Massage device

Abstract

The present invention provides a massage device that can quickly expel air from an airbag without using a pump. The massage device (20) includes: a base (21) disposed on the back of a chair; a massage part (22) supported by the base (21) and capable of moving forward and backward relative to the user; an airbag (61) disposed between the base (21) and the massage part (22) and inflated by air supply, causing the massage part (22) to move forward toward the user; an air supply part (62) supplying air to the airbag (61); and an air discharge part (63) compressing the airbag (61) to discharge air.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a massage device. Background Technology

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a massage device built into the backrest of a chair-type massager. The massage device includes: a base frame; a movable frame supported by the base frame to move forward and backward relative to the user; a massage mechanism disposed on the movable frame to massage the user's body; a forward and backward air unit disposed between the base frame and the movable frame to displace the movable frame to the desired forward and backward position; and an air supply and exhaust device to supply and exhaust air to the forward and backward air unit.

[0003] This massage device uses an air supply and exhaust system to expand and contract the air unit for advancing and retreating, thereby changing the advancing and retreating position of the moving frame and massage mechanism relative to the user, and adjusting the intensity of the massage.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-183957

[0005] The massage device in Patent Document 1 uses the air supply and exhaust device not only for the expansion of the retractable air unit but also for its contraction. That is, to contract the retractable air unit, it is necessary to drive the pump and valve constituting the air supply and exhaust device to draw air from within the retractable air unit. Therefore, this results in the disadvantages of increased power consumption and heat generation from the air supply and exhaust device.

[0006] To overcome this drawback, it is also possible to expand the retractable air unit solely through the air supply and exhaust system, and then allow the air unit to contract naturally using the load from the user leaning against the backrest. However, in this case, the contraction of the retractable air unit takes time, which may hinder smooth massage movements. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to enable rapid air expulsion from the airbag in a massage device without the use of a pump.

[0008] (1) The massage device of the present invention, wherein...

[0009] have:

[0010] The base is located on the back of the chair;

[0011] The massage section is supported by the base section so that it can move forward and backward relative to the user;

[0012] An airbag, disposed between the base and the massage unit, inflates upon the supply of air, causing the massage unit to move toward the user.

[0013] An air supply unit supplies air to the airbag; and

[0014] The air exhaust section compresses the airbag to expel air.

[0015] In the massage device with the above-described structure, the air exhaust section compresses the air bladder to forcibly expel air. Therefore, even without using a pump to draw air from the air bladder, air can be quickly expelled from the air bladder, eliminating the need for electricity to operate a pump or the like, and suppressing heat generation.

[0016] (2) In the massage device described in (1) above, wherein,

[0017] The air exhaust section includes a surface covering the airbag and utilizes an elastic, stretchable telescopic member.

[0018] The telescopic member extends by the expansion of the airbag and contracts by allowing air to escape from the airbag.

[0019] According to this structure, if air is allowed to be expelled from the airbag, the airbag is compressed by the contraction of the telescopic member, thereby forcibly expelling air from the airbag.

[0020] (3) In the massage device described in (2) above, wherein,

[0021] The airbag is sandwiched between the telescopic member and the base or the massage part.

[0022] The telescopic member is fixed to the base portion or the massage portion on both sides of the airbag in its telescopic direction.

[0023] According to this structure, by contracting the telescopic member, the airbag can be compressed between the telescopic member and the base or massage part, and air can be expelled from the airbag.

[0024] (4) In the massage device described in (2) or (3) above, wherein,

[0025] The telescopic member is formed in the shape of a strip and can extend and retract along its length.

[0026] (5) In any of the massage devices described in (1) to (4) above, wherein,

[0027] The massage unit includes: a shaft having a left-right axis; and a treatment component mounted on the shaft and protruding towards the user.

[0028] The massage unit is supported by the base via the shaft, enabling it to swing.

[0029] According to this structure, the base can be supported by the shaft on which the treatment component is mounted, which simplifies the structure of the massage device.

[0030] (6) In the massage device described in (5) above, wherein,

[0031] The treatment component includes a first treatment element, which is positioned on one side of the vertical direction, more so than the axis.

[0032] The airbag is positioned on one side of the axis in the vertical direction, between the base and the massage portion.

[0033] According to this structure, by expanding the airbag, the first treatment element protrudes further towards the user, thereby improving the massage effect of the first treatment element.

[0034] (7) In the massage device described in (6) above, wherein,

[0035] The treatment component includes a second treatment element, which is positioned on the opposite side in the vertical direction from the axis.

[0036] According to this structure, the second treatment element can be moved back from the user's side by the expansion of the airbag, and the first treatment element can protrude more towards the user's side relative to the second treatment element, thereby further improving the massage effect of the first treatment element.

[0037] (8) In any of the massage devices described in (1) to (7) above, wherein,

[0038] The massage device also includes a solenoid valve that switches the air path between a first mode and a second mode. The first mode allows air to be supplied to the airbag, while the second mode allows air to be expelled.

[0039] The solenoid valve operates in the first mode when not energized and in the second mode when energized.

[0040] According to this structure, by de-energizing the solenoid valve, air can be supplied to the airbag, thus suppressing the heating of the solenoid valve during the massage process using the airbag. By energizing the solenoid valve, air can be expelled from the airbag, and by shortening the time required for air expulsion using the air expulsion section, the heating of the solenoid valve can be minimized.

