JP2017035299A - Massage equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a massage machine capable of imparting an excellent massage effect by the linkage of multiple air bags by expanding the respective air bags at different timing while simply supplying air to the multiple air bags.SOLUTION: Multiple air bags 12, 13, 14 corresponding to predetermined massage object parts are arranged and deformable expansion of the respective air bags is differed for each air bag. Air supply by an air supply and discharge mechanism is performed in the same way so as to increase air supply pressure with respect to the air bags and the air bags are expanded to be deformable expansion states. Consequently, the air bags 12 are successively shifted to expansion states with deformable expansion from the easily deformable air bag in accordance with the increase of the air supply pressure. Massage with a time difference for each air bag is easily performed without complicated air supply system setting and air supply control.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a massage apparatus that has an airbag that inflates and contracts when air is supplied and discharged, and that performs massage on a massage target portion of a user by pressing associated with the expansion and deformation of the airbag.

  A wide variety of massage devices for performing massage on a user are used, but an air bag (airbag) that can be easily used by a general user is inflated and contracted by air supply and discharge. ) And actuating a mechanism for supplying and discharging air to an airbag positioned in the vicinity of the massage target location of the user, and pressing and compressing the massage target location with an airbag that expands and contracts by air supply and discharge Devices for performing massage are widely used.

  As such a conventional massage device, a chair type massage machine that performs massage with an airbag placed on a seat, a backrest, an ottoman or the like while supporting the user's body, an leg equipped with an airbag, Wear a pressing part that can surround a massage target part such as a foot in the shape of a cylinder or bag around the legs and legs, operate the air supply and discharge mechanism to inflate and contract the airbag of the pressing part, and massage A massager to perform is used.

  As an example of the conventional massage apparatus which massages using such an airbag, there exist some which are disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2005-177278 and Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2003-79688.

JP 2005-177278 A JP 2003-79688 A

  The conventional massage apparatus has a configuration shown in the above-mentioned patent document, and is capable of performing massage by an air bag by supplying air to one or a plurality of air bags at a predetermined timing to inflate. .

  In such a conventional massage device, it was possible to perform massage using a plurality of airbags, but if the timing of inflation is changed for each of the plurality of airbags, and the massage is performed at different timings, respectively In addition, it is necessary to provide an independent air supply path for each airbag and perform air supply control by adjusting the control valve, etc., which complicates the structure and control related to air supply, leading to an increase in manufacturing cost. It was inevitable.

  For this reason, a plurality of airbags are arranged close to each other in a narrow limited area corresponding to a predetermined massage target location, and the airbag is inflated and pressed by changing the timing for each airbag. The device structure that increases variations and imparts various massage effects has a problem that it is difficult to adopt an air supply path for each airbag and cost.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. While simply supplying air to a plurality of airbags, each airbag is inflated at different timings, and an excellent massage is achieved by linking a plurality of airbags. It aims at providing the massage apparatus which can provide an effect.

  A massage device according to the disclosure of the present invention includes an airbag that inflates and contracts when air is supplied and discharged, and the massage device performs massage on a user's body by pressing accompanying the inflation of the airbag. An air supply / discharge mechanism that is connected and arranged to be able to supply / discharge air to the airbag, and a control unit that controls at least an air supply / discharge state of the airbag by the air supply / discharge mechanism, the airbag, A plurality of parts corresponding to a predetermined massage target location, and at least one that can be expanded and contracted while changing the internal volume of the hollow part with expansion and contraction, wherein the control unit includes air The air supply / discharge state with respect to the airbag by the supply / exhaust mechanism is made the same between the airbags, and the air that can be inflated and contracted with the expansion / contraction deformation among the airbags As for the air bag, in accordance with the increase in the supply pressure of the air, it is possible to further inflate with the expansion and contraction from the air bag that is easy to expand and contract, and the timing of the pressure accompanying the expansion of each air bag is made different. .

  As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, a plurality of airbags corresponding to a predetermined massage target portion are disposed, and an airbag that can be inflated and contracted with expansion / contraction deformation is included therein. The air supply by the air supply / exhaust mechanism is similarly performed on the bag to increase the air supply pressure, so that the airbag that can be inflated and contracted with expansion and contraction is expanded and contracted as the air supply pressure increases. From the one that is easy to deform, it will shift to the inflated state with expansion and contraction sequentially, shifting the timing of expansion and pressing corresponding to this for each airbag, and performing massage with a time difference for each airbag, It can be easily executed regardless of complicated air supply system settings and air supply control, for example, pressing that gradually changes the pressing range by arranging airbags in the order in which they are inflated Massage with a change in the state run properly, can impart high massage effect to the massage target portion.

  The disclosure of the present invention does not exclude the case where all of the plurality of airbags corresponding to the massage target portion are airbags that can be inflated and contracted with expansion and contraction.

  Further, a massage device according to the disclosure of the present invention has an airbag that expands and contracts due to supply and discharge of air, and in the massage device that performs massage on the user's body by pressing accompanying the expansion of the airbag, An air supply / discharge mechanism connected to the airbag and arranged to be able to supply / discharge air to the airbag; and a control unit that controls at least an air supply / discharge state of the airbag by the air supply / discharge mechanism, The airbag corresponding to the massage target part is formed so that each part of the airbag has different easiness of expansion and contraction, and the control unit controls the supply pressure of air to the airbag by the air supply / discharge mechanism. The airbag can be expanded and contracted in response to an increase in the air supply pressure from the state where the hollow portion has originally been subjected to integral expansion without expansion and contraction. Is possible further accompanied by sequential stretching deformation expands from easy site is intended to vary the timing of the pressing due to the expansion in each region of the airbag.

  As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, with respect to an airbag corresponding to a predetermined massage target portion, the ease of expansion and contraction of the airbag is made different for each part of the airbag, and the air supply to the airbag is made different. By performing air supply with the exhaust mechanism to increase the air supply pressure and inflating each part of the airbag to a state where it expands and contracts, the airbag easily expands and contracts as the air supply pressure increases. Shift from the part to the inflated state with expansion / contraction deformation in sequence, shift the timing of inflation with expansion / contraction deformation and the corresponding pressing timing for each part of the airbag, and add a time difference for each place in the airbag arrangement range This makes it easy to perform massages regardless of complicated air supply system settings and air supply control. As gradually changing the pressing range based on grayed differences, massage with a change in the pressing state run properly in one of the air bag can impart high massage effect to the massage target portion.

  Further, in the massage device according to the disclosure of the present invention, the difference in easiness of expansion and contraction in the airbag is caused by the difference in the thickness of the bag body forming the airbag, as necessary.

  As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the thickness of the substantially sheet-like bag body constituting the airbag is changed to a state where the ease of expansion and contraction is different for each of the plurality of airbags or for each part of one airbag. Due to the difference, the bag body is thick and difficult to stretch and deform, whereas the bag body is thin and easy to stretch and deform. By enabling the transition to the state, the difference in the thickness of the airbag bag body is appropriately set between a plurality of airbags or between a plurality of locations of one airbag, and the inflation with expansion and contraction of the airbag is detected. The timing of pressing corresponding to can be made different from each other, and a massage with temporal and / or positional change of the pressing state with respect to the massage target portion can be easily performed with an airbag having a simple structure.

