HK1243623B - Massage machine - Google Patents

Description

massager

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a massager for massaging a user's treatment area (e.g., lower limbs), and more particularly to a massager that can provide comfortable massage even when the width (size, thickness) of the treatment area varies due to differences in the user's physique.

Background Art

Patent Document 1 discloses a massager comprising a pair of left and right massage members, wherein the pair of left and right massage members are arranged to sandwich a treatment area, such as a lower limb (foot or calf). The left and right massage members are driven toward or away from each other, repeatedly pressing or relaxing the pressure on the treatment area from both sides, thereby performing a kneading massage action.

The massager has a driving mechanism comprising: a rotating shaft arranged along a direction passing through a pair of left and right massage parts, a driving unit for driving the rotating shaft to rotate, a pair of left and right conversion units for converting the rotational force of the rotating shaft into an approaching or moving away movement of the pair of left and right massage parts, and an eccentric rotor arranged to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft in order to transmit the rotational force of the rotating shaft to the pressing part.

【Prior art literature】

[Patent Literature]

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3377195

Summary of the Invention

(Problems to be solved by the invention)

Conventional massagers utilize a drive mechanism that uses the rotation of a rotating shaft as a driving force, which, via a pair of left and right conversion units, causes a pair of massage components to perform a massaging action. For example, if a pair of massage components is positioned to sandwich the user's left lower limb, the left-right width of the pair of massage components (the distance between the right and left massage components) is constant. In other words, the massage components oscillate during operation, and the distance between them varies, but the range of variation remains constant.

Therefore, for example, if the width of the pair of massage elements sandwiching the left lower limb is narrowed to provide a comfortable massage for thin calves, a user with thick calves may experience a strong massage, which may even be painful. Conversely, if the width of the pair of massage elements is widened to provide a comfortable massage for thick calves, the massage elements may not contact with the appropriate strength for users with thin calves, resulting in an inadequate massage effect. This also applies to the pair of massage elements sandwiching the right lower limb.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is to provide a massager that can achieve effective massage treatment using a pair of left and right massage members for users having treatment areas of various sizes and thicknesses.

(Methods used to solve problems)

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following method.

That is, the massager involved in the present invention comprises: a pair of left and right massage components arranged in a manner of sandwiching a treatment portion, a rotating shaft arranged to pass through the massage components in the left-right direction, a driving portion for driving the rotating shaft to rotate, and a conversion portion for converting the rotational force of the rotating shaft into a massage action performed by the massage components. The massager is characterized in that it has a horizontal moving mechanism, which is constructed such that by rotating the rotating shaft, at least one of the left and right massage components is moved horizontally along the rotating shaft, thereby adjusting the interval between the left and right massage components.

Preferably: the conversion part has a fixed rotating hub part, an annular fitting part and a limiting part, wherein the fixed rotating hub part is fixed to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft, and an annular cam surface inclined relative to the rotating shaft is formed on the periphery, the annular fitting part is formed at the base end part of the massage component, and is slidably embedded in the periphery of the fixed rotating hub part, and the limiting part limits the annular fitting part to rotate along with the fixed rotating hub part.

Preferably: the conversion part has a movable rotating shaft hub part, an annular interlocking part and a limiting part, wherein the movable rotating shaft hub part can move along the axial direction of the rotating shaft within a specified range on the rotating shaft, and an annular cam surface inclined relative to the rotating shaft is formed on the periphery, the annular interlocking part is formed at the base end part of the massage component, and is slidably embedded in the periphery of the movable rotating shaft hub part, and the limiting part limits the annular interlocking part to rotate along with the movable rotating shaft hub part.

Preferably, the horizontal movement mechanism includes a threaded portion formed on the rotation shaft, and the moving rotation shaft hub portion having a helical internal tooth formed on an inner peripheral surface of a central portion thereof and threadably engaged with the threaded portion.

Preferably, the movable rotating shaft hub portion is configured to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft when reaching one end or the other end of the threaded portion.

Preferably, the threaded portions of the horizontal movement mechanism are formed on both left and right end sides of the rotation shaft, and the threaded portion on one side and the threaded portion on the other side have opposite thread directions.

Preferably, a pressing member is disposed between the pair of left and right massage members. The pressing member is formed to cover the rotating shaft, and the pressing member is configured to expand and contract in the horizontal direction as the movable rotating shaft hub moves.

