Massage machine
By integrating air supply and exhaust pipes with the body support parts of massage machines, the issue of excessive and visible piping is resolved, resulting in a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing design.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023223456
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing massage machines require excessive piping for air supply and exhaust due to separate expansion/contraction parts, leading to inefficiencies and visible piping that compromises appearance.
Integrally forming air supply and exhaust pipes with the body support parts of the massage machine, allowing for reduced piping and improved appearance by embedding or burying pipes within the structure.
Reduces the visible piping, enhances the aesthetic appeal, and allows for more efficient layout of pipes without entanglement or twisting, while maintaining functionality.
Smart Images

Figure 2025105132000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a massage machine.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, regarding a first expansion / contraction part and a second expansion / contraction part provided in an arm treatment part, a massage machine has been proposed in which the size of the first expansion / contraction part is changed (increased) and the second expansion / contraction part is eliminated by covering up to the amount of the second expansion / contraction part with the first expansion / contraction part, thereby reducing the piping (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In the massage machine described in Patent Document 1 above, it is realized that the piping is reduced by eliminating the second expansion / contraction part itself from the massage machine, but it does not realize reducing the piping for supplying compressed air in a state where the first expansion / contraction part and the second expansion / contraction part are provided, and there is still a problem that piping is required. Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a massage machine capable of reducing piping by integrally forming the piping in a body support part.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] The present invention has a body support part, a massage part provided on the body support part, and an air supply and exhaust device for sucking air into the massage part. The massage part is composed of an air cell that expands and contracts by air supply and exhaust. The air cell is connected to the air supply and exhaust device via a pipe, and the pipe is integrally formed with the body support part. With such a configuration, the pipes used in the massage machine can be reduced.
[0006] Further, it is preferable that the pipe is composed of a flexible member. With such a configuration, the pipe can be laid out even in curved or bent portions.
[0007] Further, it is preferable that the pipe is formed on the back surface or inside of the body support part. With such a configuration, the pipes can be reduced without impairing the appearance.
[0008] Further, it is preferable that the pipe is composed of a first pipe connected to the air supply and exhaust device, a second pipe connected to the air cell, and a connecting part connecting the first pipe and the second pipe. With such a configuration, the pipes can be laid out to correspond to various shapes.
[0009] Further, it is preferable that a leakage prevention part for preventing air leakage is provided in the first pipe and / or the second pipe. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent air from leaking from the first pipe and / or the second pipe.
[0010] Further, it is preferable that the body support part is a seat part or a backrest part. With such a configuration, the pipes provided in the seat part or the backrest part can be reduced.
[0011] Further, it is preferable that the body support part is an armrest part or a footrest part. With such a configuration, the piping provided in the armrest part or the footrest part can be reduced.
[0012] Further, the present invention is an air cell that expands and contracts by supplying and exhausting air, and the air cell is configured to be connectable to a pipe through which air is supplied, and the pipe is integrally formed with the body support part. It is an air cell for a massage machine characterized by this. With such a configuration, the piping used for the air cell for a massage machine can be reduced.
[0013] Further, the present invention is a massage mechanism having an air cell that expands and contracts by supplying and exhausting air, and the air cell is configured to be connectable to a pipe through which air is supplied, and the pipe is integrally formed with the body support part. It is a massage mechanism characterized by this. With such a configuration, the piping used for the massage mechanism can be reduced.
[0014] Further, it is preferable that the pipe is provided with a leakage prevention part for preventing air leakage, and it is an air cell for a massage machine or a massage mechanism. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent air from leaking from the pipe.
