Massage device

Abstract

A massage device is provided with: an air bag (41) which expands in response to air suction and contracts in response to air exhaust; a support member that supports the air bag (41); and an intermediate sheet (43) that is disposed between the air bag (41) and the support member and that is harder than the support member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a massage device. Background Art

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a vehicle seat device as a massage device. The massage device includes: a seat cushion that supports the buttocks and legs of a user; a seat back that supports the back of the user; and a plurality of air bags built into the seat cushion and the seat back. The air bags expand when air is supplied and contract when air is discharged. The massage device massages the user by expanding or contracting the plurality of air bags.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-45280

[0006] Technical problem to be solved by the invention

[0007] In the massage device as described above, when the air bag is inflated, the air bag may sink relative to the seat cushion and the seat back. As a result, the force with which the air bag presses the user may decrease. Summary of the invention

[0008] Technical means for solving technical problems

[0009] A massage device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an air bag that expands with inhalation and contracts with exhaust; a support member that supports the air bag; and an intermediate sheet that is arranged between the air bag and the support member and is harder than the support member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of the massage device according to the first embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A top view of a massage unit of a massage device.

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A 3-3 cross-sectional view of the massage unit.

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the air bag of the massage unit when it is inflated.

[0014] Figure 5 It is a top view of the massage unit of the massage device according to the second embodiment.

[0015] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the massage unit taken along line 6-6.

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the air bag of the massage unit when it is inflated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] (First Embodiment)

[0018] Hereinafter, a massage device 10 according to a first embodiment will be described. In the drawings, for the sake of simplicity of illustration, the cross sections of components that are not made of metal materials are hatched to indicate the cross sections of components that are made of metal materials.

[0019] <Structure of the First Embodiment>

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, the massage device 10 includes a seat cushion 20, a seat back 30, a plurality of massage units 40, a drive unit 50, and a remote controller 60. The massage device 10 of this embodiment is a vehicle seat with a massage function. In other embodiments, the massage device 10 may also be a massage chair installed at home or the like.

[0021] The seat cushion 20 is a portion for the user to sit on. The seat cushion 20 includes: a cushion material 21 having moderate elasticity and a cover 22 covering the cushion material 21. The seat back 30 is a portion that supports the back of the user. The seat back 30 includes: a cushion material 31 having moderate elasticity and a cover 32 covering the cushion material 31. As an example of the material of the cushion materials 21, 31, polyurethane can be cited. In the present embodiment, the cushion material 31 corresponds to a "support member" that supports the air bag 41 described later.

[0022] <Massage unit 40>

[0023] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the massage unit 40 includes an air bag 41, an intermediate sheet 42, a joint 43, and a connecting pipe 44. In the massage unit 40, the air bag 41 and the intermediate sheet 42 are provided on the cushioning material 31 in a mutually overlapping state. In the following description, the direction in which the air bag 41, the intermediate sheet 42, and the cushioning material 31 overlap is referred to as a stacking direction.

[0024] like Figure 1As shown, a plurality of air bags 41 are arranged in parallel in the height direction and the width direction with respect to the seat back 30. Specifically, five air bags 41 are arranged in parallel in the height direction, and two air bags 41 are arranged in parallel in the width direction. In addition, the plurality of air bags 41 are supported by the cushioning material 31 of the seat back 30 and covered by the cover 32 of the seat back 30.

[0025] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the air bag 41 is formed by welding two films 411 and 412. The material of the films 411 and 412 is preferably a resin material with moderate elasticity. When viewed from above in the stacking direction, the shape of the films 411 and 412 is pentagonal. When viewed from above in the stacking direction, the shape of the films 411 and 412 can be other polygonal shapes or circular shapes. The air bag 41 expands with the inhalation and contracts with the exhaust.

[0026] The intermediate sheet 42 is formed into a sheet by a cloth such as a woven cloth or a non-woven cloth. The fibers constituting the intermediate sheet 42 may be plant fibers, animal fibers, or chemical fibers. The thickness of the intermediate sheet 42 is thicker than the thickness of the films 411 and 412 constituting the air bag 41. As an example, the thickness of the intermediate sheet 42 only needs to be a few mm. The intermediate sheet 42 is stacked on the air bag 41 via a joint 43. When viewed from above in the stacking direction, the intermediate sheet 42 is smaller than the air bag 41. In other words, the intermediate sheet 42 is hidden in the air bag 41. When viewed from above in the stacking direction, the shape of the intermediate sheet 42 is the same as the shape of the films 411 and 412, which is a pentagon. The shape of the intermediate sheet 42 may also be circular, etc., which is different from the shape of the films 411 and 412.