(Effects of the Invention)

According to the massager of the present invention, users having treatment areas of various sizes and thicknesses can all receive effective massage treatment using the pair of left and right massage members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a massager according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pair of left and right massage members in a state where the left and right widths are widened.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the left-right width of a pair of left and right massage members is changing from wide to narrow or from narrow to wide.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a pair of left and right massage members in a state where the left and right widths are narrowed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pair of left and right massage members in a state where the left and right widths are widened (without a pressing member).

FIG6 is a diagram showing a state where the left and right widths of a pair of left and right massage members are transitioning from wide to narrow or vice versa (without a pressing member).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a pair of left and right massage members in a state where the left and right widths are narrow (without a pressing member).

FIG8 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the massager of the present invention (without the pressing member).

(Explanation of Symbols)

1…Lower limb massager

2…Massage components

3…base

4…Pressing parts

5…Drive unit

10…Rotation axis

11…Drive motor

12…Conversion unit

13…Deceleration unit

14…Tilt rotor

15…annular fitting portion

16…Restricted protrusion

17...Transverse tank body

18…Rotating rotor

19…protrusion

20…Mobile massage parts

21…Threaded part

22…Bearings

23…Shaft protrusion

24…Non-moving massage parts

L…lower limbs

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

1 to 8 show an embodiment of a massager according to the present invention.

The massager of this embodiment is a lower limb massager 1 (sometimes also simply referred to as "massager 1") with the treatment part set as the lower limb L. The massager 1 is constructed to use the user's left and right lower limbs L as massage objects, and can provide kneading massage to both the calves and feet constituting the lower limbs L.

The massager 1 includes a massage member 2 for performing kneading massage, and a drive unit 5 for driving the massage member 2 .

In this specification, "calf" refers to the area below the knee and above the ankle of a person's lower limb L, and "foot" refers to the area below the ankle. FIG. 1 illustrates the front-to-back direction, left-to-right direction (width direction), and up-to-down direction of the massager 1 used in this description. These directions correspond to the left-to-right, front-to-back, and up-to-down directions as viewed from the user's perspective.

The massager 1 of this embodiment has a base 3 that is in the shape of a roughly rectangular plate and can be placed on the ground, etc., and has a pair of left and right massage parts 2, a pressing part 4 (foot massage body), and a driving part 5 that moves the left and right pair of massage parts 2 closer to or farther away from each other. The left and right pair of massage parts 2 are separated in the left and right directions to the extent that they can be embedded in the foot or calf and are arranged side by side, and the pressing part 4 is arranged between the above-mentioned left and right pair of massage parts 2.

The pair of left and right massage components 2 are respectively provided on the right and left sides of the base 3 to correspond to the right lower limb L and the left lower limb L of the user.

The massage members 2 are formed into upright plates using a material having elasticity in the thickness direction. A cushioning material or a cover material may be provided on the inner surfaces of the massage members 2 facing each other to alleviate the contact feeling with the foot.

The drive unit 5 causes the pair of left and right massage elements 2 to repeatedly move between a clamping position for the foot inserted therebetween and a release position, thereby imparting a kneading massage action to the foot. The drive unit 5 is configured to simultaneously drive the pair of left and right massage elements 2 corresponding to the right lower limb L and the pair of left and right massage elements 2 corresponding to the left lower limb L.

First, the driving unit 5 includes: a rotating shaft 10 arranged along a direction (left-right direction) passing through the massage components 2, a driving motor 11 driving the rotating shaft 10 to rotate, and a pair of conversion units 12 for converting the rotational force of the rotating shaft 10 into a massage action performed by the massage components 2.

The drive motor 11 can switch between forward and reverse rotation and transmits a rotational driving force to the rotary shaft 10 via the speed reduction unit 13 . The speed reduction unit 13 has a built-in worm gear and a worm wheel meshing with the worm gear.

The conversion unit 12 is located at the portion of the rotating shaft 10 that passes through the massage element 2. It includes a tilted rotor 14, which is fixed to the rotating shaft 10 in a string-like manner and rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 10. The tilted rotor 14 is configured so that an annular fitting portion 15, located at the base end of the massage element 2, fits from the outside via a bearing fitted externally to its outer periphery. The inclined cam surface formed on the outer periphery of the tilted rotor 14 and the annular fitting portion 15 rotate freely via the bearing, allowing the massage element 2 to maintain relative rotation relative to the rotating shaft 10.