Effects of the Invention
[0015] According to the present invention, the piping used for the massage machine can be reduced.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0016]
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[0017] [Overall Configuration of Massage Machine] Hereinafter, the overall configuration of the massage machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a massage machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the massage machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a seat part 3 on which a user sits, a backrest part 4 provided at the rear of the seat part 3 for the user to lean on, a footrest part 5 provided at the front of the seat part 3, an armrest part 2 attached to the side part of the seat part 3, and armrest part units 6L and 6R attached to the upper surface of the armrest part 2. The seat part 3, the backrest part 4, the footrest part 5, and the armrest part 2 (including the armrest part units 6L and 6R) function as a body support part S.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the massage machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the massage machine 1 includes a massage part M (a massage mechanism 99, a hip massage part 3a, a back massage part 4a, a foot massage part 5a, and an arm massage part 6a) that performs massage on the user, a control part 7 that controls the functions of the massage machine 1, a controller 8 for performing various operations of the massage machine 1, an air supply and exhaust device 9 for supplying and exhausting air to and from the air cell 100, and a drive part (not shown) for raising or lowering the footrest part 5. Each configuration will be described later.
[0019] The hip massage part 3a, the back massage part 4a, the foot massage part 5a, and the arm massage part 6a are air cells for a massage machine (air cell 100). The air cell for a massage machine (air cell 100) is an air cell that expands and contracts by supplying and exhausting air. The air cell for a massage machine (air cell 100) is configured to be connectable to a pipe 60 through which air is supplied. The pipe 60 is integrally formed with the body support part S. By integrally forming the pipe 60 with the body support part S, the number of pipes 60 used for the air cell for a massage machine (air cell 100) can be reduced. Details will be described later.
[0020] Also, although not shown, an extrusion air cell may be provided in the massage mechanism 99. The extrusion air cell is an air cell 100 that expands and contracts by supplying and exhausting air. The extrusion air cell (air cell 100) is configured to be connectable to a pipe through which air is supplied. The pipe is integrally formed with the body support part S. By integrally forming the pipe with the body support part S, the number of pipes used for the extrusion air cell (air cell 100) provided in the massage mechanism 99 can be reduced.
[0021] [Configuration of the backrest part] FIG. 3 is a view showing the body support part S (backrest part 4) according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a view of a cross section cut in the vertical direction as seen from the left, (b) is a view of a cross section cut in the vertical direction as seen from the left, and (c) is a view of a cross section of the backrest part 4 in the state of (b) cut in the left - right direction as seen from the plane. More specifically, (a) is a cross - sectional view showing a state in which the pipe 60 is integrally formed inside the body support part S (backrest part 4), and (b) and (c) are cross - sectional views showing a state in which the pipe 60 is integrally formed on the back surface of the body support part S (backrest part 4).
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the backrest portion 4 is composed of a vertically long rectangular member. The backrest portion 4 functions as a body support portion S that supports the upper body of the user. Inside the backrest portion 4, a guide rail 16 is provided (see FIG. 1), and a massage mechanism 99 (massage portion M) is provided via the guide rail 16. By moving the massage mechanism 99 up and down along the guide rail 16, the upper body of the user can be massaged. Further, the front surface of the backrest portion 4 is covered by a cover member (not shown). That is, the massage mechanism 99 can massage the upper body (the back of the torso such as the shoulders and waist) of the user seated on the seat portion 3 via the cover member (not shown).
[0023] The backrest portion 4 is preferably composed of a hard member such as synthetic resin having a predetermined strength. By being composed of a hard member, the load of the user can be received by the backrest portion 4. Further, by making holes that serve as air passages in a hard member such as synthetic resin, the holes themselves can be used as the pipes 60, and the pipes 60 can be integrally formed in the backrest portion 4 (body support portion S). By doing so, the pipes 60 used for the backrest portion 4 of the massage machine 1 can be reduced (for example, the length of the air hose for supplying air to the air cell 100 can be shortened). Note that a member having cushioning properties such as urethane may be attached to the front surface of the backrest portion 4 (the surface that comes into contact with the back of the upper body of the user) in order to improve the comfort when the user leans against the backrest portion 4.
