Air massage machine

Abstract

To provide an air massage machine which is capable of being downsized and of improving a treatment effect.SOLUTION: An air massage machine includes: a mat part 10 in which massagers 40 air-driven by support plates 11, 12, 13 covered with a cushioning material 18; and an air supply device 2 supplying the massagers 40 with air. The air massage machine 1 which treats a person H to be treated lying on the mat part 10 with the massagers 40 has: a lower layer part 15 where the support plates 11, 12, 13 form a groove part 20 on an upper surface; and an upper layer part 16 which is fixed to the upper surface of the lower layer part 15 and is provided with an open hole 30 disposed on the groove part 20. The massagers 40 are connected to the open hole 30, and the massagers 40 are supplied with air by the air-supply device 2 via the groove part 20 and the open hole 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air massage machine having massage elements driven by air on a mat portion. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional air massage machine is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This air massage machine is filled with cushioning material and includes a mat section on which the person to be treated lies. A plurality of airbags are arranged at predetermined positions within the mat section, and an air supply device is arranged at one end of the mat section in the longitudinal direction. Each airbag is connected to the air supply device via a hose arranged within the cushioning material. Air is supplied from the air supply device to each airbag to treat the person to be treated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP-A-11-276538 (pages 2-6, Figure 1) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional air massage machine, the hose may be crushed by the person lying on the mat, and the air supply to the airbag may be insufficient. This causes a problem of reduced effectiveness of the treatment. On the other hand, if the hose is placed in a position where the person does not lie and connected to the airbag, the airbag and the mat become large.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an air massage machine that can be made compact and has improved therapeutic effects. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an air massage machine that includes a mat section having air-driven massage applicators arranged on a support plate covered with a cushioning material, and an air supply device that supplies air to the airbag, and that uses the massage applicators to massage a person lying on the mat section, comprising: The support plate has a lower layer having a groove portion formed on its upper surface, and an upper layer portion fixed to the upper surface of the lower layer and having a through hole disposed above the groove portion, the treatment head is connected to the through hole, and air is supplied to the treatment head from the air supply device through the groove portion and the through hole. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a groove is provided in the lower layer of the support plate, and the treatment head is connected to a through hole provided in the upper layer, and air is supplied from the air supply device to the treatment head through the groove and the through hole. This prevents the air flow path from being blocked by the person being treated lying on the mat, prevents poor air supply to the treatment head, improves the treatment effect, and allows the air massage machine to be made smaller. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top view showing an air massage machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] Cross section AA of Figure 1 [Diagram 3] Cross section B-B of Figure 1 [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a top view showing an air massage machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] Cross section CC of Figure 4 [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a top view showing an air massage machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] DD cross section of Fig. 6 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] First Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a top view of an air massage machine of the first embodiment. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show a cross-sectional view taken along line AA and a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of Fig. 1, respectively. The air massage machine 1 includes an air supply device 2 and a mat section 10. The mat section 10 is provided with a plurality of airbags 40 as massage applicators, and the massage is given to a massage recipient H lying on the mat section 10 by the airbags 40. The airbags 41 to 46 described later are collectively referred to as airbags 40.

[0010] A plurality of hoses 6 are connected to the air intake device 2 via respective solenoid valves (not shown), and a hose bundle 5 consisting of the plurality of hoses 6 extends from the air intake device 2. As will be described in detail later, air is supplied from the air intake device 2 to each airbag 40 via each hose 6. Note that a single hose 6 extending from the air intake device 2 may be branched into a plurality of hoses 6, and each branched hose 6 may be provided with a solenoid valve.

[0011] The mat portion 10 includes a plurality of support plates 11, 12, and 13 consisting of upper and lower layers, and groove portions 20, which will be described later, are formed in the support plates 11, 12, and 13. Furthermore, the mat portion 10 includes a cushioning material 18, such as urethane foam, that covers the plurality of support plates 11, 12, and 13. The outside of the cushioning material 18 is covered with a cloth cover (not shown). At least the side peripheral surface of the cover is made of a stretchable fabric, and follows the expansion and contraction of the airbag 40.

[0012] Between each of the support plates 11, 12, and 13, there is provided a connecting portion 18a formed by a cushioning material 18. The support plates 11, 12, and 13 are arranged in parallel so as to be foldable on the connecting portion 18a. This allows the mat portion 10 to be folded and stored.

[0013] The airbags 40 are installed on the support plates 11, 12, and 13. Airbags 41 and 42 for treating the neck and shoulders of the person H are arranged on the support plate 11. Airbags 43 and 44 for treating the waist of the person H are arranged on the support plate 12. Airbags 45 and 46 for treating the legs of the person H are arranged on the support plate 13.