Furthermore, the conversion unit 12 is configured to engage a restricting protrusion 16 projecting downward from the massage element 2 with a horizontal groove 17 formed in the base 3 and extending in the left-right direction. This engagement of the restricting protrusion 16 with the horizontal groove 17 (the horizontally elongated hole) prevents the massage element 2 from rotating with the tilt rotor 14 (i.e., driven rotation). Specifically, when the rotating shaft 10 rotates, the tilt rotor 14 generates vibrations around the rotating shaft 10 corresponding to the tilt component, and transmits only this vibrational component to the massage element 2.

The tilting rotor 14 is tilted relative to the rotating shaft 10 in a direction opposite to the direction of the pair of massage elements 2. Therefore, when the front and rear upper edges of the massage elements 2 are separated, rotating the rotating shaft 10 causes the front upper edges of the massage elements 2 to gradually approach each other, while the front lower edges of the massage elements 2 separate. Subsequently, the rear upper edges of the massage elements 2 gradually approach each other, thereby performing a clamping operation.

After this clamping action, the rear lower edges of the massage element 2 gradually approach each other, while the rear upper edges of the massage element 2 separate. Subsequently, the front lower edges of the massage element 2 gradually approach each other, while the front upper edges of the massage element 2 separate, thereby releasing the massage element 2. By continuously rotating the rotating shaft 10, the massage element 2 alternately repeats the clamping and releasing actions described above, while oscillating in a wave-like manner within a predetermined angular range.

When the rotating shaft 10 is rotated in the opposite direction to the above, the massage member 2 also performs the clamping action and the releasing action in the opposite order to the above.

As shown in Figure 1 and other figures, the pressing member 4 has a rotating rotor 18 and protrusions 19, wherein the rotating rotor 18 is arranged to be rotatable relative to the rotating shaft 10 provided by the driving unit 5, and the protrusions 19 are dispersedly arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating rotor 18 at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction and the axial direction.

By rotating the pressing member 4 (in other words, the rotating rotor 18) integrally with the rotating shaft 10, a finger pressure massage can be applied to the foot located between the pair of left and right massage members 2. The pressing member 4 may include a rotating rotor 18 that is eccentrically disposed relative to the rotating shaft 10 and rotates integrally therewith.

In addition, as described in detail in the section "Problems to be Solved by the Invention", in the lower limb massager 1 having the above-mentioned structure, for example, when the left and right widths of the left and right pair of massage parts 2 are set to be narrow in order to provide a comfortable massage to thin calves, there is a situation where a strong massage is applied to users with thick calves, and sometimes even pain is felt depending on the situation.

Therefore, the lower limb massager 1 of this embodiment has the following structure (horizontal movement mechanism, in other words, width adjustment mechanism).

The pair of left and right massage components 2 corresponding to the right lower limb L and the pair of left and right massage components 2 corresponding to the left lower limb L have substantially the same structure and perform substantially the same actions. Therefore, the massage components 2 for massaging the left lower limb L will be described below as an example.

Specifically, the connection method between the outer massage component 2 of the pair of massage components 2 on the left and the rotating shaft 10 is significantly different from that of the prior art. This also applies to the outer massage component 2 of the pair of massage components 2 on the right. Hereinafter, the aforementioned massage components 2 (the outer massage component 2 of the pair of massage components 2 on the left and the outer massage component 2 of the pair of massage components 2 on the right) will sometimes be referred to as the movable massage component 20.

Specifically, as shown in Figures 5 and 8, in the lower limb massager 1 of this embodiment, the conversion part 12 that causes the movable massage component 20 to swing has a screw thread 21 at a position corresponding to the base end portion of the movable massage component 20, in other words, on the left side of the rotating shaft 10.

The threaded portion 21 is formed on the outer circumference of the left side of the rotating shaft 10, serving as the rotational drive axis of the rotating shaft 10. The threaded portion 21 is formed as external teeth spirally wound around the outer circumference of the rotating shaft 10, and is a right-handed thread. The pitch and other dimensions and shape of the threaded portion 21 are arbitrarily set and are not particularly limited. However, if the left-side threaded portion 21 is a right-handed thread, the right-side threaded portion 21 is a left-handed thread.

The tilted rotor 14, which engages the annular engagement portion 15 formed at the base of the movable massage member 20, has a central hole through which the rotation shaft 10 passes. The inner circumference of this hole is formed with helical internal teeth that threadably engage with the threaded portion 21. The tilted rotor 14 slides around the threaded portion 21 and moves horizontally along the threaded portion 21 (rotational drive shaft). Specifically, the tilted rotor 14 moves horizontally while rotating on the threaded portion 21.

The tilt rotor 14, which has moved to the leftmost side of the threaded portion 21 formed on the rotating shaft 10, comes into surface contact with the side surface of the bearing 22 provided on the left side of the base 3 and stops moving. In other words, the rotating shaft 10 and the tilt rotor 14 rotate integrally.