[0024] On both the left and right sides of the backrest portion 4, back massage portions 4a (massage portions M) for massaging the upper body of the user leaning against the backrest portion 4 are provided. More specifically, a pair of left and right ones are provided near the center in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides of the backrest portion 4 (see FIG. 1). The back massage portion 4a is composed of an air cell 100 that expands and contracts by supply and exhaust of air.
[0025] As shown in Fig. 3, a recess 4c for attaching the back massage part 4a is formed on the front surface of the backrest part 4. The outer periphery of the recess 4c is slightly larger than the outer periphery of the back massage part 4a. The depth of the recess 4c is such that when the back massage part 4a is attached, the front surface of the backrest part 4 and the front surface of the back massage part 4a are substantially flush. By doing so, when the back massage part 4a is attached to the recess 4c, the front surface of the backrest part 4 and the front surface of the back massage part 4a can be made substantially flush, and when the user leans on the backrest part 4, the discomfort caused by the back massage part 4a coming into contact with the user can be reduced.
[0026] Note that it is preferable that the back massage part 4a is configured to be able to expand and contract independently on the left and right. Also, the configuration of the massage part M arranged on the backrest part 4 is an example and is not limited to this. For example, it may be arranged near the user's waist or near the user's shoulder. Also, a plurality of them may be arranged by appropriately combining them, and the number of back massage parts 4a arranged is not limited. As long as the upper body of the user can be massaged.
[0027] A connecting part 61 for connecting the back massage part 4a and the pipe 60 is provided at the center of the recess 4c. More specifically, a connecting part 61b (61) is provided at the tip of the pipe 60 (hole provided in the backrest part 4) provided in the backrest part 4. By directly attaching the connecting part 61b (61) to the tip of the pipe 60 (hole provided in the backrest part 4) (the side facing the air cell 100), the back massage part 4a can be easily attached to and detached from the backrest part 4. The connecting part 61b (61) will be described later. Note that in this embodiment, the case where the back massage part 4a is attached to the recess 4c provided in the backrest part 4 is described, but it is an example and is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the recess 4c is not provided and the back massage part 4a is directly attached to the backrest part 4.
[0028] A state in which the pipe 60 is integrally formed inside the backrest portion 4 (body support portion S) will be described. Note that any method may be used to integrally form the pipe 60 in the backrest portion 4 (body support portion S) as long as it can be formed. As an example, a case of forming by drilling a hole in the backrest portion 4 will be described.
[0029] As shown in Fig. 3(a), the back massage portion 4a (massage portion M) provided in the backrest portion 4 is connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 via the pipe 60. More specifically, the pipe 60 includes a first pipe 60a connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 and a pipe (a hole provided in the backrest portion 4) integrally formed inside the backrest portion 4, and a second pipe 60b connected to the air cell 100. The second pipe 60b and the first pipe 60a are connected via a connecting portion 61 (see Fig. 11). The first pipe 60a and the second pipe 60b will be described later.
[0030] The back massage portion 4a and the second pipe 60b are connected via a connecting portion 61b (61). That is, the air supply and exhaust device 9 and the first pipe 60a are connected, the first pipe 60a and the second pipe 60b are connected via the connecting portion 61, and the second pipe 60b and the back massage portion 4a are connected via the connecting portion 61. The air discharged from the air supply and exhaust device 9 is supplied to the back massage portion 4a through the respective pipes 60a, 60b.
[0031] The connecting portion 61 includes a male connecting portion (connecting portion 61a) and a female connecting portion (connecting portion 61b), and they are connected by connecting the respective connecting portions 61a, 61b to each other. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 61a is attached to the back massage portion 4a side, and the connecting portion 61b is attached to the pipe 60 (more specifically, the second pipe 60b) side. The connecting portions 61a, 61b will be described later.
[0032] The hole (pipe 60) provided in the backrest portion 4 is formed in an L shape. Specifically, a short linear hole is drilled from the front side to the rear side of the backrest portion 4, and a long linear hole is drilled from the lower side to the upper side of the backrest portion 4. The holes communicate with each other at the intersection of the holes, thereby forming an air passage (pipe 60). That is, the hole itself can be used as the pipe 60, and the pipe 60 (for example, an air hose for supplying air to the air cell 100) used in the massage machine 1 can be reduced.