[0014] Each of the support plates 11, 12, 13 has a similar lower layer portion 15 and an upper layer portion 16. The lower layer portion 15 and the upper layer portion 16 are formed from a hard resin such as ABS or polypropylene, and are fixed to each other by adhesive, screws, or the like.

[0015] A groove 20 is formed in the upper surface of the lower layer 15, and a through hole 30 is formed in the upper layer 16. Groove portions 21 to 25 described below are collectively referred to as groove portion 20. Through holes 31 to 36 described below are collectively referred to as through hole 30.

[0016] Grooves 21, 22 are formed in a lower layer 15 of the support plate 11. A through hole 31 arranged above the groove 21 and a through hole 32 arranged above the groove 22 are formed in an upper layer 16 of the support plate 11. The through hole 31 communicating with the groove 21 and the through hole 32 communicating with the groove 22 are connected to airbags 41, 42 via joints (not shown), respectively.

[0017] Grooves 23, 24 are formed in the lower layer 15 of the support plate 12. A through hole 33 arranged above the groove 23 and a through hole 34 arranged above the groove 24 are formed in the upper layer 16 of the support plate 12. The through hole 33 communicating with the groove 23 and the through hole 34 communicating with the groove 24 are connected to airbags 43, 44 via joints (not shown), respectively.

[0018] A groove portion 25 is formed in the lower layer portion 15 of the support plate 13. A through hole 35 and a through hole 36 are formed in the upper layer portion 16 of the support plate 13, which are disposed above the groove portion 25. The through holes 35 and the through holes 36, which communicate with the groove portion 25, are connected to airbags 45 and 46 via joints (not shown), respectively. The through holes 35 and 36 communicate with the common groove portion 25, but the through holes 35 and 36 may each be provided with an independent groove portion.

[0019] The grooves 20 are formed to have a rectangular cross section, but may be formed to have a shape with a curved inner wall surface (such as a semicircular cross section). The depth of the grooves 20 is preferably about 5 to 10 mm. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in the strength of the support plates 11, 12, and 13 without impeding the flow of air. In this case, the thickness of the lower layer 15 is preferably about 10 to 20 mm, and the thickness of the support plates 11, 12, and 13 is preferably about 15 to 40 mm.

[0020] A plurality of connection parts 19 protruding from the mat part 10 are attached to one side of the support plates 11, 12, 13. Each connection part 19 is connected to a corresponding groove part 20, and each hose 6 branched off from the hose bundle 5 is connected to each connection part 19.

[0021] That is, the support plate 11 is provided with two connection portions 19 connected to the groove portions 21 and 22, respectively. The support plate 12 is provided with two connection portions 19 connected to the groove portions 23 and 24, respectively. The support plate 13 is provided with a connection portion 19 connected to the groove portion 25. As a result, the groove portions 20 connected to the air supply device 2 via the hoses 6 and the through holes 30 connected to the airbags 40 form air flow paths, and air is supplied from the air supply device 2 to the airbags 40 via the groove portions 20 and the through holes 30.

[0022] When the solenoid valve corresponding to each airbag 40 is opened and air is supplied from the air supply device 2, the airbag 40 inflates as shown by dashed line E (see Figures 2 and 3). When the corresponding solenoid valve is closed, the airbag 40 contracts by exhausting air. The neck and shoulders of the person to be treated H lying on the mat section 10 are treated by the expansion and contraction of airbags 41 and 42. The waist of the person to be treated H lying on the mat section 10 is treated by the expansion and contraction of airbags 43 and 44. The legs of the person to be treated H lying on the mat section 10 are treated by the expansion and contraction of airbags 45 and 46.

[0023] At this time, the air flow path is formed by the grooves 20 provided in the lower layer 15 of the support plates 11, 12, and 13 and the through holes 30 provided in the upper layer 16, so that the air flow path can be prevented from being crushed and blocked by the person to be treated H. In addition, since the grooves 20 can be disposed at the position of the mat part 10 where the person to be treated H sits, the airbag 40 and the mat part 10 can be made smaller.

[0024] According to this embodiment, a groove 20 is provided in the lower layer 15 of the support plates 11, 12, and 13, an airbag 40 (treatment element) is connected to a through hole 30 provided in the upper layer 16, and air is supplied from the air supply device 2 to the airbag 40 through the groove 20 and the through hole 30. This prevents the air flow path from being blocked by the person to be treated H lying on the mat part 10, preventing poor air supply to the airbag 40 and improving the treatment effect. Also, the airbag 40 and the mat part 10 can be made smaller, thereby making the air massage machine 1 more compact.