[0027] The intermediate sheet 42 is made of a harder material than the cushioning material 31 of the seat back 30. In other words, the elastic modulus of the intermediate sheet 42 is higher than the elastic modulus of the cushioning material 31 of the seat back 30. That is, the displacement amount of the intermediate sheet 42 when a certain load is applied is smaller than the displacement amount of the cushioning material 31 of the seat back 30 when the same load is applied.

[0028] The intermediate sheet 42 is fixed to the cushioning material 31. The intermediate sheet 42 may be fixed to the cushioning material 31 by a pin inserted into both the intermediate sheet 42 and the cushioning material 31. Alternatively, the intermediate sheet 42 may be fixed to the cushioning material 31 by bonding or sewing.

[0029] The joint 43 joins the film 412 and the intermediate sheet 42 of the air bag 41 to each other. In the present embodiment, the joint 43 is a portion where the film 412 is welded to the intermediate sheet 42. In this regard, the material of the intermediate sheet 42 is preferably a material that is easily welded to the film 412. In other embodiments, the joint 43 may be a portion where the film 412 is bonded to the intermediate sheet 42.

[0030] When viewed from above in the stacking direction, the joint 43 joins the central portion of the film 412 and the central portion of the intermediate sheet 42. In other words, the joint 43 does not exist between the portion other than the central portion of the intermediate sheet 42 and the portion other than the central portion of the film 412. Here, when viewed from above in the stacking direction, the joint 43 only needs to join the portion including the center of the film 412 and the portion including the center of the intermediate sheet 42. As an example, the area of ​​the film 412 joined by the joint 43 only needs to be several % to 20% of the total area of ​​the film 412. In addition, the joining strength of the joint 43 is sufficient to ensure that the air bag 41 and the intermediate sheet 42 do not separate even if the air bag 41 is repeatedly expanded and contracted.

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the first end of the connecting tube 44 is connected to the air bag 41. On the other hand, the second end of the connecting tube 44 is connected to the driving unit 50. The connecting tube 44 is made of an elastic body such as rubber or resin. The connecting tube 44 preferably has moderate elasticity. The connecting tube 44 is a flow path for air to pass when the air bag 41 is expanded or contracted.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, the driving unit 50 supplies air to the plurality of air bags 41 or discharges air from the plurality of air bags 41. The driving unit 50 is configured to include, for example, a pump for sending out air, a valve unit for switching the connection destination of a specific air bag 41 among the plurality of air bags 41 to the pump or the atmosphere, and a control device for controlling the pump and the valve unit. The driving unit 50 is connected to, for example, a power supply source such as a battery of a vehicle. The remote controller 60 is operated by a user, and a signal corresponding to the operation content is sent to the driving unit 50. For example, the remote controller 60 preferably has a power button for the massage device 10 and a button for selecting the massage intensity.

[0033] <Function of the First Embodiment>

[0034] When the massage device 10 massages the user, the drive unit 50 supplies air to the plurality of air bags 41 or discharges air from the plurality of air bags 41 at a predetermined cycle.

[0035] like Figure 4As shown, when the air bag 41 inhales air, the air bag 41 expands. Here, between the air bag 41 and the cushioning material 31, there is an intermediate sheet 42 that is harder than the cushioning material 31. Therefore, even if the air bag 41 expands, it is difficult for the air bag 41 to sink relative to the cushioning material 31. In other words, the air bag 41 is easily displaced toward the user's body.

[0036] <Effects of the First Embodiment>

[0037] (1-1) In the massage device 10, the intermediate sheet 42 harder than the cushioning material 31 is provided between the air bag 41 and the cushioning material 31. Therefore, when the air bag 41 is inflated, the air bag 41 is less likely to sink into the cushioning material 31. In this way, the force of the air bag 41 pressing the user can be suppressed from decreasing.