  Further, in the massage device according to the disclosure of the present invention, the difference in easiness of expansion and contraction in the airbag is caused by the difference in the material for each airbag, as necessary.

  As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, a state in which each of the plurality of airbags is easily stretchable and deformed is caused by a difference in the material of the airbag, and the airbag material is hard and is not easily stretched and deformed. On the other hand, the material of the airbag is softer and more likely to be stretched and deformed. Can be selected as appropriate, and the timing of the inflation with the expansion / contraction deformation of the airbag and the corresponding pressing timing can be made different from each other, and the massage with the temporal and / or positional change of the pressing state with respect to the massage target portion can be performed. It can be easily executed with a plurality of airbags of different materials.

  Moreover, the massage apparatus according to the disclosure of the present invention is provided with a sheet-like intermediate material having a predetermined thickness having flexibility between the airbag surface and the massage target portion of the user's body as necessary. It is.

  Thus, according to the disclosure of the present invention, when the intermediate material is interposed between the airbag surface and the user's massage target location, and the airbag presses the user's massage target location as the airbag expands. The intermediate material once received the pressure from the airbag toward the user side, and then the force was transmitted from the intermediate material to the user side, and the intermediate material once received the force from the user toward the airbag side. In the above, by transmitting force from the intermediate material to the airbag side, the relative transmission transmitted to the user side based on the fact that the airbag is easily stretchable and deformed differently for each airbag or for each part of the airbag. By reducing the local difference in pressure with the intermediate material, it is possible to make it difficult for the position-specific difference to occur in the feel of the airbag transmitted to the user side, and to suppress the user's uncomfortable feeling about the airbag.

  In addition, the massaging device according to the disclosure of the present invention has a large degree of ease of expansion and contraction of the airbag in a direction in which the plurality of airbags want to cause a flow of body fluid at the massage target location of the user, if necessary. Are arranged side by side in ascending order.

  As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, a plurality of airbags that perform massage are gradually applied to a user's massage target portion in a desired direction in which the ease of expansion and contraction tends to cause a flow of body fluid. A plurality of airbags are appropriately expanded and contracted by being arranged in such a manner that they become smaller and by causing the pressure on the massage target portion accompanying the inflation of the airbags to proceed in the direction based on the order of the airbags. It can be inflated and linked to a state to give direction to the massage that presses the massage target location, and can prompt the body fluid to flow in the desired direction that has been set. The massage effect is given efficiently over the range.

  Further, the massage machine according to the disclosure of the present invention is easily stretchable and deformable in each part of the airbag along the direction in which the airbag wants to cause a flow of body fluid in the massage target part of the user, as necessary. Is an arrangement in which the transition from large to small.

  As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the airbag that performs massage on the user's massage target portion is easily stretchable and deformed for each portion in a desired direction in which the flow of body fluid is desired. By arranging as a direction that gradually decreases, by pressing the massage target portion accompanying the inflation of the airbag in the above direction based on the order of ease of expansion and contraction for each part in the airbag, The entire airbag can be inflated to a state where it can be stretched and deformed appropriately, giving direction to the massage that presses the massage target location, and can encourage the flow of bodily fluids in the desired direction that has been set. A massage effect can be efficiently given over a wide range of body parts including the part.

  Further, the massage device according to the disclosure of the present invention includes an airbag in which the plurality of airbags are inflated and contracted without expansion / contraction deformation within an adjustable range of the air supply pressure by the air supply / discharge mechanism, as necessary. Then, after the airbag that inflates and contracts without expansion / contraction deformation is inflated, the expansion with expansion / contraction deformation of the inflatable / deflateable airbag starts with the expansion / contraction deformation.

  As described above, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the plurality of airbags corresponding to the massage target portion include airbags that inflate and contract without expansion and deformation, and without expansion and deformation as with other airbags. After inflating, an airbag that can be inflated and contracted with expansion / contraction deformation starts to expand with expansion / contraction deformation, so that the airbag that expands / contracts without expansion / contraction deformation expands / contracts as the air supply pressure increases. Along with other airbags that inflate with deformation, it is possible to execute pressing with different timings for each airbag without complicated air supply system settings and air supply control, and massage with changes in the pressing state for the massage target location Can be efficiently performed with a simpler configuration.

It is a schematic structure perspective view of the massage device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a mounting state side view of a press main part in a massage device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of a massage device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is an air supply system diagram in the massage device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a contraction state explanatory view of each air bag in the massage device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is an inflated state explanatory view which does not accompany expansion-contraction deformation of each airbag in the massage device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the expansion | swelling state accompanying the expansion-contraction deformation of the 1st airbag in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an inflated state explanatory drawing accompanying the expansion-contraction deformation of the 1st and 2nd airbag in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the inflated state accompanying the expansion-contraction deformation of all the airbags in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the inflated state accompanying the expansion-contraction deformation of all the airbags in the other massage apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a deflation state explanatory view of the air bag in the massage device concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the inflated state which does not accompany the expansion-contraction deformation of the airbag in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the expansion | swelling state accompanying the expansion-contraction deformation of the airbag lower part in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is inflation state explanatory drawing accompanying the expansion-contraction deformation of the airbag lower part and middle part in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is expansion | swelling state explanatory drawing accompanying the expansion-contraction deformation of the whole airbag in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the massage apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of a massage device concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is an air supply system diagram in the massage device concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is a shrinking state explanatory drawing of each leg air bag in the massage device concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the expansion state which does not accompany the expansion-contraction deformation | transformation of each leg airbag in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is expansion | swelling state explanatory drawing accompanying the expansion-contraction deformation | transformation of the leg airbag of the leg side in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is expansion | swelling state explanatory drawing with the expansion-contraction deformation of all the airbags for legs in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a contraction state explanatory view of each leg air bag in the massage device concerning a 4th embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the expansion state which does not accompany the expansion-contraction deformation | transformation of each airbag for legs in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the expansion | swelling state accompanying the expansion-contraction deformation | transformation of the leg airbag of the leg back side in the massage apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment of the present invention)
Hereinafter, a massage apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, an example of a small massage device that is used by massaging only a calf of a leg that is used by being attached to a lower leg portion of a user's leg as a massage device will be described.

  In each of the above drawings, the massage device 1 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of airbags 12, 13, and 14 that press the massage target portions of the legs, and is attached to the left and right legs so as to surround the lower knee portion of the leg 90. Each of the two pressing body parts 10 to be mounted, and the airbags of these pressing body parts 10 are connected to the airbags via the pipes 15 and have an air supply / discharge mechanism and a control part 18 for supplying and discharging air to each airbag. It is a structure provided with the mechanism part 11. FIG.

  The pressing main body 10 has a plurality of airbags 12, 13, and 14 that press a calf, ie, a portion to be massaged on the leg 90, and is wound around and mounted on a lower knee portion of the leg 90. It is the structure made into the substantially strip-shaped body with.

