Personal vibrator with replaceable motor

Abstract

A vibrating massager includes a housing, a power source supported by the housing and a replaceable motor. The housing and motor are configured so that the motor may be readily replaced by a human operator without the need to replace the housing, power source, or other components. The motor may be sized and configured to substitute for a conventional battery in a multi-battery device. When positioned in place of a battery in a supporting device, the motor operates to impart a vibrating motion to the supporting device.

1 . A replaceable vibrating device, comprising:
 an outer housing extending between a first end and a second end and defining an interior;   a motor;   an output shaft connected to the motor and extending out from the motor;   an eccentrically positioned offset weight affixed to the output shaft;   positive and negative electrical contacts positioned respectively on the first and second ends of the outer housing, the positive and negative electrical contacts being connected to the motor so as to provide power to the motor when the vibrating motor device is operably positioned in a battery-operated device by being slid into direct contact with corresponding positive and negative contacts within the device thereby forming an electrical connection with the device.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrating device is positioned in the battery-operated device adjacent to a selected battery such that at least one of the positive and negative contacts forms an electrical connection with the battery by direct contact therewith. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing is adapted to be received by a housing for receiving the selected battery. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the positive and negative electrical contacts are positioned so as to approximate the size and position of the positive and negative electrical contacts of the selected battery. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing includes a sleeve forming the second end of the outside housing and having a first opening opposite the second end of the outside housing, the first opening having a diameter that is smaller than an interior diameter of the sleeve to form a flange, and wherein the motor housing is contained within the sleeve such that the output shaft extends through the fist open end such that the offset weight is outside the sleeve. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the outer housing further includes a cap including a cavity therein and fitting over the offset weight, the cap forming a mating section with the sleeve to enclose the vibrating motor assembly, and wherein the cap includes the first end of the housing. 
   
   
       7 . A personal vibrator, comprising:
 a housing of a bio-compatible material including an interior accessible through an end cap of the housing;   a battery of the selected configuration positioned in the housing;   a removable vibrating motor assembly configured to fit within the interior of the housing so as to adjoin the battery, the vibrating motor assembly including a vibrating motor and a pair of electrical contacts, the electrical contacts positioned on a corresponding one of the ends of the vibrating motor assembly for supplying power from the battery to the vibrating motor;   the removable vibrating motor assembly positioned in the interior of the housing with a first of the pair of electrical contacts abutting the battery and a second of the pair of electrical contacts abutting the housing whereby to provide power to the vibrating motor;   the removable vibrating motor assembly operable to impart a vibrating motion to the personal vibrator when power from the battery is applied to be vibrating motor through the electrical contacts.   
   
   
       8 . The personal vibrator of  claim 7 , wherein the housing includes at least one water-resistant seal operative to secure both the battery and the removable vibrating motor assembly within the housing such that the personal vibrator is water-resistant. 
   
   
       9 . The personal vibrator of  claim 7 , wherein the removable vibrating motor assembly is configured in the general size and shape of the selected battery configuration. 
   
   
       10 . The personal vibrator of  claim 7 , wherein the selected battery configuration is from the group comprising AAA, AA, C and D battery configurations. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the abutment of the first of the pair of contacts with the battery and the abutment of the second of the pair of contacts with the housing substantially secure the removable vibrating motor in its position within the housing. 
   
   
       12 . The personal vibrator of  claim 7 , wherein the removable vibrating motor assembly is configured to impart to a vibratory motion of a selected frequency and magnitude to the housing. 
   
   
       13 . The personal vibrator of  claim 7 , comprising a plurality of the removable vibrating motor assemblies contained within the housing, each of the vibrating motor assemblies simultaneously operable by the battery. 
   
   
       14 . The personal vibrator of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of vibrating motor assemblies is selected to vibrate at a specific frequency and magnitude. 
   
   
       15 . The personal vibrator of  claim 7  wherein the vibrating motor includes a rotating motor connected to drive an eccentrically positioned offset weight, the rotating motor and the offset weight fully contained within the motor housing. 
   
   
       16 . The personal vibrator of  claim 15  wherein the rotating motor is positioned to rotate the offset weight about a longitudinal axis of the motor housing. 
   
   
       17 . The personal vibrator of  claim 7  wherein the rotating motor and the offset weight fully contained within the motor housing. 
   
   
       18 . The personal vibrator of  claim 17  wherein the rotating motor is positioned to rotate the offset weight about a longitudinal axis of the motor housing. 
   
   
       19 . A method for operating a personal massager, comprising the steps of:
 removing a cover from the personal massager to access an interior of the personal massager;   inserting a removable vibrating motor assembly into the interior of the housing to provide a replacement assembly, the vibrating motor assembly including a vibrating motor and a pair of electrical contacts, the electrical contacts positioned on a corresponding one of the ends of the vibrating motor assembly for supplying power from the battery to the vibrating motor, wherein the removable vibrating motor assembly is positioned to be operable by inserting the assembly into the interior of the housing such that a first one of the pair of electrical contacts abuts a portion of the interior of the housing; and   replacing the cover on the personal massager.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the removable vibrating motor assembly is configured in the general size and shape of a selected battery configuration. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further including the step of inserting a battery of the selected battery configuration into the interior of the housing such that an electrical contact of the battery adjoins a second one of the pair of electrical contacts of the replaceable vibrating motor assembly, wherein the abutment of the first of the pair of electrical contacts with the battery and the abutment of the second of the pair of contacts with the interior of the housing substantially secure the vibrating motor assembly in a position within the housing. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the battery, and the vibrating motor assembly are configured to fit slideably within the interior of the housing, and wherein the steps inserting the vibrating motor assembly and the battery include sliding of the battery and the vibrating motor assembly relative to the interior of the housing. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , further including the step of removing a damaged removable vibrating motor assembly from the interior of the housing.