[0041] (9) In (1) above, where,

[0042] The air discharge section includes a telescopic member that forms at least a part of the airbag and is capable of elastic expansion and contraction.

[0043] The telescopic member extends by supplying air to the airbag and contracts by allowing air to escape from the airbag.

[0044] According to this structure, when air is allowed to be expelled from the airbag, the telescopic member, which is a component of the airbag, contracts, thereby compressing the airbag itself and expelling the air. Therefore, it is possible to expel air from the airbag with a simple structure without using electricity at all.

[0045] According to the massage device of the present invention, air can be rapidly expelled from the airbag without the use of a pump. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a chair-type massager having the massage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 2 It is a 3D diagram of a massage device.

[0048] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional diagram showing the massage mechanism of the massage area.

[0049] Figure 4 This is a bottom view showing the massage mechanism of the massage section.

[0050] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional view of the base.

[0051] Figure 6 This is a schematic side view of the massage device.

[0052] Figure 7 (a) is a schematic side view of the massage device when the airbag is inflated. Figure 7 (b) is a schematic side view of the massage device when the airbag is inflated.

[0053] Figure 8 (a) is a schematic top view of the massage device when the airbag contracts. Figure 8 (b) is a schematic top view of the massage device when the airbag is inflated.

[0054] Figure 9 This is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of a solenoid valve.

[0055] Figure 10 (a) is a schematic side view of the massage device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, showing the air bladder being contracted. Figure 10 (b) is a schematic side view of the massage device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated.

[0056] Figure 11 This is the front view showing a modified example of the expansion joint.

[0057] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0058] 12: Backrest

[0059] 20: Massage device

[0060] 21: Base section

[0061] 22: Massage Department

[0062] 32: Treatment components

[0063] 37A: First treatment piece

[0064] 37B: Second treatment piece

[0065] 41: Drive shaft

[0066] 61: Airbag

[0067] 62: Air Supply Department

[0068] 63: Air exhaust section

[0069] 66: Solenoid valve

[0070] 68: Expansion Joint Detailed Implementation

[0071] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0072] [First Implementation Method]

[0073] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a chair-type massager having the massage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] The chair-type massager 10 of this embodiment includes: a seat 11 that supports the user's buttocks from below; a backrest 12 that extends upward from the rear of the seat 11; armrests 13 provided on the left and right sides of the seat 11; and a footrest 14 provided at the front of the seat 11.

[0075] A massage device 20 for massaging the user is provided on the backrest 12. The chair-type massage machine 10 also has a remote control 16 for operating the massage device 20. In addition, other massage devices may be provided on the seat 11, armrests 13 and footrest 14.

[0076] In the following description, the directions “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “up,” and “down” used for the chair-type massager 10 are consistent with the “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “up,” and “down” observed by the user sitting on the chair-type massager 10.

[0077] like Figure 1As shown, a guide rail 15 extending in the vertical direction is provided inside the backrest 12. The massage device 20 is guided by the guide rail 15 to move in the vertical direction. The guide rail 15 is provided with a rack (not shown), and the massage device 20 is provided with a lifting gear 29 that meshes with the rack (refer to Figure 5 ). The massage device 20 moves (position change) in the vertical direction along the guide rail 15 by rotating the lifting gear 29.

[0078] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the massage device. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the massage mechanism of the massage part. Figure 4 is a bottom view showing the massage mechanism of the massage part. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the base part.

[0079] As Figure 2 shown, the massage device 20 has a base part 21 and a massage part 22. The base part 21 is supported by the guide rail 15 provided on the backrest 12 so as to be able to move up and down (refer to Figure 1 ). As Figure 5 shown, the base part 21 has a main body part 24 and a lifting mechanism 25. The main body part 24 has a central part 24a that is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front and side parts 24b that protrude forward from the left and right sides of the central part 24a. When viewed from above, the main body part 24 is formed in a substantially "匚" shape. The main body part 24 is made of, for example, synthetic resin.

[0080] The lifting mechanism 25 has a lifting motor 26, a speed reducer 27, a lifting shaft 28, and a lifting gear 29. The lifting motor 26 is supported by the lower right part of the front of the main body part 24. The lifting motor 26 has an output shaft facing downward. The speed reducer 27 has a plurality of reduction gears and reduces and transmits the rotational power of the output shaft to the lifting shaft 28. The speed reducer 27 is provided on the lower right part of the front of the main body part 24 and on the front side of the lifting motor 26.

[0081] The lifting shaft 28 has an axis in the left - right direction and is supported by the lower part of the main body part 24 so as to be able to rotate freely. The lifting shaft 28 is arranged below the lifting motor 26. The lifting gears 29 are provided at both ends of the lifting shaft 28. The lifting gears 29 mesh with the rack provided on the guide rail 15 of the backrest 12 (refer to Figure 1 ). The lifting mechanism 25 drives the lifting motor 26 to rotate the lifting gear 29 and moves the base part 21 in the vertical direction along the guide rail 15 (a change).

[0082] In addition, the lifting mechanism 25 has a sensor (not shown) for detecting the rotation amount of the lifting shaft 28, and can detect the vertical position of the massage device 20 based on the detection result of this sensor.