  The pressing main body 10 has one end overlapped with another part in the wound state around the lower knee portion of the leg 90 and is positioned on the outermost layer, and predetermined portions of the inner surface and the outer surface overlapped with an engaging means such as a hook-and-loop fastener. By engaging in a detachable manner, a cylindrical shape is formed which is continuous on the outer periphery of the lower knee portion of the leg 90 and can maintain the state in which the airbags 12, 13, and 14 are positioned in the vicinity of the outside of the calf. In this state, the pressing main body portion 10 is a mechanism that can perform massage by pressing the calf with the airbags 12, 13, and 14.

  The airbags 12, 13, and 14 are formed as bags having predetermined elasticity and flexibility by bag-shaped molding of a rubber sheet or blow molding of a synthetic resin material, and the pressing main body 10 surrounds the legs 90. In the state of being wound around, the three are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the legs and arranged so as to surround the calf in a range from the left and right to the rear of the calf (see FIG. 2). ).

  These three airbags 12, 13, and 14 can all be inflated / contracted by supplying / discharging air, but in particular, when the supply pressure is high, the inner volume of the airbag hollow portion is accompanied by expansion / contraction deformation. In this configuration, the airbag can be expanded and contracted while being changed, and the degree of easiness of expansion and contraction is different for each airbag. Specifically, the first airbag 12 arranged on the side closer to the toe is set to be the thickest, so that the ease of expansion and contraction is set differently depending on the difference in the thickness of the bags forming each airbag. It is easy to expand and contract by being made small, and it will be in a state of expanding with expansion and contraction at a lower air supply pressure. And as an airbag approaches the knee side of a leg, the thickness of a bag body becomes large, it becomes difficult to expand and contract, and the timing which expands with expansion and contraction becomes late.

  Specifically, the first airbag 12 is set to be easily stretchable and deformable so that expansion and contraction occurs when the supply air pressure is equal to or higher than a first predetermined pressure (for example, 20 kPa). In addition, the second airbag 13 is set to be easily stretchable and deformable so that the expansion and contraction deformation occurs when the supply air pressure becomes a second predetermined pressure (for example, 30 kPa) or more. It is made larger than one airbag 12. Further, the third airbag 14 is set to be easily stretchable and deformable so that the expansion and contraction deformation occurs when the supply air pressure becomes a third predetermined pressure (for example, 40 kPa) or more. It is made larger than the second airbag 13.

  Each of the airbags 12, 13, and 14 is configured to communicate with an air sending pipe 15 extending from the mechanism unit 11 and to have the same supply / exhaust system. That is, each air bag 12, 13, 14 is supplied with air under the same conditions, but due to the difference in easiness of expansion and contraction of each air bag, the timing of the inflation of each air bag with expansion and deformation changes, Each can be inflated at a predetermined timing to press the calf from the left and right and from the rear, and can provide a pressing stimulus that tightens the calf.

  A tube 15 that connects the mechanism portion 11 and the left and right pressing main body portions 10 is connected to a predetermined portion on the outside of the pressing main body portion 10 and is further pressed via a branch tube (not shown) built in the pressing main body portion 10. 10 is connected to each of the airbags 12, 13, and 14 in the vehicle.

  In addition, the number of airbags provided in the left and right pressing main body portions 10 is not limited to the above three sets, and can be appropriately set according to the usage mode. Further, the arrangement of the airbags is not limited to the arrangement in which the airbags are arranged in the vertical direction. For example, the airbags are arranged such that the rear airbags are sandwiched between the airbag parts positioned on the left and right sides of the legs. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the shape and size correspond to the contents of the massage for the massage target portion, and each airbag is in a predetermined arrangement capable of appropriately performing massage in the pressing main body.

  The pressing main body 10 is a sheet-like body having both durability against contact with a user and other objects, friction, and durability that does not break even when pressure is applied from the airbags 12, 13, and 14, and flexibility that can be wound around the legs. The airbag 12, 13, 14 is covered from the outside and can be protected from moisture, dirt, and the like. The part directly touching the leg 90 may be detachable from the other part of the press main body 10 so that it can be removed and replaced as needed, or it can be washed and reused.

The mechanism portion 11 is disposed independently of each pressing main body portion 10 while being connected to the airbags 12, 13, 14 of the left and right pressing main body portions 10 via the pipes 15, and operates each airbag. It is something to be made.
Specifically, the mechanism unit 11 includes a pump unit 16 that supplies air at a predetermined pressure, an electromagnetic valve 17 that switches between communication and non-communication between the airbags 12, 13, and 14 and the pump unit 16 or external space, and a pump It is a structure provided with the control part 18 which performs control of the drive of the part 16, and the opening / closing operation | movement of the solenoid valve 17, and adjusting the supply and discharge of the air with respect to each airbag.

  The mechanism unit 11 has a hard housing, and the circuit board constituting the pump unit 16, the electromagnetic valve 17, and the control unit 18 can be accommodated in the housing. And the pipe | tube 15 for the air supply / exhaust with respect to each airbag 12,13,14 of the press main-body part 10 is connected to the upper part of the mechanism part 11. As shown in FIG. This pipe is gathered together for each left and right, and is connected to each of the left and right pressing main body parts 10 and connected to each of the airbags 12, 13, and 14.

  In addition, the mechanism unit 11 is integrally provided with an operation unit 11a that receives a user's operation on the upper part. The mechanism unit 11 has a built-in power supply unit (not shown) for supplying power to the pump unit 16 and the like, and is connected to an external commercial power supply via a cable or the like.

The pump unit 16 is connected to the airbags 12, 13, and 14 via an electromagnetic valve 17 and a pipe 15, and supplies air toward the airbags.
The electromagnetic valve 17 has a first port communicating with the pump unit 16, a second port communicating with the airbag, and a third port communicating with the outside. According to control by the control unit 23, A state in which the first port and the second port are communicated and the third port is closed and air can be supplied from the pump unit 16 to the airbag; the second port and the third port are communicated; In addition, the first port is closed, the air in the airbag is exhausted to the outside, and the first port, the second port, and the third port are not communicated with each other. This is a known three-way valve capable of switching between three states, a state in which the internal pressure can be maintained, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The pump unit 16 and the electromagnetic valve 17 constitute an air supply / exhaust mechanism for each airbag, and the control unit 18 operates the pump unit 16 and adjusts and controls the communication state of the electromagnetic valve 17 so that each airbag is controlled. Is a mechanism that can maintain air supply, exhaust, or pressure maintenance, inflating, deflating, or maintaining the airbag in a predetermined inflated state. While the airbag is inflated, it generates a pressing force against the massage target location located inside the airbag of the leg, while releasing the pressure when contracting can give a varied massage effect at each airbag position it can.

  The control unit 18 performs an appropriate massage on the basis of information on the contents of the massage that has been instructed by the operation unit 11a to the pump unit 16 and the electromagnetic valve 17 constituting the air supply / exhaust mechanism or is set in advance. It is intended to control for.

  The control unit 18 is a computer including a CPU, a memory, an input / output interface, and the like as its hardware configuration, and is a mechanism that causes the computer to operate as the control unit 18 by a program stored in the memory or the like. The computer constituting the control unit 18 is a microcomputer in which a CPU, a memory, a ROM, and the like are integrally formed, and can be built in the mechanism unit 11 without any problem.