[0033] Note that in order to prevent the air discharged from the air supply and exhaust device 9 from leaking outside the hole, a coating for preventing air leakage may be applied to the inner periphery of the hole. By applying the coating, the unevenness on the inner periphery of the hole is eliminated, so that the air can pass more smoothly. As shown in FIG. 3(a), when the pipe 60 is provided (integrally formed) inside the body support portion S (backrest portion 4), the pipe 60 is not exposed to the outside, so the appearance is not impaired. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3(b) and 3(c), compared with the case where the pipe 60 is integrally formed on the back surface of the body support portion S, the thickness in the front-rear direction can be made more compact. In addition, since the pipe 60 can be arranged at the position intended by the manufacturer, even when the number of pipes 60 increases, there is no worry that the pipes 60 will become entangled or twisted with each other.
[0034] A state where the pipe 60 is integrally formed on the back surface of the body support portion S (backrest portion 4) will be described. As an example, a method of burying a part of the cylindrical pipe 60 in the backrest portion 4 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3(b) and 3(c), the back massage portion 4a (massage portion M) provided in the backrest portion 4 is connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 via the pipe 60. More specifically, the pipe 60 is a first pipe 60a connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 and a pipe (a pipe buried in the backrest portion 4) integrally formed on the back surface of the backrest portion 4, and is a second pipe 60b connected to the air cell 100. Since the connection relationship between the back massage portion 4a and the pipe 60 (second pipe 60b) is the same as that in FIG. 3(a), the description thereof will be omitted.
[0035] A linear hole is drilled from the front side to the back side of the backrest portion 4, and a hollow cylindrical member formed in an L-shape is buried in the drilled hole, and the backrest portion 4 and the cylindrical member are welded to each other, so that the cylindrical member can be used as the pipe 60. More specifically, a semi-circular groove is dug on the back surface of the backrest portion 4 from the lower surface side toward the upper surface side, one end (the short side) of the cylindrical member is fitted into the hole drilled through the backrest portion 4, and the cylindrical member (the long side) is brought into close contact with the semi-circular groove, whereby the pipe 60 can be integrally formed on the back surface of the backrest portion 4 (the body support portion S).
[0036] The semi-circular groove is provided from the lower surface side of the backrest portion 4 toward the upper surface side up to the vicinity of the position where the back massage portion 4a is attached. The inner circumference of the groove has substantially the same shape as the outer circumference of the cylindrical member. That is, the inner circumference of the groove and the outer circumference (the long side) of the cylindrical member can be attached in close contact. Since a semi-circular groove is dug on the back surface of the backrest portion 4, a part of the cylindrical member is buried in the back surface of the backrest portion 4, and the remaining part is exposed from the backrest portion 4. The exposed portion is a raised portion 4d raised from the backrest portion 4 (see FIGS. 3(b) and 3(c)). Note that, similar to the case of FIG. 3(a), the inner circumference of the hole may be coated to prevent air leakage so that the air discharged from the air supply and exhaust device 9 does not leak outside the hole.
[0037] Note that the L-shaped cylindrical member is preferably made of the same material as the backrest portion 4. By configuring it with the same material as the backrest portion 4 (for example, both members are made of a synthetic resin made of the same material), it can be easily welded (formed integrally). By adopting the method of FIGS. 3(b) and 3(c), the man-hours for integral formation can be reduced compared to the case of FIG. 3(a). Note that these examples are just examples, and any configuration and any method may be used as long as the pipe 60 can be integrally formed on the backrest portion 4 (the body support portion S).