[0083] As Figure 2As shown, the massage unit 22 is supported by the base 21 via the drive shaft 41 (described later) and is capable of swinging. The massage unit 22 moves forward and backward relative to the user seated on the chair-type massage machine 10 by swinging.

[0084] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the massage unit 22 includes a housing 31, a pair of treatment components 32, and massage mechanisms 33 and 34.

[0085] The housing 31 is generally rectangular when viewed from the front and from above. The interior of the housing 31 is hollow. The housing 31 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. A pair of treatment members 32 protrude forward from the interior of the housing 31 through an opening formed on the front surface of the housing 31. Each treatment member 32 includes an arm 36 and a treatment piece 37.

[0086] Massage mechanisms 33 and 34 include a kneading massage mechanism 33 that performs kneading massage actions on a pair of treatment components 32, and a tapping massage mechanism 34 that performs tapping massage actions on a pair of treatment components 32. The kneading massage mechanism 33 and the tapping massage mechanism 34 are housed within a housing 31.

[0087] The kneading massage mechanism 33 and the tapping massage mechanism 34 share a common drive motor 35 and power transmission shaft 38. The drive motor 35 is supported internally by the housing 31 and has an output shaft 35a oriented in the left-right direction. The rotational power of the output shaft 35a is transmitted to the power transmission shaft 38 via a power transmission gear 39 including a worm gear and a worm wheel.

[0088] The power transmission shaft 38 has a central axis pointing in the up-down direction. The power transmission shaft 38 distributes and transmits power to the drive shaft 41 of the kneading massage mechanism 33 and the oscillating mechanism 42 of the tapping massage mechanism 34.

[0089] The kneading massage mechanism 33 has a drive shaft 41 that drives the treatment component 32. The drive shaft 41 has an axis pointing in the left-right direction and is supported by the housing 31 to be able to rotate freely. The middle part of the drive shaft 41 in the longitudinal direction is disposed inside the housing 31, and the two ends of the drive shaft 41 in the longitudinal direction protrude from the housing 31 in the left-right direction. The rotational power of the power transmission shaft 38 is transmitted to the drive shaft 41 via a power transmission gear 43 including a worm and a worm wheel.

[0090] The kneading massage mechanism 33 has a pair of inclined bosses 44 that rotate integrally with the drive shaft 41. The pair of inclined bosses 44 are spaced apart along the axial direction of the drive shaft 41. Each inclined boss 44 has an inclined boss surface surrounding an axis inclined relative to the axis of the drive shaft 41. The inclination directions of the inclined boss surfaces of the pair of inclined bosses 44 are opposite to each other. The base end of the arm portion 36 of each treatment member 32 is rotatably fitted into the inclined boss surface of the pair of inclined bosses 44. The kneading massage mechanism 33 has a limiting mechanism 46 that restricts the rotation of the arm portion 36 about the drive shaft 41 (inclined bosses 44).

[0091] The arm portion 36 of the treatment member 32 extends obliquely upward and downward from the base end that engages with the inclined boss portion 44. Treatment elements 37 are respectively mounted at the upper and lower ends of the arm portion 36. In this embodiment, each of the pair of arms 36 is equipped with two treatment elements 37. Therefore, the massage portion 22 has a total of four treatment elements 37. The treatment element 37 is the part that directly massages the user and is formed in a spherical shape.

[0092] If the drive shaft 41 of the kneading massage mechanism 33 rotates, the pair of arms 36 swing left and right using the inclined boss surfaces of the pair of inclined bosses 44. As a result, the treatment elements 37 mounted on the upper side and the treatment elements 37 mounted on the lower side of the pair of arms 36 move closer or further apart to perform a massage on the user.

[0093] The limiting mechanism 46 includes a tab 47 protruding downward from the base end side of a pair of arms 36 and a limiting member 48 engaging with the tab 47. The tab 47 has a through hole extending in the left-right direction. The limiting member 48 is rod-shaped and loosely inserted into the through hole of the tab 47. Figure 4 As shown, the middle portion of the limiting member 48 in the longitudinal direction is mounted on the support shaft 49 fixed to the housing 31. Therefore, the pair of arms 36 restrict rotation about the drive shaft 41 (tilted boss portion 44) by engaging with the limiting member 48 through the tabs 47.

[0094] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the tapping massage mechanism 34 includes a swing mechanism 42 and the aforementioned limiting member (swing linkage member) 48. The swing mechanism 42 includes an eccentric boss 51 and a connecting body 52. ​​The eccentric boss 51 is located at the lower end of the power transmission shaft 38. The eccentric boss 51 is formed in a disc shape, with its center eccentric relative to the axis of the power transmission shaft 38. The eccentric boss 51 is connected to the power transmission shaft 38 via a one-way clutch. Therefore, when the power transmission shaft 38 rotates in one direction, the eccentric boss 51 also rotates; when the power transmission shaft 38 rotates in another direction, the eccentric boss 51 does not rotate but idles relative to the shaft.

[0095] The connecting body 52 is formed in a ring shape and is rotatably fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the eccentric boss portion 51. One end of the limiting member 48 is rotatably connected to the outer peripheral portion of the connecting body 52. ​​In addition, the middle portion of the limiting member 48 is rotatably mounted to the support shaft 49. The support shaft 49 has an axis pointing in the vertical direction.