  Next, the mounting of the massage device according to the present embodiment on the user's leg and the massage execution state will be described. As a premise, the pressing main body 10 of the massage device 1 has a winding length that can be wound around the user's leg 90 and can be attached to the leg after being taken out of the storage location in advance. And Further, the mechanism unit 11 is connected to the pressing main body unit 10 via the pipe 15 and is located near the pressing main unit unit 10 so that power supply from the power source is normally performed, and the control unit based on the operation of the user. It is assumed that the pump unit 16 and the electromagnetic valve 17 are appropriately operable by the control of 18.

  First, the user releases the engagement by the hook-and-loop fastener as the engaging means of the front side portion of the pressing body portion 10 of the massage device 1 and opens the pressing body portion 10 in an open state. Then, the user winds the pressing main body portion 10 around the lower knee portion of the user's leg, and engages and attaches the hook-and-loop fastener.

  In this wearing state, among the airbags 12, 13, and 14 in the pressing main body portion 10, the first airbag 12 is positioned closest to the toes, and the third airbag 14 is positioned closest to the knee, The second airbag 13 is positioned at an intermediate position between the airbags, and each airbag surrounds the left and right and rear sides of the calf as a massage target portion (see FIG. 2).

  And if a user performs operation, such as inputting instructions, such as massage mode, to operation part 11a of mechanism part 11 upper part, control part 18 will start operation control, and control part 18 will serve as an air supply and discharge mechanism. A control command is sent to the pump unit 16 and the electromagnetic valve 17 to supply air so that the air supply pressure to each airbag gradually increases, and each of the airbags 12, 13, 14 is respectively supplied. Inflate.

  Each of the airbags 12, 13, and 14 has a common air supply / exhaust path through the solenoid valve 17, and air supply / exhaust is performed in the same manner, so that the airbag does not undergo expansion / contraction deformation in the initial stage of supply. In a situation where the supply air pressure is small enough, both expand similarly without expansion and contraction (see FIG. 6). However, in a situation where the air supply pressure becomes high enough to cause expansion / contraction deformation of the airbag, the ease of expansion / contraction deformation differs for each airbag, so that each airbag 12, 13, 14 is at a different timing. It expands with expansion and contraction.

  When the air supply pressure is increased while the air supply pressure is increased, and the air supply pressure to each airbag is equal to or higher than a first predetermined pressure (for example, 20 kPa), the first airbag 12 that is most easily deformed by expansion and contraction, First, expansion with expansion / contraction deformation is started, and due to the expansion with expansion / contraction deformation, a lower calf portion of the leg surrounded by the airbag 12 is pressed and tightened (see FIG. 7).

  Then, while the air supply is continued to increase the air supply pressure, only the first airbag 12 is inflated with the elastic deformation until the air supply pressure reaches a pressure that causes the elastic deformation of the other airbag. The state of pressing to tighten the lower part of the calf continues for a predetermined time.

  Subsequently, when the air supply pressure is increased while the air supply pressure is increased, the air supply pressure to each airbag becomes equal to or higher than a second predetermined pressure (for example, 30 kPa) that causes the second airbag 13 to expand and contract. Then, the second airbag 13 is inflated with expansion and contraction, and the intermediate height portion of the calf of the leg surrounded by the airbag 13 is pressed and tightened (see FIG. 8).

  Then, while the air supply is continued so as to increase the air supply pressure, the first airbag 12 and the second airbag 13 until the air supply pressure reaches a pressure that causes further deformation of the airbag. Only the state of expanding with expansion / contraction deformation and pressing so as to tighten the middle part and the lower part of the calf continues for a predetermined time.

  Furthermore, when the air supply pressure is increased while increasing the air supply pressure, and the air supply pressure to each airbag is equal to or higher than a third predetermined pressure (for example, 40 kPa) that causes expansion and contraction of the third airbag 14, The third airbag 14 is inflated with expansion and contraction, and the upper calf upper portion of the leg surrounded by the airbag 14 is pressed and tightened (see FIG. 9).

  In this way, the three airbags 12, 13, and 14 are sequentially inflated and pressed with expansion and contraction while shifting the timing, so that the range of the leg calf is gradually expanded from the bottom to the top, It can be pressed to tighten. Thereby, in the calf, a massage that promotes the flow of blood and lymph in the direction from the toe side to the knee side of the leg can be performed.

  After the predetermined time has elapsed after the three airbags 12, 13, and 14 are all inflated with expansion and contraction and reach a state of pressing the massage target portion, the control unit 18 can be used as an air supply / discharge mechanism as necessary. Stop supplying air to each airbag 12, 13, 14 by sending a control command for stopping air supply and holding pressure to the pump unit 16 and the solenoid valve 17 of the air pump, while not exhausting yet, It is also possible to maintain the inflated state of each airbag for a predetermined time and maintain a pressing state that surrounds and tightens the massage target portion of the leg for a while.

  Thereafter, the control unit 18 sends a new control command to the pump unit 16 and the electromagnetic valve 17 to shift to an exhaust state, and contracts each airbag with exhaust over a predetermined time, and a series of inflating and contracting processes. Exit. The above series of expansion / contraction processes can be repeated a plurality of times as necessary.

  When the massage by the massage device is finished, the user releases the hooked state of the pressing main body 10 by releasing the hooked state of the pressing main body 10 and removes the pressing main body 10 from the leg. About the press main-body part 10 and the mechanism part 11 removed from this leg, it can handle suitably, such as accommodating in a predetermined | prescribed storage space in preparation for re-use.

  As described above, the massage device according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of airbags 12, 13, and 14 corresponding to the massage target portions of the legs, and the ease of expansion and contraction of each airbag is set for each airbag. Differently, for such an air bag, air supply by the pump unit 16 and the electromagnetic valve 17 as an air supply / exhaust mechanism is executed in the same manner to increase the air supply pressure until the air bag expands and contracts. As the air supply pressure increases, the air bag that is easily stretchable and deformed sequentially shifts to an inflated state that involves expansion and contraction. Shifting the timing and performing massage with a time difference for each airbag can be easily performed regardless of complicated air supply system settings and air supply control. For example, in the present embodiment, the airbags 12, 13, and 14 are arranged on the pressing main body portion 10 in the order in which the airbags 12, 13 and 14 are easily expanded and contracted, and the pressing range due to the expansion is gradually changed so as to spread from the bottom to the top. The above-mentioned massage that prevents or eliminates the swelling of the blood flow or the like of the skin can be easily performed, and a high massage effect can be efficiently applied to the massage target portion at a lower cost.

  In the massage device according to the embodiment, the arrangement in which the plurality of airbags 12, 13, and 14 are arranged according to the difference in easiness of expansion and contraction is applied to a simple massager that is wound around a leg and mounted. And it is set as the structure which makes each airbag 12,13,14 expand | swell with expansion-contraction deformation, and presses a massage object location sequentially, but is not restricted to this, The leg support part (ottoman) of a chair type massage machine Alternatively, the arrangement structure of the plurality of airbags may be applied to sequentially press the massage target portions of the user's leg supported by the leg support portion.