Furthermore, the tilt rotor 14, having moved to the rightmost side of the threaded portion 21 formed on the rotating shaft 10, comes into surface contact with the shaft protrusion 23 provided at the right end of the threaded portion 21 (this shaft protrusion 23 rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 10) and stops moving. In other words, the rotating shaft 10 and the tilt rotor 14 rotate integrally.

The outer circumference (inclined cam portion) of the tilted rotor 14 is fitted with a bearing mounted externally thereon, which fits into a rotor housing recess provided at the base of the movable massage member 20. The free rotation provided by this bearing allows the movable massage member 20 to rotate freely relative to the rotating shaft 10.

Furthermore, the conversion unit 12 is configured to engage a restriction protrusion 16 projecting downward from the massage elements 2 (including not only the moving massage element 20 but also the non-moving massage elements 2) with a transverse groove 17 (a horizontally elongated hole). This engagement of the restriction protrusion 16 with the horizontally elongated hole prevents the massage elements 2 from rotating with (following) the tilted rotor 14. Specifically, when the rotating shaft 10 rotates, the tilted rotor 14 generates vibrations around the rotating shaft 10 corresponding to the tilt component, and transmits only this vibrational component to the massage elements 2.

The tilting rotor 14 is tilted relative to the rotating shaft 10 in a direction opposite to the massage elements 2. Therefore, when the front and rear upper edges of the massage elements 2 are separated, rotating the rotating shaft 10 causes the front upper edges of the massage elements 2 to gradually approach each other, while the front lower edges of the massage elements 2 separate. Subsequently, the rear upper edges of the massage elements 2 gradually approach each other, thereby performing a clamping operation.

Furthermore, in the lower limb massager 1 of the present embodiment, the pressing member 4 (leg supporting member) is disposed between the pair of left and right massage members 2 .

The pressing member 4 is a cylindrical component that surrounds the rotating shaft 10. Its outer surface is circumferentially provided with protrusions 19 that massage the treatment area (e.g., the sole of the foot). This pressing member 4 is designed to be retractable, expanding and contracting horizontally in response to the movement of the movable rotating shaft hub. Therefore, even when the movable massage member 20 moves horizontally, the pressing member 4 expands and contracts horizontally, preventing direct contact between the foot and the rotating shaft 10 (the rotating component).

[Action method]

Next, the operation of the massager 1 of this embodiment will be described based on Figures 2 to 4 and 5 to 7. Figures 5 to 7 are diagrams showing the rotary rotor 18 (foot massaging body) of Figures 2 to 4 without the rotary rotor 18.

First, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, when the rotating shaft 10 rotates in one direction under the action of the drive motor 11, the tilted rotor 14, designed to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 10, rotates. In the outer massage component 2 of the pair of massage elements 2 located on the left side (i.e., the movable massage element 20), the embedded tilted rotor 14 comes into surface contact with the side surface of the bearing 22 located on the left side of the base 3, preventing it from moving. As a result, the rotating shaft 10 and the tilted rotor 14 rotate integrally. Furthermore, the conversion unit 12 has a structure that allows the restricting protrusion 16 projecting downward from the massage element 2 to engage with the horizontal groove 17 (horizontally elongated hole).

Therefore, when the rotating shaft 10 rotates, the tilted rotor 14 generates vibrations around the rotating shaft 10 corresponding to the tilt component, and transmits only this vibration component to the massage elements 2. The tilted rotor 14 is tilted relative to the rotating shaft 10 in a direction opposite to the massage elements 2. Therefore, when the front and rear upper edges of the massage elements 2 are separated, rotating the rotating shaft 10 causes the front upper edges of the massage elements 2 to gradually approach each other, while the front lower edges of the massage elements 2 separate. Subsequently, the rear upper edges of the massage elements 2 gradually approach each other, thereby performing a clamping action.

After this clamping action, the rear lower edges of the massage element 2 gradually approach each other, while the rear upper edges of the massage element 2 separate. Subsequently, the front lower edges of the massage element 2 gradually approach each other, while the front upper edges of the massage element 2 separate, thereby releasing the massage element 2. By continuously rotating the rotating shaft 10, the massage element 2 alternately repeats the clamping and releasing actions described above, while oscillating in a wave-like manner within a predetermined angular range.