[0096] The tapping massage mechanism 34 utilizes rotational power transmitted from the drive motor 35 to the power transmission shaft 38 to rotate the eccentric boss 51, thereby causing the connecting body 52 to move back and forth and the limiting member 48 to swing back and forth about the support shaft 49. As a result, the protrusion 47 of the arm 36 moves back and forth, and the arm 36 reciprocates around the drive shaft 41 (the inclined boss 44). Furthermore, the treatment elements 37 located at the ends of the arm 36 move back and forth, providing tapping massage to the user.

[0097] As described above, a one-way clutch is provided between the power transmission shaft 38 of the tapping massage mechanism 34 and the eccentric boss portion 51. Therefore, if the power transmission shaft 38 rotates in one direction, both the kneading massage mechanism 33 and the tapping massage mechanism 34 will operate; if the power transmission shaft 38 rotates in the opposite direction, only the kneading massage mechanism 33 will operate. Therefore, by switching the rotation direction of the power transmission shaft 38, i.e., the rotation direction of the drive motor 35, the massage action can be selected.

[0098] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the drive shaft 41 of the massage unit 22 protrudes from the housing 31 to the left and right sides and is supported by the left and right sides 24b of the main body 24 of the base 21, allowing it to rotate freely. Therefore, the massage unit 22 is supported by the base 21 via the drive shaft 41 and can swing freely. Thus, the massage unit 22 is configured to move forward and backward relative to the user of the chair-type massage machine 10.

[0099] Figure 6 This is a simplified side view of the massage device.

[0100] The lower part of the massage section 22 is connected to the base section 21 via a force-applying member 55 made of a tension coil spring. Specifically, as... Figure 4 As shown, the support shaft 49 of the limiting member 48 supporting the massage unit 22 protrudes downward from the housing 31, and the lower end of the support shaft 49 and the lower end of the main body 24 of the base 21 are connected by the force-applying member 55. Therefore, when the force-applying member 55 applies force to the massage unit 22, the lower part of the massage unit 22, which is lower than the drive shaft 41, moves backward, and the upper part of the massage unit 22, which is higher than the drive shaft 41, moves forward (towards the user). The forward movement of the upper part of the massage unit 22 is limited by the contact between the lower part of the massage unit 22 and the base 21.

[0101] The massage device 20 of this embodiment includes an airbag 61 that moves the massage section 22 toward the user, an air supply section 62 that supplies air to the airbag 61, and an air discharge section 63 that discharges air from the airbag 61.

[0102] An airbag 61 is disposed between the base portion 21 and the massage portion 22. Specifically, the airbag 61 is disposed between the base portion 21 and the massage portion 22 at a position higher than the drive shaft 41. The airbag 61 is mounted on the front surface of the base portion 21. Figure 5 As shown, the airbag 61 is roughly rectangular when viewed from the front. Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the width of the airbag 61 in the left-right direction is the same as or slightly larger than the width of the massage part 22 in the left-right direction. The upper end of the airbag 61 is positioned at the same or slightly lower position as the upper end of the base part 21. The airbag 61 is positioned higher than the drive shaft 41. The airbag 61 is positioned higher than the lifting mechanism 25.

[0103] The airbag 61 inflates by being supplied with air. Specifically, the airbag 61 inflates in the front-to-back direction by being supplied with air, increasing its width in that direction. Therefore, the airbag 61 presses against the upper part of the massage unit 22, which is above the drive shaft 41, from back to front, causing it to move towards the user. Conversely, the airbag 61 contracts by expelling air. Specifically, the airbag 61 contracts in the front-to-back direction by expelling air, decreasing its width in that direction. The airbag 61 is fixed to the base 21 but not to the massage unit 22. Therefore, the airbag 61 does not cause the massage unit 22 to swing due to its contraction. Furthermore, the contraction of the airbag 61 does not affect the force applied to the massage unit 22 by the force-applying member 55.

[0104] like Figure 6 As shown, the air supply unit 62 includes a pump 65, a solenoid valve 66, and a control unit 67. The pump 65 generates compressed air and supplies it to the airbag 61. The solenoid valve 66 switches whether air is supplied to the airbag 61. Specifically, the solenoid valve 66 switches the air path between a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being as follows: Figure 9 As shown in (a), the second method allows for the supply of air from pump 65 to airbag 61. Figure 9 As shown in (b), the air supply from pump 65 to airbag 61 is cut off. In the second configuration, solenoid valve 66 allows air to escape from airbag 61. Solenoid valve 66 is in the first configuration when de-energized (off) and in the second configuration when energized (on).

[0105] The control unit 67 controls the operation of the pump 65 and the solenoid valve 66. The control unit 67 includes a processor such as a CPU and a memory such as RAM and ROM. The memory stores programs for controlling the pump 65 and the solenoid valve 66, as well as control data. For example, the control unit 67 controls the operation of the pump 65 and the solenoid valve 66 by executing a pre-set program through the processor, and adjusts the forward and backward position of the massage unit 22. Additionally, the control unit 67 controls the operation of the pump 65 and the solenoid valve 66 and adjusts the forward and backward position of the massage unit 22 according to the operation of the remote control 16. The control unit 67 can be used solely for controlling the air supply unit 62, or it can be used for controlling the entire chair-type massage machine 10, including the massage mechanisms 33, 34, etc.