  Further, in the massage device according to the embodiment, the airbag bags in the plurality of airbags 12, 13, and 14 provided in the pressing main body portion 10 have different thicknesses so that each airbag is easily stretched and deformed. In addition to this, the configuration is such that the materials of the plurality of airbags are different from each other, and the difference in ease of expansion and contraction of each airbag is caused by the difference in the materials. As in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to perform a massage that changes the pressing range with a simple structure, and an excellent massage effect can be obtained at low cost.

  In the massage device according to the embodiment, the plurality of airbags 12, 13, and 14 provided in the pressing main body portion 10 press the massage target portion of the user's leg through a part of the pressing main body portion 10. In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 10, flexibility such as a urethane foam sheet is provided between the inner peripheral portion of the pressing main body portion that contacts the leg surface of the user and the airbag. The sheet-like intermediate material 10a having a predetermined thickness may be provided. In this case, when the intermediate member 10a is interposed between each airbag surface and the user's massage target part, and each airbag presses the user's massage target part as the airbag expands, the intermediate member 10a is After receiving a pressure from each air bag toward the user side, a force is transmitted from the intermediate material 10a to the user side, and the intermediate material 10a once receives a force from the user toward the air bag side. Since the force is transmitted from the intermediate member 10a to each airbag side, the relative pressure transmitted to the user side is locally determined based on the fact that each airbag has a different ease of expansion and deformation of the airbag. The difference can be reduced with an intermediate material, making it difficult for differences in position to occur in the feel of the airbag transmitted to the user side, and suppressing the user's uncomfortable feeling with respect to multiple airbags based on differences in ease of expansion and contraction It is.

  Furthermore, in the massage apparatus according to the embodiment, each of the plurality of airbags 12, 13, and 14 provided in the pressing main body portion 10 is an airbag that can be inflated and contracted with expansion and contraction, and each airbag is expanded and contracted. When the air supply pressure is increased by arranging them in order of ease of expansion and deformation with different easiness, the three airbags 12, 13, and 14 are inflated sequentially with expansion and contraction while shifting the timing, Although it is configured to press the calf of the leg while changing so as to widen the pressing range due to inflation, the present invention is not limited to this, and in addition to the airbag that can be inflated and contracted with expansion and contraction, the pump unit 16 and the electromagnetic valve 17 By using an airbag that expands and contracts without accompanying expansion / contraction deformation in the adjustable range of the air supply pressure, a plurality of airbags are shifted in timing. It can also be configured to continue to perform the following pressing.

  In this case, the inner volume of the hollow portion in the airbag that inflates and contracts without expansion / contraction deformation corresponds to the inner volume of the hollow portion in the maximum inflated state with expansion / contraction deformation of the airbag that can expand / contract with expansion / contraction deformation. When formed so as to become a thing, the pressing timing of each airbag according to the increase in the supply pressure of air is the airbag that expands and contracts without expansion / contraction deformation first, and then can be expanded / contracted with expansion / contraction deformation The airbag is inflated and pressed while sequentially expanding and contracting in the order in which the airbag is easily expanded and contracted. Then, when these airbags are arranged according to each pressing timing, for example, as in the above-described embodiment, for example, a massage is performed that presses the leg calf to tighten it while gradually widening the pressing range from the bottom to the top. It is possible to obtain a massage effect that promotes the flow of bodily fluids such as blood and lymph in the direction from the toe side to the knee side with the calf.

(Second embodiment of the present invention)
In the massage apparatus according to the first embodiment, a plurality of airbags 12, 13, and 14 corresponding to the massage target portions are provided side by side, and the ease of expansion and deformation of the airbags 12, 13, and 14 is changed, Although it is set as the structure which enables the massage which changes the timing of the press by the expansion | swelling accompanied by the expansion-contraction deformation of each airbag, and the press range changes, as shown in FIG. 11 thru | or FIG. The airbag 19 is provided with only one airbag 19, and the airbag 19 is different in ease of expansion / contraction deformation for each part, and the difference in ease of expansion / contraction deformation of each part of the airbag is the length of the leg. If the air bag is placed in the direction that just appears in the direction and air supply is performed so that the air supply pressure gradually increases, Expansion accompanying the contraction deformation proceeds, the same first embodiment, may be configured to press the legs proceeds from bottom to top.

  In this case, when the airbag is inflated, the control unit 18 sends a control command to the pump unit 16 and the electromagnetic valve 17 so that the air supply pressure gradually increases with respect to the airbag 19. When the air bag 19 is operated, the airbag 19 is initially inflated without expansion and contraction (see FIG. 12). However, when the air supply pressure to the airbag becomes a predetermined pressure (for example, 20 kPa) or more, the airbag 19 expands and contracts most. An easy predetermined portion, for example, a lower predetermined range closer to the tip of the foot, starts to expand with expansion and contraction first, and the expansion causes the lower calf lower portion to be pressed and tightened (see FIG. 13).

  Thereafter, as the air supply progresses so as to increase the air supply pressure, the portion of the airbag 19 that expands with the expansion and contraction of the airbag 19 gradually spreads to the knee side of the leg, and the airbag middle portion is the leg. The middle height position in the calf is also pressed and reached a tightening state (see FIG. 14).

  Further, when the air supply is increased while increasing the air supply pressure, the portion of the airbag 19 that expands with expansion and contraction reaches the end near the knee, and the upper part of the calf of the leg is also pressed and tightened ( (See FIG. 15).

  In this way, even one airbag 19 can be inflated sequentially with expansion and contraction while shifting the timing for each part, thereby massaging the leg calf to be tightened while gradually expanding the pressing range from the bottom to the top. Can be executed. As a result, as in the first embodiment, in the calf, a massage effect that promotes the flow of blood and lymph in the direction from the toe side of the leg toward the knee side is obtained.

(Third embodiment of the present invention)
A massage device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, an example of a chair-shaped massage machine that supports a seated user will be described as a massage device.

  In each of the drawings, the massage machine 2 according to the present embodiment is placed on the floor and stably supports the entire chair, and supports the user's buttocks above the base 21. A seat portion 22, a backrest portion 23 that supports the user's back on the back side of the seat portion 22, an armrest portion 24 that supports the user's elbow and forearm portion on the left and right sides of the seat portion 22, and the front side of the seat portion 22 Based on the contents of operation input, recorded information, etc., the leg support unit 25 that supports the user's leg, the operation unit 26 that receives various operation inputs of the user, and the operation related to the massage in the plurality of mounted treatment means The control unit 27 is configured to be controlled.

The base portion 21 is configured to integrally support the seat portion 22, the backrest portion 23, the armrest portion 24, and the leg support portion 25 that constitute each portion of the chair. The seat portion 22 is attached to the base portion 21 so that the inclination angle of the seat surface can be adjusted, and massage is performed by a built-in treatment means while supporting the user's buttocks and thighs on the seat surface. Is. As a treatment means of this seat part 22, it is the structure provided with the airbag 71 for hips which expands and contracts by supply and discharge of air, and the airbag 72 for thighs.
And the air pump 70 which expands these airbags by air supply is arrange | positioned in the space under the seat part 22. FIG.