[0038] (1-2) When the intermediate sheet 42 is larger than the air bag 41 when viewed from above in the stacking direction, the intermediate sheet 42, which is harder than the cushioning material 31, protrudes from the air bag 41. Therefore, even if the air bag 41 and the intermediate sheet 42 are covered together by the cover 32, when the massage device 10 is used, there is a concern that the user's body may feel uncomfortable by indirectly contacting the protruding portion of the intermediate sheet 42. In this regard, the intermediate sheet 42 of the massage device 10 is smaller than the air bag 41 when viewed from above in the stacking direction, so that the above situation can be suppressed.

[0039] (1-3) In the massage device 10, the intermediate sheet 42 is joined to the air bag 41, so that the intermediate sheet 42 and the air bag 41 can be handled as a whole when the massage device 10 is manufactured. Specifically, by fixing the air bag 41, the intermediate sheet 42, and the joint 43 as a whole to the cushioning material 31, the air bag 41 can be supported by the cushioning material 31 together with the intermediate sheet 42. In this way, it is not necessary to fix the air bag 41 and the intermediate sheet 42 to the cushioning material 31 separately.

[0040] (1-4) For example, in the case of a comparative example in which all the portions of the air bag 41 and the intermediate sheet 42 facing each other in the stacking direction are joined by the joint 43, there is a concern that the intermediate sheet 42 may hinder the expansion of the air bag 41. In this regard, in the massage device 10, the joint 43 joins the central portion of the air bag 41 to the central portion of the intermediate sheet 42 only in the central portion of the air bag 41. Therefore, the intermediate sheet 42 can prevent the air bag 41 from being unable to expand normally.

[0041] (Second Embodiment)

[0042] Hereinafter, a massage device 10A according to a second embodiment will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. In other words, descriptions of the same points as the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0043] <Massage Unit 40A>

[0044] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the massage unit 40A has an air bag 41A, a middle sheet 42 , a joint 43 , and a connection pipe 44 .

[0045] The air bag 41A has a first bag body 413 that expands with inhalation and contracts with exhaustion, a second bag body 414, and a bag body joint portion 415 that joins the first bag body 413 and the second bag body 414 to each other. The first bag body 413 is formed by welding two films 416 and 417. Similarly, the second bag body 414 is formed by welding two films 416 and 417. The bag body joint portion 415 is formed by joining the film 417 that constitutes the first bag body 413 and the film 416 that constitutes the second bag body 414 to each other. In detail, the bag body joint portion 415 is a portion where the film 417 that constitutes the first bag body 413 is welded to the film 416 that constitutes the second bag body 414. The bag body joint portion 415 is in the shape of a thin circular plate. The bag body joint portion 415 has a connecting hole 418 that connects the interior of the first bag body 413 and the interior of the second bag body 414 to each other. Therefore, the first bag body 413 and the second bag body 414 expand or contract in the same manner. In addition, the first bag body 413 and the second bag body 414 may have different sizes.

[0046] When viewed from above in the stacking direction, the intermediate sheet 42 is smaller than the air bag 41A. Also, when viewed from above in the stacking direction, the intermediate sheet 42 is larger than the bag body joint 415.

[0047] The joint 43 joins the film 417 of the second bag body 414 of the air bag 41A and the intermediate sheet 42 to each other. In the present embodiment, the joint 43 is a portion where the film 417 of the second bag body 414 is welded to the intermediate sheet 42. When viewed from above in the stacking direction, the joint 43 joins the central portion of the film 417 and the central portion of the intermediate sheet 42 to each other. When viewed from the stacking direction, the joint 43 is the same size as the bag body joint 415.

[0048] <Function of the Second Embodiment>

[0049] like Figure 7 As shown, when the air bag 41A inhales air, the first bag body 413 and the second bag body 414 of the air bag 41A expand. Here, between the air bag 41A and the cushioning material 31, there is an intermediate sheet 42 that is harder than the cushioning material 31. Therefore, even if the air bag 41A expands, the air bag 41A is unlikely to sink relative to the cushioning material 31. In other words, the air bag 41A is easily displaced toward the user's body.

[0050] <Effects of the Second Embodiment>

[0051] The second embodiment can obtain the same effects as those of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the second embodiment can obtain the following effects.