[0038] On the side part of the backrest part 4, below the center, there are provided swing shafts (not shown) extending in the left - right direction in a left - right symmetric manner, and the backrest part 4 can recline in the front - rear direction with the swing shafts (not shown) as fulcrums. Although not shown, the reclining of the backrest part 4 is performed by driving a drive part. The driving of the drive part is controlled by a control part 7. The control part 7 will be described later.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a view showing the body support part S (seat part 3) according to an embodiment of the present invention. (a) is a view of a cross - section cut in the vertical direction as seen from the left, (b) is a view of a cross - section cut in the left - right direction as seen from the plane, (c) is a view of a cross - section cut in the vertical direction as seen from the left, and (d) is a view of a cross - section cut in the vertical direction as seen from the rear. The hatched part corresponds to the main body of the seat part 3 and is for making the relationship with the pipe 60 easier to understand. More specifically, (a) and (b) are cross - sectional views showing the state where the pipe 60 is provided inside the body support part S (seat part 3), and (c) and (d) are cross - sectional views showing the state where the pipe 60 is provided on the back surface (lower surface side in the vertical direction) of the body support part S (seat part 3).
[0040] [Configuration of the seat part] As shown in FIG. 1, the seat part 3 is composed of a horizontally long rectangular member in the left - right direction. The seat part 3 is preferably composed of a member having elasticity such as urethane. By composing it of a member having elasticity, the sitting comfort when the user sits on the seat part 3 can be improved. On the upper surface of the seat part 3 (more specifically, the concave part 3c provided in the seat part 3), a pair of left - right hip massage parts 3a (massage part M) for massaging the hips of the user sitting on the seat part 3 are provided. The hip massage part 3a is composed of an air cell 100 that expands and contracts by supplying and exhausting air.
[0041] The hip massage part 3a may be configured to be able to expand and contract independently on the left and right sides. When expanding and contracting independently on the left and right sides, it can be realized by forming pipes separately on the left and right sides. Also, the configuration of the massage part M arranged on the seat part 3 is just an example and is not limited to this. For example, a thigh massage part (not shown) for massaging the thigh part may be provided, or a total of four may be provided so as to be paired in the front, rear, left, and right directions. Also, a plurality of them may be arranged by appropriately combining them, and the number of hip massage parts 3a arranged is not limited. It is sufficient if the periphery of the user's hip can be massaged.
[0042] The state where the pipe 60 is integrally formed inside the seat part 3 (body support part S) will be described. Note that as long as the pipe 60 can be integrally formed on the seat part 3 (body support part S), it may be formed by any method. As an example, the case of forming by making a hole in the seat part 3 will be described.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, a recess 3c for attaching the hip massage part 3a is formed on the upper surface of the seat part 3. The outer periphery of the recess 3c is slightly larger than the outer periphery of the hip massage part 3a. The depth of the recess 3c is such that when the hip massage part 3a is attached, the upper surface of the seat part 3 and the upper surface of the hip massage part 3a are substantially flush. By doing so, when the hip massage part 3a is attached to the recess 3c, the upper surface of the seat part 3 and the upper surface of the hip massage part 3a can be made substantially flush, and when the user sits on the seat part 3, the discomfort caused by the hip massage part 3a coming into contact with the user can be reduced.
[0044] At the center of the recess 3c, a connecting portion 61 for connecting the hip massage portion 3a and the pipe 60 is provided. More specifically, a connecting portion 61b (61) is provided at the tip of the pipe 60 (the hole provided in the seat portion 3) provided in the seat portion 3. By directly attaching the connecting portion 61b (61) to the tip (the side facing the air cell 100) of the pipe 60 (the hole provided in the seat portion 3), the hip massage portion 3a can be easily attached to and detached from the seat portion 3. The connecting portion 61b (61) will be described later. In addition, in this embodiment, the case where the hip massage portion 3a is attached to the recess 3c provided in the seat portion 3 is described, but this is only an example and not limited to this. For example, the hip massage portion 3a may be directly attached to the seat portion 3 without providing the recess 3c.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the hip massage portion 3a (massage portion M) provided near the center of the seat portion 3 is connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 via the pipe 60. More specifically, the pipe 60 includes a first pipe 60a connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 and a pipe (a hole provided in the seat portion 3) integrally formed inside the seat portion 3, and a second pipe 60b connected to the air cell 100. The second pipe 60b and the first pipe 60a are connected via a connecting portion 61 (see FIG. 11). The first pipe 60a and the second pipe 60b will be described later.