The backrest portion 23 has a surface shape that matches the shape of a human back and is arranged so that the inclination angle can be adjusted with respect to the base portion 21 and the seat portion 22, and a treatment means for performing massage is provided therein. It is the composition provided.
Inside the backrest 23, a mechanical unit 50 as a treatment means, in which a pair of left and right rubbing balls 51 that give the user a stimulus such as kneading and hitting, and a drive mechanism 60 that moves the same are integrated, and this mechanical unit A frame-like backrest frame 23a that supports each part of the backrest 23 from the inside while supporting 50 in a vertically movable manner on the backrest 23 is provided.

  In addition to the mechanical unit, as a treatment means for performing massage in the backrest portion 23, an airbag that is inflated and contracted by air supply / exhaust by the air pump 70 is disposed at a portion corresponding to the back and waist. You may enable it to perform the massage by an airbag with respect to this part. In addition, a pair of side wall portions provided with treatment means such as airbags are provided on the left and right side portions of the backrest portion 23 on the inner surface side facing the user, so that the user's upper arm portion and the like are provided. It can also be possible to massage from the side.

  The backrest frame 23a hangs a plurality of horizontal frames in the horizontal direction between a pair of left and right guide frames 23b that support the mechanical unit 50 in the vertical direction of the backrest 23 and restrain the movement in the other direction. It is handed over and connected together to form a substantially ladder-like frame structure.

  The armrest portions 24 are disposed on both sides of the seat portion 22 and are formed so as to stably support the user's forearm even when the backrest portion 23 changes the reclining angle or the seat portion 22 tilts. It is a configuration. The armrest portion 24 may also be configured so that an airbag that is inflated and contracted by air supply and discharge by the air pump 70 can be massaged to the forearm portion of the user.

The said leg support part 25 is located in the front side of the seat part 22, and is arrange | positioned so that inclination is possible centering around the front-end vicinity of the seat part 22, and supports a user's leg in the case of a massage.
More specifically, the leg support portion 25 is formed as a shape having two groove portions 25b each having a size that can accommodate the left and right legs 90 of the user, and is attached to the front end of the seat portion 22 so as to be tiltable. A leg support portion 25c disposed at an end of the main body portion 25a, and a leg airbag 73 as a treatment means disposed on the main body portion 25a and inflating and contracting by air supply and discharge by the air pump 70. , 74, 75, 76, 77, 78.

  In addition to this, in the leg support portion 25, an air bag that is inflated and contracted by air supply and discharge by the air pump 70 and presses the foot is also disposed in the foot support portion 25c, or a roller that presses the leg while moving up and down. Such other treatment means may be arranged on the main body 25a.

  The leg airbags are airbags 73, 75, 76, and 78 that are disposed on the left and right sides of the leg 90 in the main body portion 25 a, and airbags that are disposed on the rear side of the legs 90. 74, 77. Each of these airbags can be inflated and contracted while the inner volume of the airbag hollow part is changed with expansion and contraction when the supply pressure increases, such as a rubber bag body. The side airbags 73, 75, 76, 78 and the rear side airbags 74, 77 have different stretchability, that is, ease of expansion and deformation due to the difference in the thickness of the bag forming the airbag. The direction airbag is more easily expanded and contracted, and is inflated with expansion and contraction at a lower supply pressure. The air is uniformly supplied to each of these airbags, but the timing of inflation is changed by the difference in the inflation characteristics based on the ease of expansion and deformation.

Each airbag as a treatment means including the leg airbags 73,..., 78 of the leg support portion 25 is connected to the air pump 70 via electromagnetic valves 80a, 80b, 80c.
The electromagnetic valves 80a, 80b, and 80c have a first port that communicates with the air pump 70, a second port that communicates with the airbag, and a third port that communicates with the outside, according to control by the control unit 27. The first port and the second port are in communication with each other, the third port is closed and the air pump 70 can supply air to the airbag, and the second port and the third port are in communication with each other. The airbag is closed by closing the first port so that the air in the airbag is exhausted to the outside, and the first port, the second port, and the third port are not communicated with each other. This is a known three-way valve capable of switching between the three states of maintaining the internal pressure, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The air pump 70 and the electromagnetic valves 80a, 80b, and 80c constitute an air supply / discharge mechanism for each airbag, and the control unit 27 operates the air pump 70 and adjusts and controls the communication state of the electromagnetic valves 80a, 80b, and 80c. Thus, the air bag can be inflated, deflated, or maintained in a predetermined inflated state by supplying, exhausting, or maintaining the pressure of the desired airbag. When the airbag is inflated, a pressing force against the airbag contact portion of the body is generated, and when the airbag is contracted, the pressure is released, so that a variety of massage effects can be provided at each airbag position.

  The buttocks airbag 71 and the thigh airbag 72 provided side by side on the seat 22 are connected to the air pump 70 via the same electromagnetic valve 80a. While each air bag is supplied and discharged, the ease of expansion and contraction varies depending on the difference in the thickness of the bag forming the airbag, and the difference in expansion characteristics based on the difference in ease of stretch and deformation. This is a mechanism for sequentially performing expansion and accompanying pressing at different timings.

  In addition, as a treatment means in the backrest portion 23, even when a plurality of airbags are arranged in a part corresponding to the back or waist, the same conditions are set by making the ease of expansion and deformation of the plurality of airbags different. While performing air supply and discharge uniformly, the massage of the pressure due to the expansion of each airbag is performed while changing the timing of expansion accompanied by the expansion and contraction of each airbag due to the difference in ease of expansion and contraction of each airbag It can also be configured.

  For the airbags 73, ..., 78 of the leg support portion 25, the airbags are divided into left and right groups, and the left and right groups are connected to the air pump 70 via electromagnetic valves 80b and 80c. It is a mechanism in which air is supplied and discharged uniformly to the three airbags forming each group.

  The operation unit 26 includes a large number of switches and display units for receiving various operation inputs to the massage machine, is detachably installed on the stand 26 a on the side of the massage machine 2, and transmits operation inputs related to massage to the control unit 27. To do. Note that the position of the stand 26a can be adjusted so that the position of the switch of the operation unit 26 and the display unit is the optimum position for the user.

  The control unit 27 adjusts the other movable parts of the treatment means and the massage machine to a state corresponding to the user based on the detection result obtained by executing the position detection of each part of the user's body in advance. Control for performing appropriate massage is performed on the treatment means and other movable parts based on the operation of the operation unit, treatment contents recorded and set in advance, and information on the detection result.

  The control unit 27 is a computer having a CPU, a memory, an input / output interface, and the like as its hardware configuration, and is a mechanism that causes the computer to operate as the control unit 27 by a program stored in the memory or the like. The computer constituting the control unit 27 may be a microcomputer in which a CPU, a memory, a ROM, and the like are integrally formed.

  The computer unit constituting the control unit 27 is disposed in a predetermined space inside the massage machine 2 such as directly below the seat unit 22 and is in a state where it can communicate with the operation unit 26. , Seat 22, backrest 23, actuators for tilting leg support 25, air pump 70, solenoid valves 80 a, 80 b, and 80 c are electrically connected to each other and set in advance when detecting the position of each part of the user's body. The operation of these drive mechanisms is controlled by a control signal output based on the set position detection program and by a control signal output based on set massage data at the time of massage execution.