[0052] (2-1) When the intermediate sheet 42 is smaller than the bag body joint 415, when the second bag body 414 expands, the second bag body 414 tends to sink toward the cushioning material 31. In this regard, since the intermediate sheet 42 is larger than the bag body joint 415, it is possible to suppress the second bag body 414 from sinking toward the cushioning material 31 when the second bag body 414 expands.

[0053] (2-2) The air bag 41A has the first bag body 413 and the second bag body 414 arranged in the stacking direction. Therefore, the massage device 10A can suppress the enlargement of the air bag 41A and increase the expansion amount of the air bag 41A in the stacking direction. That is, the massage device 10A can improve the massage effect on the user.

[0054] <Change example>

[0055] The above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented by modification as follows. The above-mentioned embodiments and the following modification examples can be implemented by combining with each other within the range of no technical contradiction.

[0056] The intermediate sheet 42 may be in a film or sheet form. That is, the intermediate sheet 42 may not be an aggregate of fibers.

[0057] The material of the intermediate sheet 42 may be the same as that of the films 411 and 412 constituting the air bag 41. The shape of the intermediate sheet 42 may be the same as that of the films 411 and 412 constituting the air bag 41. In this regard, the intermediate sheet 42 may be the films 411 and 412 constituting the air bag 41. Thus, it is not necessary to prepare the intermediate sheet 42 as a separate component.

[0058] The cushioning material 31 may have a receiving recess for receiving the intermediate sheet 42. This modification can suppress the change in thickness caused by providing the intermediate sheet 42 between the air bag 41 and the cushioning material 31. In addition, the intermediate sheet 42 can be easily positioned relative to the cushioning material 31.

[0059] The cushioning material 31 provided with the air bag 41 may be the cushioning material 21 of the seat cushion 20. In addition, the air bag 41 may be provided in the cushioning material supporting other parts of the user.

[0060] In the massage unit 40, the air bag 41 and the intermediate sheet 42 may not be joined to each other by the joining portion 43. In this case, it is preferable that the air bag 41 and the intermediate sheet 42 are fixed to the cushioning material 31, respectively.

[0061] When viewed from above in the stacking direction, the intermediate sheet 42 may be of the same size as the air bag 41 , or may be larger than the air bag 41 .

[0062] The thickness of the central portion of the intermediate sheet 42 may be different from the thickness of the portion other than the central portion of the intermediate sheet 42. For example, the thickness of the central portion of the intermediate sheet 42 may be thicker than the other portions. This modification can reduce the amount of the air bag 41 sinking toward the cushioning material 31 when the air bag 41 is inflated.

[0063] A plurality of intermediate sheets 42 may be provided. For example, a plurality of relatively thin intermediate sheets 42 may be disposed between the air bag 41 and the cushioning material 31. In this modification, the amount of sinking of the inflated air bag 41 relative to the cushioning material 31 can be adjusted by adjusting the number of intermediate sheets 42.

[0064] The massage device 10 may be a sheet-shaped massage device that can be folded or rolled up and can be detachably mounted on a chair. In this case, the "support member" that supports the air bag 41 and the intermediate sheet 42 is preferably a thin sheet-shaped massage device.

[0065] [Summary of the present embodiment]

[0066] This embodiment has at least the following structures.

[0067] The massage device 10, 10A includes: an air bag 41, 41A, which expands with the inhalation of air and contracts with the exhaust of air; a supporting member, which supports the air bag 41, 41A; and an intermediate sheet 42, which is arranged between the air bag 41, 41A and the supporting member and is harder than the supporting member.

[0068] In the massage device, there is an intermediate sheet material between the air bag and the support member that is harder than the support member. Therefore, when the air bag is inflated, the air bag is less likely to sink toward the support member. In this way, the massage device can suppress the decrease in the force of the air bag pressing the user.

[0069] In the present embodiment, it is preferable that the direction in which the air bags 41 , 41A, the intermediate sheet 42 and the support members overlap is a stacking direction, and the intermediate sheet 42 is smaller than the air bags 41 , 41A in a plan view in the stacking direction.