[0046] The hip massage portion 3a and the second pipe 60b are connected via a connecting portion 61b (61). That is, the air supply and exhaust device 9 and the first pipe 60a are connected, the first pipe 60a and the second pipe 60b are connected via the connecting portion 61, and the second pipe 60b and the hip massage portion 3a are connected via the connecting portion 61. The air discharged from the air supply and exhaust device 9 is supplied to the hip massage portion 3a through the respective pipes 60a and 60b.
[0047] The connecting part 61 has a male connecting part (connecting part 61a) and a female connecting part (connecting part 61b), and they are connected by connecting the respective connecting parts 61a and 61b to each other. In this embodiment, the connecting part 61a is attached to the hip massage part 3a side, and the connecting part 61b is attached to the piping 60 (more specifically, the second piping 60b) side. The connecting parts 61a and 61b will be described later.
[0048] The hole (piping 60) provided in the seat part 3 is formed in a substantially Y shape (see Fig. 4(b)). Specifically, a short linear hole is opened from the center on the rear surface side of the seat part 3 toward the front surface side and branches to the left and right in the middle. More specifically, it branches 90 degrees to the left and 90 degrees to the right. The hole that branches to the left further bends 90 degrees to the right in the middle and extends toward the front surface side. The hole that branches to the right further bends 90 degrees to the left in the middle and extends toward the front side. The holes formed by bending left and right serve as the air passage (piping 60). That is, the hole itself can be used as the piping 60, and the piping 60 used in the massage machine 1 (for example, the air hose for supplying air to the air cell 100) can be reduced.
[0049] Similar to the case of the backrest part 4, in order to prevent the air discharged from the air supply and exhaust device 9 from leaking outside the hole, the inner circumference of the hole may be coated to prevent air leakage. By coating, the unevenness on the inner circumference of the hole disappears, so that the air can pass more smoothly. The holes provided in the armrest part 2 (including the armrest units 6L and 6R) and the footrest part 5 described later may be coated in the same way.
[0050] As shown in Figs. 4(a) and (b), when the piping 60 is provided (formed integrally) inside the body support part S (seat part 3), the piping 60 is not exposed to the outside, so the appearance is not damaged. Also, as shown in Figs. 4(c) and (d), compared with the case where the piping 60 is integrally formed on the back surface of the body support part S, the thickness in the vertical direction can be made more compact. Also, since the piping 60 can be arranged at the position intended by the manufacturer, even when the number of pipings 60 increases, there is no worry about the pipings 60 getting entangled or twisted with each other.
[0051] The state where the pipe 60 is integrally formed on the back surface of the body support part S (seat part 3) will be described. As an example, a method of burying a part of the cylindrical pipe 60 in the seat part 3 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4(c) and 4(d), the hip massage part 3a (massage part M) provided on the seat part 3 is connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 via the pipe 60. More specifically, the pipe 60 includes a first pipe 60a connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 and a pipe integrally formed on the back surface of the seat part 3 (the pipe buried in the seat part 3), which is a second pipe 60b connected to the air cell 100. Since the connection relationship between the hip massage part 3a and the pipe 60 (second pipe 60b) is the same as that in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the description thereof will be omitted.