[0106] Air exhaust section 63 forcibly exhausts air from airbag 61 via compression airbag 61. For example... Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the air exhaust section 63 includes a telescopic member 68 capable of elastic expansion and contraction. In this embodiment, the telescopic member 68 is a rubber-containing strip (a so-called rubber strip). The telescopic member 68 is configured to expand and contract along its length. The telescopic member 68 is arranged with its length direction pointing upwards and downwards.

[0107] The telescopic member 68 covers the front surface of the airbag 61. The telescopic member 68 is disposed approximately at the center of the airbag 61 in the left-right direction. The upper and lower ends of the telescopic member 68 are fixed to the front surface of the main body 24 of the base portion 21. Therefore, the airbag 61 is sandwiched between the front surface of the base portion 21 and the telescopic member 68.

[0108] If the solenoid valve 66 is de-energized (first embodiment) to actuate the pump 65, air is supplied to the airbag 61, causing the airbag 61 to inflate. At this time, the telescopic member 68 extends along the front surface of the airbag 61 in the length direction. If the solenoid valve 66 is energized (second embodiment) to allow air to be discharged from the airbag 61, the telescopic member 68 contracts along its length direction. Through the contraction of the telescopic member 68, the airbag 61 is compressed, and the air inside is forcibly discharged to the outside. Therefore, the air discharge section 63 of this embodiment discharges air by applying external pressure to the airbag 61. In addition, the air discharge section 63 is composed of a non-electric component such as the telescopic member 68.

[0109] Figure 7 (a) is a schematic side view of the massage device when the airbag is inflated. Figure 7 (b) is a schematic side view of the massage device when the airbag is inflated. Figure 8 (a) is a schematic top view of the massage device when the airbag contracts. Figure 8 (b) is a schematic top view of the massage device when the airbag is inflated.

[0110] like Figure 6 As shown, the massage portion 22 of the massage device 20 is held forward toward the user by the force-applying member 55. Specifically, the massage portion 22 is held forward toward the user by the force-applying member 55 at a position higher than the drive shaft 41. When no air is supplied to the airbag 61, the airbag 61 is in a contracted state and does not contact the massage portion 22.

[0111] If the user sits on the chair-type massager 10 and presses the back H against the backrest 12, then... Figure 7 As shown in (a), the massage part 22 is pressed by the back H, thereby overcoming the force-applying member 55 and swinging backward. In this state, the treatment member 37 can be actuated by driving the kneading massage mechanism 33 or the tapping massage mechanism 34, thereby enabling a massage to be performed on the user.

[0112] like Figure 7 As shown in (b), when air is supplied to the airbag 61 using the air supply unit 62, the massage unit 22 moves forward toward the user. Therefore, a stronger massage can be achieved. In particular, compared to the case where the airbag 61 is contracted, the treatment member 37 (first treatment member 37A), which is located higher than the drive shaft 41, moves forward a significant distance L1 toward the user. Therefore, for example, the first treatment member 37A can move forward relative to the user's shoulder S, thereby effectively massaging the shoulder S.

[0113] Furthermore, when the airbag 61 is inflated, the front-to-back distance L2 between the first treatment element 37A (located higher than the drive shaft 41) and the second treatment element 37 (located lower than the drive shaft 41) increases compared to when the airbag 61 is contracted. Therefore, when the second treatment element 37B comes into contact with the user's back H, the first treatment element 37A can move further forward than the user's shoulder S, thereby enabling a more effective massage of the shoulder S.

[0114] During the massage, if the massage devices 37A and 37B tap or massage the user's back or shoulders, the reaction force is applied to the entire massage machine 10 via the backrest 12, which may cause vibration. When the airbag 61 is inflated, the vibration of the massage machine 10 can be suppressed because the airbag 61 can absorb the aforementioned reaction force.

[0115] In this embodiment, by using the telescopic member 68 to compress the airbag 61, air can be quickly expelled. Therefore, the airbag 61 can be contracted from an inflated state in a short time.

[0116] The control unit 67, through operation of the remote control 16, can change the intensity of the massage using the airbag 61 at multiple levels, including "weak," "medium," and "strong." For example, the control unit 67 can change the massage intensity at multiple levels by controlling the time for which air is supplied to the airbag 61. Specifically, the control unit 67 can change the massage intensity by gradually increasing the time for which air is supplied to the airbag 61 in the order of "weak," "medium," and "strong."

[0117] If the control unit 67 performs such control, in order to switch from the intensity before the change to the intensity after the change, all the air in the airbag 61 is temporarily expelled, and then air is supplied to the airbag 61 for a time equivalent to the intensity after the change. Assuming that air is expelled from the airbag 61 using the load from the user's back H, the expulsion of air takes time, and the time until expulsion is complete may deviate. In some cases, air may not be completely expelled, but air has been supplied for a time equivalent to the intensity after the change, thus potentially resulting in a massage with a stronger intensity than desired. In this embodiment, since the airbag 61 is compressed and air is forcibly expelled by the telescopic member 68 of the air expulsion unit 63, air can be reliably expelled from the airbag 61, the time until expulsion is complete can be shortened, and then, by supplying air to the airbag 61 for a time equivalent to the intensity after the change, the massage intensity can be accurately controlled.