[0025] In addition, since the multiple support plates 11, 12, 13 are arranged in a foldable manner by the connecting parts 18a and each has a connection part 19, the mat part 10 can be folded and stored. At this time, the hose disposed inside the mat part 10 is not damaged by being repeatedly bent as in the conventional example. Therefore, problems with air supply and exhaust caused by damage to the hose inside the mat part 10 can be prevented.

[0026] In addition, since the upper layer 16 and the lower layer 15 of the support plates 11, 12, and 13 are made of hard resin, the groove 20 can be more reliably prevented from being blocked by the person to be treated H. In addition, since the force exerted by the airbag 40 when it is inflated is not absorbed by the support plates 11, 12, and 13, the therapeutic effect can be further improved.

[0027] <Second embodiment> Next, Fig. 4 shows a top view of an air massage machine of a second embodiment. Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of Fig. 4. For ease of explanation, the same parts as those of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are given the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the connection part 19 is omitted from the support plates 11 and 13, and is provided only on the support plate 12. Also, the groove parts 21, 22, and 25 are provided separately. The other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0028] A hose bundle 5 extending from the air supply device 2 is connected to a connection portion 19 provided on the support plate 12. Each groove portion 20 is connected to the connection portion 19.

[0029] The groove 21 communicating with the airbag 41 is divided into a groove 21b formed in the support plate 11 and a groove 21a formed in the support plate 12. The groove 22 communicating with the airbag 42 is divided into a groove 22b formed in the support plate 11 and a groove 22a formed in the support plate 12. The groove 25 communicating with the airbags 45, 46 is divided into a groove 25a formed in the support plate 12 and a groove 25b formed in the support plate 13. The grooves 23, 24 communicating with the airbags 43, 44 are each formed in the support plate 12.

[0030] The grooves 21b, 21a of the adjacent support plates 11, 12 are connected by a flexible pipe 17. A cavity 18b in which no cushioning material 18 is provided is provided in the connecting portion 18a between the support plates 11, 12. The length of the pipe 17 is longer than the distance between the grooves 21b, 21a provided in the adjacent support plates 11, 12. Therefore, the pipe 17 is disposed in a bent state within the cavity 18b.

[0031] Similarly, the grooves 22b, 22a of the adjacent support plates 11, 12 are connected by a flexible pipe 17. The length of the pipe 17 is longer than the distance between the grooves 22b, 22a provided in the adjacent support plates 11, 12. Therefore, the pipe 17 is disposed in a bent state within the cavity 18b between the support plates 11, 12.

[0032] Similarly, the grooves 25a, 25b of adjacent support plates 12, 13 are connected by a flexible pipe 17. A cavity 18b in which no cushioning material 18 is provided is provided in a connecting portion 18a between the support plates 12, 13. The length of the pipe 17 is longer than the distance between the grooves 25a, 25b provided in the adjacent support plates 12, 13. Therefore, the pipe 17 is disposed in a bent state in the cavity 18b between the support plates 12, 13. Note that a plurality of pipes 17 may be disposed in one cavity 18b, and a cavity 18b may be provided for each pipe 17.

[0033] This prevents the piping 17 from being bent at a steep angle when the mat portion 10 is folded over the connecting portion 18a, and prevents the piping 17 from being damaged even if the mat portion 10 is folded repeatedly.

[0034] According to this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the flow path of the air is not blocked by the massagee H lying on the mat part 10, and poor air supply to the airbag 40 is prevented, improving the effect of the treatment. In addition, the airbag 40 and the mat part 10 can be made smaller, and the air massage machine 1 can be made smaller.

[0035] In addition, the multiple support plates 11, 12, 13 are arranged in a foldable manner by the connecting parts 18a, and the piping 17 connecting the groove parts 21b, 21a of the adjacent support plates 11, 12 is arranged in a bent state by providing a cavity 18b between the adjacent support plates 11, 12. This makes it possible to prevent damage to the piping 17 when the mat part 10 is repeatedly folded, and to prevent problems with air supply and exhaust caused by damage to the piping 17.

