Massager for producing rotary/vibratory massage motion, using a single motor

Abstract

A massager for producing rotary and/or vibratory massage motion includes a base structure, a support plate with a contact surface and a mounting surface, and resilient mounts for coupling the support plate to the base structure. At least one rotator structure is associated with the contact surface of the support plate and includes massage members extending therefrom. A motor is attached to the mounting surface of the support plate and manifests a first direction rotary output and a counter direction rotary output. A gear structure couples the motor to the at least one rotator structure to cause rotary movement thereof, upon actuation of the motor. The massager includes an eccentric weight and a clutch system for driveably coupling the eccentric weight to the motor when the motor produces a first direction rotary output; and for decoupling the eccentric weight from the motor when the motor produces the counter-direction rotary output. In such manner, the single motor operates both the rotator structure and the eccentric weight and enables combined rotary/vibratory motion to be achieved.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.