[0118] like Figure 6 As shown, the massage device 20 includes a swing detection sensor 71 that detects the swing position of the massage unit 22 relative to the base 21. The swing detection sensor 71 is composed of a non-contact sensor such as a light sensor or a magnetic sensor, or a contact sensor, which reacts when the massage unit 22 reaches a predetermined swing position. For example, the swing detection sensor 71 detects that the massage unit 22 has moved back a predetermined amount or more relative to the base 21 from its most protruding position towards the user, or that the massage unit 22 has moved forward a predetermined amount or more relative to the base 21 from its last retracted position towards the user. The detection signal from the swing detection sensor 71 is input to the control unit 67 for controlling the massage device 20.

[0119] The sway detection sensor 71 can be used to detect the position (height) of the user's shoulder S before the massage begins. For example, the sway detection sensor 71 can be used to detect situations where the massage device 20 is moved downward from a height that has not yet contacted the user, the upper first treatment member 37A contacts the user's shoulder S, and the massage unit 22 sways backward by a predetermined amount or more against the force application member 55. Thus, the position (height) of the shoulder S can be detected using the sway detection sensor 71.

[0120] When the position of the shoulder S is detected by the swing detection sensor 71 as described above, if the air is not completely expelled from the airbag 61 and the airbag 61 is not fully inflated, it may be difficult to accurately detect the position of the shoulder S. However, as in this embodiment, by using the telescopic member 68 to completely expel the air from the airbag 61, the detection accuracy of the position of the shoulder S can be improved.

[0121] As described above, when massaging using the massage unit 22, the control unit 67 of the air supply unit 62 supplies air to the airbag 61 by controlling the pump 65 and the solenoid valve 66. In the unpowered state (first mode), the solenoid valve 66 allows the supply of air from the pump 65 but does not allow air to escape. Therefore, if the massage ends due to operation of the remote control 16 while the airbag 61 is inflated, the airbag 61 remains inflated without escaping air. Furthermore, if the massage ends due to an unexpected stop (such as a power outage or the plug being disconnected from the power socket), the airbag 61 also remains inflated without escaping air. In these situations, the following problems arise.

[0122] (Question 1) After the massage, if the airbag 61 is placed in an inflated state, the material of the airbag 61 may deteriorate faster due to the continuous tensile force applied to it. In addition, the telescopic member 68 may also deteriorate faster because it remains in an extended state.

[0123] (Question 2) If the airbag 61 is placed in an inflated state after the massage, it may not be possible to accurately detect the position of the user's shoulder S before starting the next massage.

[0124] To solve the above problems, the following solutions can be adopted.

[0125] (Solution 1) The control unit 67 can be configured such that when the massage ends, for example, when an instruction to end the massage is input via the remote control 16, or when a programmed massage ends, the solenoid valve 66 is temporarily energized (second method), and air is expelled from the airbag 61. This prevents the airbag 61 from being placed in an inflated state, thereby suppressing the deterioration of the airbag 61 and the telescopic member 68, thus solving (Problem 1) mentioned above. Furthermore, it allows for accurate detection of the user's shoulder S position, which must be performed before the next massage begins, thus also solving (Problem 2) mentioned above.

[0126] (Solution 2) The control unit 67 can be configured such that when a massage begins, for example, when a massage start instruction is input via the remote control 16, the solenoid valve 66 is temporarily energized (second method), and air is expelled from the airbag 61. This allows for accurate detection of the user's shoulder S position, which is necessary before the massage begins, thus solving the aforementioned (Problem 2).

[0127] (Solution 3) The control unit 67 can be configured such that when power is supplied to the chair-type massager 10, for example, when power supply to the chair-type massager 10 is unexpectedly stopped and then resumed, or when the main power is turned on, the solenoid valve 66 is temporarily energized (second method), and air is expelled from the airbag 61. This allows for accurate detection of the user's shoulder S position before the massage begins, thus solving the aforementioned (Problem 2).

[0128] By employing solution one or two described above, the airbag 61 will always be in a state of being deflated (airbag 61 contracted) before the massage begins. Therefore, the state of deflating the airbag 61 can be set as the initial state before the massage. Furthermore, by employing solution three described above, the airbag 61 will always be in a state of being deflated (airbag 61 contracted) after power is supplied to the chair-type massager 10. Therefore, the state of deflating the airbag 61 can be set as the initial state immediately after power is supplied to the chair-type massager 10.

[0129] When the solenoid valve 66 is temporarily energized, the airbag 61 uses the telescopic member 68 to facilitate the expulsion of air. Therefore, the energizing time can be shortened and the overheating of the solenoid valve 66 can be suppressed.

[0130] Furthermore, the massage device 20 of this embodiment can employ all of the above-described solutions one to three, or one or two of them.

[0131] [Second Implementation]

[0132] Figure 10 This is a schematic side view of the massage device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, especially, Figure 10 (a) is a schematic side view of the airbag when it is inflated. Figure 10 (b) is a schematic side view of the airbag when it is inflated.