[0036] <Third embodiment> Next, Fig. 6 shows a top view of an air massage machine of a third embodiment. Fig. 7 shows a DD cross-sectional view of Fig. 6. For convenience of explanation, the same parts as those of the first and second embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 5 are given the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, the air supply device 2 is disposed inside the mat part 10, and the connection part 19 is omitted from the support plates 11 and 12 and is provided only on the support plate 13. In addition, the groove parts 21, 22, 23, and 24 are provided separately. The other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0037] At one longitudinal end of the mat portion 10, no cushioning material 18 (see FIG. 2) is provided, and a cavity is formed in which the air supply device 2 is disposed. A hose bundle 5 extending from the air supply device 2 is connected to a connection portion 19 provided on the support plate 13. Each groove portion 20 is connected to the connection portion 19.

[0038] The groove 21 communicating with the airbag 41 is divided into a groove 21a formed in the support plate 13, a groove 21b formed in the support plate 12, and a groove 21c formed in the support plate 11. The groove 22 communicating with the airbag 42 is divided into a groove 22a formed in the support plate 13, a groove 22b formed in the support plate 12, and a groove 22c formed in the support plate 11.

[0039] The groove 23 communicating with the airbag 43 is divided into a groove 23a formed in the support plate 13 and a groove 23b formed in the support plate 12. The groove 24 communicating with the airbag 44 is divided into a groove 24a formed in the support plate 13 and a groove 24b formed in the support plate 12. The groove 25 communicating with the airbags 45, 46 is formed in the support plate 13.

[0040] The grooves 21b, 21a of the adjacent support plates 12, 13 are connected by a flexible pipe 17. A cavity 18b (see FIG. 7) in which no cushion material 18 is provided is provided in the connecting portion 18a between the support plates 12, 13. The length of the pipe 17 is longer than the distance between the grooves 21b, 21a provided in the adjacent support plates 12, 13. Therefore, the pipe 17 is disposed in a bent state within the cavity 18b.

[0041] Similarly, the pipe 17 connecting grooves 21b and 21c is arranged in a bent state in cavity 18b between support plates 11 and 12. The pipe 17 connecting grooves 22a and 22b is arranged in a bent state in cavity 18b between support plates 12 and 13. The pipe 17 connecting grooves 22b and 22c is arranged in a bent state in cavity 18b between support plates 11 and 12. The pipe 17 connecting grooves 23a and 23b is arranged in a bent state in cavity 18b between support plates 12 and 13. The pipe 17 connecting grooves 24a and 24b is arranged in a bent state in cavity 18b between support plates 12 and 13.

[0042] It should be noted that a plurality of pipes 17 may be disposed in one cavity 18b, and each pipe 17 may be provided with its own cavity 18b.

[0043] According to this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the flow path of the air is not blocked by the massagee H lying on the mat part 10, and poor air supply to the airbag 40 is prevented, improving the effect of the treatment. In addition, the airbag 40 and the mat part 10 can be made smaller, and the air massage machine 1 can be made smaller.

[0044] Moreover, since the air supply device 2 is disposed inside the mat portion 10, the person to be treated H does not need to connect a hose, and the convenience of the air massage machine 1 can be improved.

[0045] In the first to third embodiments, when the mat portion 10 does not need to be folded, the mat portion 10 may be formed from a single support plate.

[0046] In addition, although the treatment element is constituted by the airbag 40 driven by air, it may be another type of treatment element driven by air. For example, the treatment element may be a finger pressure ball that reciprocates by air intake and exhaust. [Industrial Applicability]

[0047] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in an air massage machine having air-operated massage elements such as airbags arranged on a mat portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1. Air massage machine 2. Air supply system 5 Hose bundle 6 Hose 10 Mat section 11, 12, 13 Support plate 15 Lower part 16 Upper Management 17 Piping 18 Cushioning material 18a Connection part 18b hollow 19 Connection 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 Groove 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 Through holes 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 Airbag (treatment device) H. Recipient

Claims

1. An air massage machine including a mat part having air-driven massagers arranged on a support plate covered with a cushioning material, and an air supply device for supplying air to the massagers, the support plate has an upper layer portion, a lower layer portion, an air hole formed in the upper layer portion or the lower layer portion, and a through hole communicating with the air hole, Air is supplied from the air supply device to the treatment head through the air hole and the through hole. The air massage machine is characterized by the above.

2. A plurality of the support plates are arranged in a foldable manner, 2. The air massage machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the support plates has a connection portion communicating with the air hole and to which the air supply device is connected.

3. A plurality of the support plates are arranged in a foldable manner, The air supply device is connected to the air hole of one of the support plates, The air holes of the adjacent support plates are connected by flexible piping, 2. The air massage machine according to claim 1, wherein a cavity is provided between adjacent support plates in which the piping is disposed in a bent state.

4. An air massage machine as described in claim 1 or claim 3, characterized in that the air supply device is arranged within the mat portion.

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