  In addition, the control unit 27 is also electrically connected to signal output means such as an encoder that outputs the displacement amount of the mechanical unit 50 and each actuator, and the state of the mechanical unit 50, the seat portion 22, the backrest portion 23, In addition, the operation control of the driving means such as the motor and the actuator is performed while grasping the state of the leg support 25 such as the inclination.

  In addition, the control unit 27 controls the mechanical unit 50 to detect the position of each part of the user's body prior to the massage, and the mechanical unit 50 is moved from the initial position in the backrest 23 to the guide frame 23b in the same manner as a known massage machine. In the process of moving the kneading balls 51 along the user, a change in pressure on the kneading balls 51 from the user leaning against the backrest portion 23, a change in the inclination of the kneading balls 51, and the like are sequentially obtained. Based on the information, the user's shoulder position, spine line, and waist position can also be detected.

  Next, a massage process using a plurality of leg airbags in the massage machine according to the present embodiment will be described. As a premise, the main power of the massage machine 2 is turned on in a state where the user sits on the massage machine 2 and his / her back rests on the backrest part 23 and the leg support part 25 supports the leg. After starting, preparation operations before starting massage such as detection of the user's weight and body shape, reclining angle adjustment of the backrest portion 23, etc. are completed, and further instructions for executing a massage course etc. are input by the user It is assumed that the control unit 27 is about to execute a massage with an airbag on the user's leg.

  Based on the user's operation content on the operation unit 26, the control unit 27 first sends control commands to the air pump 70 and the electromagnetic valves 80b and 80c as the air supply / exhaust mechanism to operate them to supply air. Each leg airbag 73 located on the inside and outside of the leg is in a contracted state (see FIG. 19) away from the massage target location of the user by supplying air so that the pressure gradually increases. 75, 76, 78 and the airbags 74, 77 located on the rear side of the legs, respectively, are inflated.

  Each of the airbags 73,..., 78 has a common air supply / discharge path through the solenoid valves 80b, 80c, and the air supply / discharge is performed in the same manner. In a situation where the supply air pressure is small enough not to cause expansion / contraction deformation, both expand similarly without expansion / contraction deformation (see FIG. 20). However, in a situation where the air supply pressure is high enough to cause expansion / contraction deformation of the airbag, the ease of expansion / contraction deformation differs for each airbag. The airbags 73, 75, 76, 78 positioned on the inner side and the outer side and the airbags 74, 77 positioned on the rear side of the leg are inflated with expansion and contraction at different timings.

  When air supply proceeds while increasing the air supply pressure, and the air supply pressure to each airbag becomes equal to or higher than a first predetermined pressure (for example, 20 kPa), the thickness of the airbag bag body is thin and easily deforms. The airbags 73, 75, 76, 78 on both the left and right sides of the leg are further inflated with expansion and contraction (see FIG. 21).

  Thus, the leg airbags 73, 75, 76, and 78 that inflate while extending each part of the airbag are adjacent to the calf, which is a massage target part of the leg, from both the inside and outside, and press the calf between the left and right sides. .

  At this time, the airbags 74 and 77 on the rear side are thicker than the airbags 73, 75, 76, and 78 on the left and right sides, and are not easily stretched and deformed. The air pressure does not cause expansion / contraction deformation, and maintains a fully expanded state without expansion / contraction deformation.

  And while air supply is continued so as to increase the air supply pressure, the air bags 73, 75 on both the left and right sides until the air supply pressure reaches a pressure that causes expansion and contraction of the rear airbags 74, 77. Only the state 76 and 78 expands with expansion and contraction, and the state of pressing so as to sandwich the left and right calves continues for a predetermined time.

  Subsequently, air supply proceeds while increasing the air supply pressure, and the air supply pressure to each airbag is greater than or equal to a second predetermined pressure (for example, 30 kPa) that causes expansion and contraction of the rear airbags 74 and 77. Then, the rear airbags 74 and 77 are inflated with expansion and contraction, and the rear airbags 74 and 77 shift to a state of pressing the leg calf from the rear (see FIG. 22).

  In this way, the airbags 73, 75, 76, 78 on both the left and right sides are maintained in a pressed state, and the rear airbags 74, 77 are also inflated and pressed with expansion / contraction deformation, thereby pressing the legs. In a state where the calf is securely held between the left and right sides, a pressing stimulus from the rear airbag can be applied, and a strong massage effect can be efficiently imparted to the calf.

  All of the airbags 73,..., 78 are inflated with expansion and contraction, and after a predetermined time has elapsed since reaching a state of pressing the massage target portion, the control unit 27 supplies and discharges air as necessary. Air supply stop and pressure holding control commands are sent to the air pump 70 and the electromagnetic valves 80b and 80c as a mechanism to stop supplying air to the air bags 73, ..., 78, while exhausting is not yet performed. In such a manner, the inflated state of each airbag can be further maintained for a predetermined time, and the state where the leg massage target portion is held from both the left and right sides and pressed strongly from the rear side can be maintained for a while.

  Thereafter, the control unit 27 sends a new control command to the air pump 70 and the electromagnetic valves 80b and 80c, shifts to an exhaust state, contracts each airbag with exhaust over a predetermined time, and performs a series of expansion and contraction. End the process. The above series of expansion / contraction processes can be repeated a plurality of times as necessary.

  The leg support portion 25 is configured to perform air supply and discharge uniformly on the left and right sides by operating the solenoid valves 80b and 80c connected to the left and right airbag groups in the same manner. It is not limited to this, adjust the control timing of each solenoid valve corresponding to each set of left and right airbags, shift the timing of air supply and discharge on the left and right, and perform massage on the left and right legs alternately It doesn't matter.

  As described above, the massage machine according to the present embodiment has a plurality of airbags 73, ..., 78 corresponding to the massage target portions of the legs, and the ease of expansion and contraction of each airbag is determined on the left and right sides. Air bags 73, 75, 76, 78 and the rear air bags 74, 77 are different from each other in the air pump 70 and the electromagnetic valves 80b, 80c as an air supply / discharge mechanism. The air supply is executed in the same manner to increase the air supply pressure, and the airbags 73,..., 78 are inflated to expand and contract, so that they expand and contract as the air supply pressure increases. From the set of easy-to-use airbags to the inflated state with expansion / contraction deformation in sequence, the airbags with different expansion / deformation and the corresponding pressing timing are shifted for each airbag set. It is possible to easily perform a massage with a time difference for each set regardless of complicated air supply system settings and air supply control. For example, the airbags 73 and 75 on both the left and right sides of the present embodiment 76, 78 and rear airbags 74, 77 that are less likely to be stretched and deformed side by side are arranged side by side to change the pressure range due to expansion from the left and right legs to the rear of the legs, and the rear calf is held The said massage which applies a press stimulus appropriately from the side can also be performed easily, and the high massage effect can be efficiently given to the massage object part at lower cost.