[0070] When the intermediate sheet is larger than the air bag when viewed from above in the stacking direction, the intermediate sheet, which is harder than the supporting member, protrudes from the air bag. Therefore, even if the air bag and the intermediate sheet are covered together by the cover, there is a concern that the user's body may feel uncomfortable by indirectly contacting a certain part of the intermediate sheet when using the massage device. In this regard, since the intermediate sheet of the massage device is smaller than the air bag when viewed from above in the stacking direction, the above situation can be suppressed.

[0071] In addition, in the present embodiment, it is preferable to further include a joining portion 43 that joins the air bags 41 and 41A and the intermediate sheet 42 to each other.

[0072] In the massage device, since the intermediate sheet and the air bag are joined, the intermediate sheet and the air bag can be handled as a whole.

[0073] In addition, in this embodiment, it is preferred that the direction in which the air bags 41, 41A, the intermediate sheet 42 and the supporting member overlap is the stacking direction, and when viewed from above in the stacking direction, the joining portion 43 joins the central portion of the air bags 41, 41A and the central portion of the intermediate sheet 42 to each other.

[0074] For example, in the case of a comparative example in which all the portions of the air bag and the intermediate sheet facing each other in the stacking direction are joined by the joint, there is a concern that the intermediate sheet may hinder the expansion of the air bag. In this regard, in the massage device described above, the joint only joins the central portion of the air bag and the central portion of the intermediate sheet. Therefore, the intermediate sheet can prevent the air bag from being unable to expand normally.

[0075] In addition, in the present embodiment, it is preferred that the direction in which the air bags 41, 41A, the intermediate sheet 42 and the supporting member overlap is the stacking direction, and the air bags 41, 41A have a first bag body 413, a second bag body 414 and a bag body joint 415, the first bag body and the second bag body expand as air is inhaled, and on the other hand, contract as air is exhausted, the bag body joint joins the first bag body 413 and the second bag body 414 to each other in the stacking direction, the bag body joint 415 includes a connecting hole 418 that connects the interior of the first bag body 413 and the interior of the second bag body 414 to each other, and in the stacking direction, the intermediate sheet 42 is located between the second bag body 414 and the supporting member, and when viewed from above in the stacking direction, the intermediate sheet 42 is larger than the bag body joint 415.

[0076] When the middle sheet is smaller than the bag body joint, the second bag body is easy to sink toward the supporting member when the second bag body expands. In this regard, since the middle sheet is larger than the bag body joint, it is possible to suppress the second bag body from sinking toward the supporting member when the second bag body expands.

[0077] Explanation of symbols

[0078] 10, 10A…massage device; 20…seat cushion; 21…cushion material; 22…cover; 30…seat back; 31…cushion material (support component); 32…cover; 40, 40A…massage unit; 41, 41A…air bag; 411, 416…membrane; 412, 417…membrane; 413…first bag body; 414…second bag body; 415…bag body joint portion; 418…connecting hole; 42…middle sheet; 43…joining portion; 44…connecting pipe; 50…driving portion; 60…remote controller.

Claims

1. A massage device, wherein: have: An air pocket that expands with the inhalation of air and, on the other hand, contracts with the exhalation of air; a support member that supports the air bag; as well as An intermediate sheet is disposed between the air bag and the support member and is harder than the support member.

2. The massage device according to claim 1, wherein: The direction in which the air bag, the intermediate sheet and the supporting member overlap is a stacking direction. The intermediate sheet is smaller than the air bag in a plan view in the stacking direction.

3. The massage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: A joining portion is further provided, the joining portion joining the air bag and the intermediate sheet to each other.

4. The massage device according to claim 3, wherein: The direction in which the air bag, the intermediate sheet and the supporting member overlap is a stacking direction. The joining portion joins a central portion of the air bag and a central portion of the intermediate sheet to each other in a plan view in the stacking direction.

5. The massage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The direction in which the air bag, the intermediate sheet and the supporting member overlap is a stacking direction. The air bag comprises a first bag body, a second bag body and a bag body joint portion, wherein the first bag body and the second bag body expand with inhalation and contract with exhaust, and the bag body joint portion joins the first bag body and the second bag body to each other in the stacking direction. The bag body joint portion includes a communication hole that allows the interior of the first bag body and the interior of the second bag body to communicate with each other. The intermediate sheet is located between the second bag body and the supporting member in the stacking direction, and is larger than the bag body joint portion in a plan view in the stacking direction.

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