[0133] In the first embodiment described above, the telescopic member 68 of the air exhaust section 63 is made of a rubber band, and its entire length can extend and retract. In the second embodiment, a portion of the telescopic member 68 is telescopic, but another portion is made of a non-stretchable material. Specifically, the telescopic member 68 includes a non-stretchable portion 68a formed in the shape of a strip and a telescopic portion 68b made of a force-applying member such as a coil spring. The non-stretchable portion 68a is made of a fabric or the like that has no or little stretchability.

[0134] One end (lower end) of the non-telescopic portion 68a of the telescopic member 68 is fixed to the base portion 21, and the other end (upper end) wraps around to the back side of the base portion 21. One end of the telescopic portion 68b is connected to the other end of the non-telescopic portion 68a, and the other end of the telescopic portion 68b is connected to the back side of the base portion 21. When the airbag 61 inflates, the non-telescopic portion 68a flexes along the surface of the airbag 61, and the telescopic portion 68b extends. If air is allowed to escape from the airbag 61, the telescopic portion 68b contracts, thereby compressing the airbag 61 with the non-telescopic portion 68a, thus enabling the forced expulsion of air.

[0135] The other structures are the same as in the first embodiment, so detailed descriptions are omitted. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the telescopic portion 68b of the telescopic member 68 can be made of a rubber band, just as in the first embodiment. Additionally, the telescopic member 68 may have telescopic portions 68b on both sides of the non-telescopic portion 68a along its length.

[0136] [Examples of variations in expansion joints]

[0137] Figure 11 This is the front view showing a modified example of the expansion joint.

[0138] Figure 11 (a) indicates a variation in which the air exhaust section 63 includes a plurality of telescopic members 68. Specifically, the plurality of telescopic members 68 are arranged horizontally and parallel to each other with their length direction pointing up and down. By changing the number of telescopic members 68, the air exhaust section 63 can adjust the force used to compress the airbag 61.

[0139] Figure 11 (b) shows a modified example in which the telescopic member 68 of the air exhaust section 63 is arranged in a left-right orientation along its length. Furthermore, when the air exhaust section 63 has a plurality of telescopic members 68, telescopic members 68 in a vertical orientation along their length and telescopic members 68 in a horizontal orientation along their length can be used in combination. For example, telescopic members 68 in a vertical orientation along their length and telescopic members 68 in a horizontal orientation along their length can be arranged in a cross shape.

[0140] Figure 11(c) indicates a modified example in which the telescopic member 68 of the air exhaust section 63 covers the entire airbag 61. In this modified example, the telescopic member 68 can extend and retract in all directions, including the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the direction inclined relative to these directions. Thus, by covering the entire airbag 61 with the telescopic member 68, the force required to compress the airbag 61 can be increased.

[0141] Similarly to the second embodiment, Figure 11 The telescopic member 68 in each of the shown variations can be composed of a non-telescopic part 68a and a telescopic part 68b.

[0142] [Other Implementation Methods]

[0143] In the above embodiment, the air discharge section 63 includes a telescopic member 68 covering the surface of the airbag 61. The airbag 61 is compressed by contracting this telescopic member 68, forcibly discharging air from the airbag 61. Alternatively, at least a portion of the airbag 61 can be formed by a telescopic member. In this case, by supplying air to the airbag 61, the telescopic member constituting the airbag 61 extends; if air discharge from the airbag 61 is permitted, the telescopic member contracts, forcibly discharging air from the airbag 61. Therefore, in this embodiment, the airbag 61 is not compressed by pressing it from the outside, but rather the airbag 61 compresses itself to discharge air.

[0144] In the above embodiment, although the airbag 61 and the telescopic member 68 are mounted on the base portion 21, they can also be mounted on the massage portion 22. For example, the following structure can be adopted: the airbag 61 is mounted on the back of the housing 31 of the massage portion 22, the back of the airbag 61 is covered by the telescopic member 68, and both ends of the telescopic member 68 are fixed to the housing 31.

[0145] As long as the telescopic member 68 is configured to be telescopic, there are no particular restrictions on the material and structure. For example, the telescopic member 68 can be a member formed into a strip shape by using materials such as rubber, resin, cotton, and metal alone or in combination.

[0146] The airbag 61 can also be positioned lower than the drive shaft 41, or it can be an airbag that advances the massage unit 22 by inflating to a position lower than the drive shaft 41.

[0147] [Effects of the Implementation Method]

[0148] The massage device 20 of each of the above embodiments includes: a base portion 21 provided on the backrest 12 of a chair; a massage portion 22 supported by the base portion 21 and capable of moving forward and backward relative to the user; an airbag 61 disposed between the base portion 21 and the massage portion 22, which expands by air supply and moves the massage portion 22 toward the user; an air supply portion 62 that supplies air to the airbag 61; and an air discharge portion 63 that compresses the airbag 61 and discharges air. Therefore, even without the pump 65 drawing air from the airbag 61, the air discharge portion 63 can compress the airbag 61 and quickly discharge air. Therefore, no electricity is needed to drive the pump 65 or the solenoid valve 66, and the heating of these electric components can be suppressed.

[0149] In the above embodiments, the air discharge section 63 includes a telescopic member 68 that covers the surface of the airbag 61 and is elastically expandable. The telescopic member 68 extends due to the expansion of the airbag 61 and contracts to allow air to be discharged from the airbag 61. Therefore, if air is allowed to be discharged from the airbag 61, the airbag 61 can be compressed and forced to be discharged from the airbag 61 by contracting the telescopic member 68. When the telescopic member 68 is formed in the shape of a strip, the force that compresses the airbag 61 can be adjusted by changing its width.