(Fourth embodiment of the present invention)
In the massage machine according to the third embodiment, the leg airbags 73, ..., 78 are all inflatable with expansion and contraction, and the leg airbags 73, 75, 76, If the ease of expansion and contraction of 78 is made larger than that of the rear airbags 74 and 77 and the air supply pressure is increased, the lateral airbags 73, 75, 76, and 78 are first inflated with expansion and contraction. However, after pressing the calf between the left and right sides, the rear airbags 74 and 77 are inflated with expansion and contraction, and a state is obtained in which the leg calf is pressed from the rear. As shown in FIGS. 23 to 25, the leg side airbags 73a, 75a, 76a, 78a are not limited to the air pump 70 and the electromagnetic valves 80b, 80c as an air supply / discharge mechanism. In the adjustable range of the air supply pressure, an airbag that expands and contracts without expansion / contraction deformation, such as a nylon bag body, is extremely difficult to expand and contract, and the airbags 73a, 75a, 76a, and 78a are Before the airbags 74 and 77 on the rear side of the leg that expand and contract with expansion and contraction are expanded and contracted due to an increase in the supply pressure, the airbag is formed in a size that allows the calf to be pressed from both the left and right sides by expansion. It can also be set as a structure.

  In this case, when the control unit 27 activates the air pump 70 and the electromagnetic valves 80b and 80c to start supplying air, the respective units located on the inner and outer sides of the leg in the contracted state as in the above-described embodiment. The leg airbags 73a, 75a, 76a, 78a and the leg airbags 74, 77 located on the rear side of the legs are similarly inflated without expansion and contraction. The airbags 73a, 75a, 76a, and 78a positioned at the position of the airbag are greatly inflated as compared with the airbags 74 and 77 on the rear side of the leg, and the airbags 73a, 75a, 76a, and 78a for the legs The calf is pressed so as to be adjacent to the calf from both the inner and outer sides and sandwich the calf from the left and right sides (see FIG. 24).

  And while air supply is continued so as to increase the air supply pressure, the air bags 73a, 75a on both the left and right sides until the air supply pressure reaches a pressure that causes expansion and contraction of the rear airbags 74, 77, The state where only 76a and 78a are inflated and pressed so as to sandwich the left and right calves continues for a predetermined time. However, the airbags 73a, 75a, 76a, 78a on the left and right sides of the leg have a structure in which the airbag bag body is not easily stretchable and deformed. It will only maintain a fully inflated state.

  Subsequently, when the air supply pressure is increased while the air supply pressure is increased, and the air supply pressure to each airbag becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure (for example, 20 kPa) that causes expansion and contraction of the rear airbags 74 and 77, The rear airbags 74 and 77 are inflated with expansion and contraction, and the rear airbags 74 and 77 shift to a state of pressing the leg calf from the rear (see FIG. 25).

  Thus, the airbags 74 and 77 on the rear side are inflated and pressed with expansion and deformation while the pressing state without expansion and contraction by the airbags 73a, 75a, 76a and 78a on the left and right sides is maintained. Thus, as in the above-described embodiment, a pressure stimulus from the rear airbags 74 and 77 can be applied in a state where the leg calf is securely held between the left and right sides, and a strong massage effect is efficiently applied to the calf. Can be given well.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Massager 2 Massager 10 Pressing body part 10a Intermediate material 11 Mechanism part 11a Operation part 12 First airbag 13 Second airbag 14 Third airbag 15 Pipe 16 Pump part 17 Solenoid valve 18 Control part 19 Air Bag 21 Base part 22 Seat part 23 Back part 23a Back part frame 23b Guide frame 24 Armrest part 25 Leg support part 25a Body part 25b Groove part 25c Foot support part 26 Operation part 26a Stand 27 Control part 50 Mechanical unit 51 Stirring ball 60 Drive Mechanical part 70 Air pump 71 Hip airbag 72 Thigh airbag 73, 75 Leg airbag 73a, 75a Leg airbag 74, 77 Leg airbag 76, 78 Leg airbag 76a, 78a Leg airbag 80a Solenoid valve 80b, 80c Solenoid valve

Claims (8)

In a massage apparatus that has an airbag that expands and contracts due to supply and discharge of air, and performs massage to the user's body by pressing accompanying the expansion of the airbag,
An air supply / discharge mechanism connected to the airbag and arranged to be able to supply / discharge air to the airbag;
A control unit that controls at least an air supply / discharge state of the air bag by the air supply / discharge mechanism;
A plurality of the airbags are arranged as corresponding to a predetermined massage target location, and at least include an airbag that can be expanded and contracted while changing the internal volume of the hollow portion with expansion and contraction.
The control unit makes the air supply / discharge state for the airbag by the air supply / discharge mechanism the same between the airbags,
Among the airbags, the airbags that can be inflated and contracted with the expansion and contraction are further inflatable with the expansion and contraction in order from the airbags that are easily expanded and contracted according to the increase in the supply pressure of the air. A massaging apparatus characterized by varying the timing of pressing accompanying the inflation of each airbag. In a massage apparatus that has an airbag that expands and contracts due to supply and discharge of air, and performs massage to the user's body by pressing accompanying the expansion of the airbag,
An air supply / discharge mechanism connected to the airbag and arranged to be able to supply / discharge air to the airbag;
A control unit that controls at least an air supply / discharge state of the air bag by the air supply / discharge mechanism;
The airbag corresponding to the predetermined massage target location is formed so that each portion of the airbag has different easiness of expansion and contraction,
The control unit is capable of adjusting the supply pressure of air to the airbag by an air supply / discharge mechanism,
From the state where the air bag is initially integrated and inflated in the hollow portion without expansion and contraction deformation, the airbag is further inflatable with expansion and contraction sequentially from a portion that is easily expanded and contracted according to an increase in supply pressure of air. A massaging apparatus characterized in that the timing of pressing associated with inflation varies for each part of the airbag. In the massage apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The massaging device, wherein the difference in easiness of expansion and contraction in the airbag is caused by the difference in thickness of the bag forming the airbag. The massage apparatus according to claim 1,
The massaging apparatus, wherein the difference in easiness of expansion and contraction in the airbag is caused by a difference in material for each airbag. The massage apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A massage apparatus comprising a sheet-like intermediate material having a predetermined thickness and having flexibility between the airbag surface and a massage target portion of a user's body. The massage apparatus according to claim 1,
The plurality of airbags are arranged side by side in the order in which the ease of expansion and contraction of the airbags increases from the largest to the smallest in the direction in which a body fluid flow is desired to occur in a massage target portion of the user. apparatus. The massage apparatus according to claim 2,
The airbag is arranged so that the ease of expansion and contraction of each part of the airbag transitions from large to small along the direction in which a body fluid flow is desired to be generated at a massage target location of the user. Massage device. The massage apparatus according to claim 1,
The plurality of airbags includes an airbag that expands and contracts without expansion and contraction within an adjustable range of the air supply pressure by the air supply / discharge mechanism,
2. A massaging apparatus, comprising: an inflatable airbag that is inflated and contracted with expansion and contraction, and then inflated with expansion and contraction of the airbag after expansion and contraction without expansion and contraction.

Images