, is provided between the ram and the sleeve.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein a spring element, which is supported on a base of the sleeve and interacts with the ram to form the spring-loaded mounting, is arranged in the sleeve.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein a pretension of the spring element is adjustablepreferably by means of a screw.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein a cover is provided which covers the massage part and which is preferably secured to a housing of the device.

Description

[0031] Further advantages and details of the invention are revealed with the aid of the figures as well as the associated description of the figures, in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of the invention,

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of the invention,

[0034] FIG. 3 shows essential components of the embodiment from FIG. 2 in a perspective view,

[0035] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention, and

[0036] FIGS. 5a-5d show schematic views of a further embodiment of the invention.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view to illustrate the drive principle of a first embodiment of the invention. Firstly, the plate 3 can be seenin this case configured to be circular. The massage part 2 is arranged thereon. There are two drives 4 provided, in this case electrical rotary drives. Their drive axles 7 are each connected to an eccentric 8. Eccentrically relative to the drive axles 7, coupling elements 5 formed as pins are secured to the eccentrics 8.

[0038] These coupling elements 5 interact with recesses 6, which are designed as elongated holes open on one side.

[0039] The last degree of freedom of the plate 3 (for movements in the plane of drawing) is defined by a guide pin 10, which interacts with a further recess 11.

[0040] By this drive design, the movement of the massage part 2 over the area of an auricle, particular an inner auricle, can be particularly finely controlled.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention which makes use of the movement principle described in FIG. 1. As can be seen in the sectional view, a spring-loaded mounting of the massage part is also provided. In addition, there is a cover 18, which prevents direct contact between the massage part 2 and the ear to be massaged.

[0042] For the spring-loaded mounting of the massage part 2, a sleeve 12 secured to the plate 3 and a ram 13 arranged in the sleeve 12 are provided, wherein the massage part 2 is secured to the ram 13. The spring element 15, which in this case is designed as a coil spring, is arranged in the sleeve 12. The spring element 15 is supported on the base 16 of the sleeve via a ball 19 and a screw 17.

[0043] The pretension of the spring element 15 can be adapted by an adjustment of the screw 17 (in this case size M10).

[0044] A clearance 14 is provided along a part of the sleeve 12 between the ram 13 and the sleeve 12. This allows the ram 13 to tilt slightly relative to the sleeve 12.

[0045] The deformation of the spring element 15, which is generated by this tilting, is compensated for by the ball 19.

[0046] Some elements that are essential for the drive of the plate 3 are shown in FIG. 3.

[0047] These would be the drives 4 the eccentrics 8, the coupling elements 5, the plate 3 and the massage part 2. The drive principle of this embodiment example becomes clear from looking at FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 together.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention which is similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3. In particular, this embodiment also makes use of the drive principle which was described in connection with FIG. 1. It is to be noted that the housing 9, in which the drives 4 are arranged, has a mounting plate 20. In the assembled state, the drives 4 are secured to the mounting plate 20 (for example by screw connections). The mounting plate 20 is secured to a further, substantially hollow cylindrical part of the housing 9. The mounting plate 20 also serves for supporting the plate 3. It is to be noted that the sleeve 12 is not secured to the mounting plate 20, but to the plate 3.

[0049] FIGS. 5a to 5d schematically show a perspective view (FIG. 5a), a top view (FIG. 5b), as well as two side views (FIGS. 5c, 5d) according to a further embodiment. This is an embodiment in which the coupling elements 5 each have two rails. The drives 4 are not shown. These are designed as rotary drives. Via the drive axles 7, it is possible to pivot the rails of the coupling elements 5. As the plate 3 is freely movable along the rails, a pivoting movement of the rails of one coupling element can be used to adjust the position along the rails of the other coupling element.

[0050] However, the invention can be realized by more than just the embodiments shown here. For example, the movement in the plane of the plate 3 can also be realized by utilizing the principle of an XY stage. AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS