Massage device having variable stroke length
Exemplary embodiments of massaging devices are disclosed herein. One exemplary embodiment includes a piston having a longitudinal axis, a massaging head connected to the piston, a motor located on a first side of the longitudinal axis and a handle located on a second side of the longitudinal axis. A drive mechanism for moving the piston and massage head is also included.
1. A percussive massager comprising:
a housing;
a piston having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the piston having a substantially cylindrical bore;
a motor at least partially within the housing and operatively connected to the proximal end of the piston, wherein the motor is configured to cause the piston to reciprocate at a first speed;
a drive mechanism that controls a predetermined stroke length of the piston; and
a quick-connect system comprising the distal end of the piston and a first massaging head, wherein the quick-connect system is configured to secure the first massaging head to the percussive massager by a proximal end of the massaging head being slid into the bore while the piston reciprocates the predetermined stroke length at the first speed.
2. The percussive massager of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second massaging head configured to releasably couple to the distal end of the piston via the quick-connect system.
3. The percussive massager of claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to cause the piston to reciprocate the predetermined stroke length at a second speed.
4. The percussive massager of claim 3 , wherein the first speed and the second speed are each less than or equal to 3600 strokes per minute.
5. The percussive massager of claim 3 , wherein the first speed and the second speed are each greater than or equal to 600 strokes per minute.
6. The percussive massager of claim 3 , wherein the first speed and the second speed are each selectable from a plurality of predetermined speeds in a range of greater than 700 strokes per minute to less than 1800 strokes per minute.
7. The percussive massager of claim 3 , further comprising:
a control panel positioned on an exterior of the housing.
8. The percussive massager of claim 7 , wherein the control panel is configured to display one or more visual indicators.
9. The percussive massager of claim 7 , wherein the control panel has a display device.
10. The percussive massager of claim 7 , wherein the control panel has one or more inputs.
11. The percussive massager of claim 10 , wherein the one or more inputs comprise at least one of: a button, a switch, and a dial.
12. The percussive massager of claim 10 , wherein the first speed and the second speed are each selectable via the one or more inputs.
13. The percussive massager of claim 10 , wherein a first selection of the one or more inputs is configured to cause the percussive massager to power on and wherein a second selection of the one or more inputs is configured to cause the percussive massager to power off.
14. The percussive massager of claim 1 , further comprising an audible feedback device configured to generate one or more audible signals.
15. The percussive massager of claim 1 , further comprising a controller having a processor, a memory, and a data connection.
16. The percussive massager of claim 15 , wherein the data connection is a wireless data connection.
17. The percussive massager of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to send, by the data connection, first data to an external computing device.
18. The percussive massager of claim 17 , wherein the first data is indicative of usage of the percussive massager for providing a massage.
19. The percussive massager of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to receive, by the data connection, second data from an external computing device.
20. The percussive massager of claim 19 , wherein the second data is indicative of a massage program having at least one of a massage duration, a massage location, and a type of massaging head.
21. The percussive massager of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a cavity, wherein the motor and the drive mechanism are positioned within the cavity.
22. The percussive massager of claim 21 , further comprising a thermally conductive motor housing positioned within the cavity proximal to the motor.
23. The percussive massager of claim 22 , further comprising a heat sink positioned proximal to the thermally conductive motor housing.
24. The percussive massager of claim 1 , wherein the motor is positioned within the housing opposite a handle.
25. The percussive massager of claim 1 , wherein the motor has an output shaft configured to rotate about a rotation axis, and wherein the drive mechanism comprises:
a flywheel operatively connected to the output shaft of the motor to rotate about a flywheel axis, the output shaft extending into the flywheel along the flywheel axis; and
a crank pin extending from the flywheel, the crank pin being operatively connected to the piston.
26. The percussive massager of claim 25 , wherein an offset between the flywheel axis and an axis of the crank pin controls the predetermined stroke length of the piston.
27. The percussive massager of claim 26 , wherein the motor is directly connected to the flywheel, and wherein the crank pin is directly connected to the flywheel.
28. The percussive massager of claim 1 , wherein a handle is on an opposite side of the piston with respect to the motor.
29. The percussive massager of claim 1 , further comprising a substantially cylindrical structure within the bore.
30. The percussive massager of claim 29 , wherein the substantially cylindrical structure comprises a cylindrical seat.
31. The percussive massager of claim 29 , wherein the substantially cylindrical structure comprises a magnet.
32. A method of assembling a percussive massager, the method comprising:
positioning a motor at least partially within a housing;
operatively connecting the motor to a proximal end of a piston, wherein the motor is configured to cause the piston to reciprocate at a first speed, wherein a distal end of the piston has a quick release connector, wherein the quick release connector has a bore having a substantially cylindrical structure; and
positioning a drive mechanism that controls a predetermined stroke length of the piston within the housing, wherein the quick release connector is configured to secure a first massaging head by sliding the first massaging head into the bore while the piston reciprocates the predetermined stroke length at the first speed.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein a second massaging head is configured to releasably couple to the distal end of the piston via the quick release connector.
34. A percussive massager comprising:
a housing;
a piston in the housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
a motor at least partially within the housing and operatively connected to the proximal end of the piston, wherein the motor is configured to cause the piston to reciprocate at a first speed;
a drive mechanism between the motor and the piston that controls a predetermined stroke length of the piston; and
a quick release connector at the distal end of the piston, wherein the quick release connector is configured to secure a first massaging head while the piston reciprocates a predetermined stroke length at the first speed, wherein the first massaging head has a substantially cylindrical pocket to receive the quick release connector.
35. The percussive massager of claim 34 , further comprising:
a second massaging head configured to releasably couple to the distal end of the piston via the quick release connector.
36. The percussive massager of claim 34 , wherein the motor is configured to cause the piston to reciprocate the predetermined stroke length at a second speed.
37. The percussive massager of claim 36 , wherein the first speed and the second speed are each less than or equal to 3600 strokes per minute.
38. The percussive massager of claim 36 , wherein the first speed and the second speed are each greater than or equal to 600 strokes per minute.
39. The percussive massager of claim 36 , wherein the first speed and the second speed are each selectable from a plurality of predetermined speeds in a range of greater than 700 strokes per minute to less than 1800 strokes per minute.
40. The percussive massager of claim 36 , further comprising:
a control panel positioned on an exterior of the housing.
41. The percussive massager of claim 40 , wherein the control panel is configured to display one or more visual indicators.
42. The percussive massager of claim 40 , wherein the control panel has a display device.
43. The percussive massager of claim 40 , wherein the control panel has one or more inputs.
44. The percussive massager of claim 43 , wherein the one or more inputs comprise at least one of: a button, a switch, and a dial.
45. The percussive massager of claim 43 , wherein the first speed and the second speed are each selectable via the one or more inputs.
46. The percussive massager of claim 43 , wherein a first selection of the one or more inputs is configured to cause the percussive massager to power on and wherein a second selection of the one or more inputs is configured to cause the percussive massager to power off.
47. The percussive massager of claim 34 , further comprising an audible feedback device configured to generate one or more audible signals.
48. The percussive massager of claim 34 , further comprising a controller having a processor, a memory, and a data connection.
49. The percussive massager of claim 48 , wherein the data connection is a wireless data connection.
50. The percussive massager of claim 49 , wherein the controller is configured to send, by the data connection, first data to an external computing device.
51. The percussive massager of claim 50 , wherein the first data is indicative of usage of the percussive massager for providing a massage.
52. The percussive massager of claim 48 , wherein the controller is configured to receive, by the data connection, second data from an external computing device.
53. The percussive massager of claim 52 , wherein the second data is indicative of a massage program having at least one of a massage duration, a massage location, and a type of massaging head.
54. The percussive massager of claim 34 , wherein the housing comprises a cavity, wherein the motor and the drive mechanism are positioned within the cavity.
55. The percussive massager of claim 54 , further comprising a thermally conductive motor housing positioned within the cavity proximal to the motor.
56. The percussive massager of claim 55 , further comprising a heat sink positioned proximal to the thermally conductive motor housing.
57. The percussive massager of claim 34 , further comprising a handle, wherein the motor is positioned within the housing opposite the handle.
58. The percussive massager of claim 34 , wherein the motor has an output shaft configured to rotate about a rotation axis, and wherein the drive mechanism comprises:
a flywheel operatively connected to the output shaft of the motor to rotate about a flywheel axis, the output shaft extending into the flywheel along the flywheel axis; and
a crank pin extending from the flywheel, the crank pin being operatively connected to the piston.
59. The percussive massager of claim 58 , wherein an offset between the flywheel axis and an axis of the crank pin controls the predetermined stroke length of the piston.
60. The percussive massager of claim 59 , wherein the motor is directly connected to the flywheel, and wherein the crank pin is directly connected to the flywheel.
61. The percussive massager of claim 34 , further comprising a handle, wherein the handle is on an opposite side of the piston with respect to the motor.