[0150] In the above embodiments, the airbag 61 is sandwiched between the telescopic member 68 and the base portion 21 or the massage portion 22. The telescopic member 68 is fixed to the base portion 21 or the massage portion 22 on both sides of the airbag 61 in the telescopic direction. Therefore, by contracting the telescopic member 68, the airbag 61 can be sandwiched between the telescopic member 68 and the base portion 21 or the massage portion 22 and compressed, which can promote the expulsion of air from the airbag 61.

[0151] In the above embodiments, the massage unit 22 includes: a shaft (drive shaft) 41 having a axial center in the left-right direction; and a treatment member 32 mounted on the shaft 41 and protruding towards the user. The massage unit 22 is supported by the base unit 21 via the shaft 41 and is able to swing. Therefore, the massage unit 22 can be supported on the base unit 21 by using the shaft 41 on which the treatment member 32 is mounted, thereby simplifying the structure of the massage device 20.

[0152] In the above embodiments, the treatment component 32 includes a first treatment element 37A disposed on one side (e.g., the upper side) in the vertical direction relative to the shaft 41, and an airbag 61 disposed between the base portion 21 and the massage portion 22 on one side in the vertical direction relative to the shaft 41. Therefore, by inflating the airbag 61, the first treatment element 37A can protrude further towards the user, thereby improving the massage effect of the first treatment element 37A.

[0153] In the above embodiments, the treatment member 32 includes a second treatment element 37B disposed on the other side (e.g., the lower side) in the vertical direction relative to the shaft 41. Therefore, by inflating the airbag 61, the second treatment element 37B can be moved backward from the user side, and the first treatment element 37A can be made to protrude more towards the user side relative to the second treatment element 37B, thereby further improving the massage effect of the first treatment element 37A.

[0154] In the above embodiments, the massage device 20 further includes a solenoid valve 66, which switches the air path between a first mode allowing air to be supplied to the airbag 61 and a second mode allowing air to be discharged. The solenoid valve 66 is in the first mode when de-energized and in the second mode when energized. Therefore, by de-energizing the solenoid valve 66, air can be supplied to the airbag 61, and heat generation of the solenoid valve 66 during massage using the airbag 61 can be suppressed. By energizing the solenoid valve 66, air can be discharged from the airbag 61, and by shortening the time required for air discharge using the air discharge section 63, heat generation of the solenoid valve 66 can be minimized.

[0155] In the above embodiments, the air discharge section 63 includes a telescopic member 68 capable of elastic expansion and contraction, which forms at least a part of the air bladder 61. The telescopic member 68 extends when air is supplied to the air bladder 61 and contracts to allow air to be discharged from the air bladder 61. In this case, if air is allowed to be discharged from the air bladder 61, the telescopic member 68, as a component of the air bladder 61, contracts, thereby compressing the air bladder 61 and discharging air. Therefore, even without using the pump 65 to draw air from the air bladder 61, air can be discharged quickly with a simple structure. Therefore, no electricity is needed to drive the pump 65 or the solenoid valve 66, thereby suppressing their heat generation.

[0156] The above description of the embodiments should be understood as implied that various modifications can be made to the embodiments and details without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A massage device, wherein, have: The base is located on the back of the chair; The massage section is supported by the base section so that it can move forward and backward relative to the user; An airbag, disposed between the base and the massage unit, inflates upon the supply of air, causing the massage unit to move toward the user. The air supply unit supplies air to the airbag; as well as The air exhaust section compresses the airbag to expel air.

2. The massage device according to claim 1, wherein, The air exhaust section includes a surface covering the airbag and utilizes an elastic, stretchable telescopic member. The telescopic member extends by the expansion of the airbag and contracts by allowing air to escape from the airbag.

3. The massage device according to claim 2, wherein, The airbag is sandwiched between the telescopic member and the base or the massage part. The telescopic member is fixed to the base portion or the massage portion on both sides of the airbag in its telescopic direction.

4. The massage device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The telescopic member is formed in the shape of a strip and can extend and retract along its length.

5. The massage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The massage section has: An axis, having a central axis in the left-right direction; and The treatment component, mounted on the shaft, protrudes towards the user. The massage unit is supported by the base via the shaft, enabling it to swing.

6. The massage device according to claim 5, wherein, The treatment component includes a first treatment element, which is positioned on one side of the vertical direction, more so than the axis. The airbag is positioned on one side of the axis in the vertical direction, between the base and the massage portion.

7. The massage device according to claim 6, wherein, The treatment component includes a second treatment element, which is positioned on the opposite side in the vertical direction from the axis.

8. The massage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The massage device also includes a solenoid valve that switches the air path between a first mode and a second mode. The first mode allows air to be supplied to the airbag, while the second mode allows air to be expelled. The solenoid valve operates in the first mode when not energized and in the second mode when energized.

9. The massage device according to claim 1, wherein, The air discharge section includes a telescopic member that forms at least a part of the airbag and is capable of elastic expansion and contraction. The telescopic member extends by supplying air to the airbag and contracts by allowing air to escape from the airbag.

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