Afterwards, when the rotating shaft 10 is rotated in the other direction by the driving motor 11, as the rotating shaft 10 rotates, the non-movable massage component 24 (the massage component 2 arranged on the inner side of the pair of massage components 2 arranged on the left side, and the massage component 2 arranged on the inner side of the pair of massage components 2 arranged on the right side) performs a wave-like swinging motion in the same manner as described above.

However, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the movable massage component 20 (the massage component 2 arranged on the outside of the pair of massage components 2 arranged on the left, and the massage component 2 arranged on the outside of the pair of massage components 2 arranged on the right) moves toward the inside of the base 3 along the rotating shaft 10.

That is, the tilt rotor 14 slides around the screw portion 21 and moves on the screw portion 21 (rotation drive shaft) toward the center of the base 3. As a result, the widthwise distance between the pair of massage members 2 is narrowed.

Then, as shown in Figures 4 and 7 , the tilt rotor 14 moves to the right end of the threaded portion 21, where it comes into surface contact with the shaft protrusion 23 (which rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 10) located at the right terminal end of the threaded portion 21, and stops moving. The rotating shaft 10 then rotates integrally with the tilt rotor 14.

Therefore, thereafter, the massage member 2 alternately repeats the above-mentioned clamping operation and releasing operation while swinging in a wave-like manner while being restricted to a predetermined angular range.

As described above, in the lower limb massager 1 of the present invention, by having a horizontal moving mechanism, users with lower limbs L of various thicknesses can all achieve effective massage treatment using a pair of left and right massage components 2, wherein the horizontal moving mechanism is constructed as follows: by rotating the rotating shaft 10, at least one of the left and right pair of massage components 2 is moved horizontally along the rotating shaft 10, thereby adjusting the distance between the left and right pair of massage components 2.

In addition, in the embodiments disclosed this time, matters not explicitly stated, such as action conditions or operating conditions, dimensions and weights of components, etc., do not exceed the scope of ordinary practice of those skilled in the art, but are matters that can be easily thought of by those of ordinary skill in the art.

For example, in the embodiment, the “lower limbs” are exemplified as the treatment part, but there is no problem with a massager (pinching massager) that uses the arms (upper limbs) or the head as the treatment part.

Claims (5)

1. A massager comprising: a pair of left and right massage members arranged to be clamped into a treatment section; a rotating shaft configured to pass through the massage members in a left-right direction; a drive unit for driving the rotating shaft to rotate; and a conversion unit for converting the rotational force of the rotating shaft into massage actions performed by the massage members. The massager is characterized in that... The massager has a horizontal movement mechanism configured such that by rotating the rotating shaft, at least one of the left and right massage components moves horizontally along the rotating shaft, and at least one of the left and right massage components can fix the interval between the left and right massage components at two positions located at one end or the other end of the rotating shaft. The horizontal moving mechanism has a threaded portion formed on the rotating shaft and a movable rotating shaft hub portion having helical internal teeth that engage with the threaded portion formed on the inner circumferential surface of the central portion. The movable rotating shaft hub portion is configured to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft when it reaches one end or the other end of the threaded portion. When the rotating shaft is rotated in one direction by the drive unit, the movable rotating hub moves and reaches one end of the threaded portion; when the rotating shaft is rotated in the other direction by the drive unit, the movable rotating hub moves and reaches the other end of the threaded portion. 2. The massager as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The conversion part includes a fixed rotating hub, an annular fitting part, and a limiting part. The fixed rotating hub is fixed to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft, and an annular cam surface inclined relative to the rotating shaft is formed on its periphery. The annular fitting portion is formed at the base end of the massage component and slides freely onto the periphery of the fixed rotating hub portion. The limiting part restricts the annular fitting part from rotating in sync with the fixed rotating hub part. 3. The massager as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The conversion part includes the movable rotating hub, the annular fitting part, and the limiting part. The movable rotating hub is capable of moving within a predetermined range along the axial direction of the rotating shaft, and has an annular cam surface formed on its periphery that is inclined relative to the rotating shaft. The annular fitting portion is formed at the base end of the massage component and slides freely onto the periphery of the movable rotating hub. The limiting part restricts the annular fitting part from rotating in sync with the moving rotating hub part. 4. The massager as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The threaded portions of the horizontal moving mechanism are formed on both ends of the rotating shaft in the left and right directions, and the threaded portions on one side and the threaded portions on the other side have opposite thread directions. 5. The massager as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, A pressing component is disposed between the pair of massage components on the left and right sides. The pressing member is configured to cover the rotating shaft, and the pressing member is configured to extend and retract in the horizontal direction as the moving rotating shaft hub moves.