[0052] In the case of FIGS. 4(c) and 4(d), a linear hole is drilled from the back surface side (bottom surface side) to the upper surface side (seating surface side) of the seat part 3, and a hollow cylindrical member formed in an L shape is buried in the drilled hole. By welding the seat part 3 and the cylindrical member to each other, the cylindrical member can be used as the pipe 60. More specifically, a semi-circular groove is dug from the back surface of the seat part 3 toward the front up to the vicinity of the position where the hip massage part 3a is attached. One end (short side) of the cylindrical member is fitted into the hole drilled through the seat part 3, and the cylindrical member (long side) is brought into close contact with the semi-circular groove, whereby the pipe 60 can be integrally formed on the back surface of the seat part 3 (body support part S).
[0053] The semi-circular groove is provided from the rear of the seat part 3 toward the front up to the vicinity of the position where the hip massage part 3a is attached. The inner circumference of the groove has substantially the same shape as the outer circumference of the cylindrical pipe 60. That is, the inner circumference of the groove and the outer circumference (long side) of the cylindrical member can be attached in close contact. Since a semi-circular groove is dug on the back surface (bottom surface) of the seat part 3, a part of the cylindrical member is buried in the back surface of the seat part 3, and the remaining part is exposed from the seat part 3. The exposed part forms a raised part 3d raised from the seat part 3 (see FIGS. 4(c) and 4(d)). Note that, similar to the cases of FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the inner periphery of the hole may be coated to prevent air leakage so that the air discharged from the air supply and exhaust device 9 does not leak outside the hole. By coating, the unevenness on the inner periphery of the hole is eliminated, and the air can pass more smoothly.
[0054] In this embodiment, the seat portion 3 is preferably made of a flexible member such as urethane. By forming the seat portion 3 of urethane, the sitting comfort when the user sits can be improved. Note that when the seat portion 3 is made of urethane, in its original state (the state with only holes made), there is a possibility that the air discharged from the air supply and exhaust device 9 leaks outside through the fine holes in the urethane. Therefore, it is preferable that the periphery of the hole is coated to prevent the air from leaking outside. The material used for the coating is preferably a member having flexibility such as rubber or elastomer, similar to urethane. By coating the inner periphery of the hole, the hole itself can be used as the pipe 60.
[0055] Regarding the seat portion 3 and the pipe 60 integrally formed with the seat portion 3, by forming them of a flexible member, the pipe 60 can be stretched around curved portions and bent portions, and the pipe 60 can be arranged at the position intended by the manufacturer. That is, even when the number of pipes 60 increases, there is no worry about the pipes 60 getting entangled or twisted with each other. In addition, the discomfort felt by the user when sitting on the seat portion 3 can be reduced.
[0056] Note that the substantially Y-shaped cylindrical member is preferably made of the same material as the seat portion 3. By forming it of the same member as the seat portion 3 (for example, both members are made of a synthetic resin made of the same material), it can be easily welded (formed integrally). By adopting the method of FIGS. 4(c) and 4(d), compared with the cases of FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the man-hours for integral formation can be reduced. Note that these are just examples, and any configuration and method may be used as long as the pipe 60 can be integrally formed with the seat portion 3 (body support portion S).
[0057] [Configuration of the armrest portion] FIG. 5 is a view showing a body support portion S (right armrest 2 including an armrest unit 6R) according to an embodiment of the present invention. (a) is a view of a cross-section cut in the vertical direction as seen from the front, and (b) is a view of a cross-section cut in the vertical direction as seen from the front. Note that the hatched portion corresponds to the right armrest 2 including the armrest unit 6R, and is for clearly showing the relationship with the pipe 60. FIG. 6 is a view showing a body support portion S (right armrest 2 including an armrest unit 6) according to another embodiment of the present invention. (a) is a view of a cross-section cut in the vertical direction as seen from the front, and (b) is a view of a cross-section cut in the vertical direction as seen from the front.
[0058] More specifically, FIG. 5(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the pipe 60 is provided inside the right armrest 2 (body support portion S) including the armrest unit 6R, and FIG. 5(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the pipe 60 is provided on the side surface (outer surface in the left-right direction) of the right armrest 2 (body support portion S) including the armrest unit 6R. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, an example in which the connecting portion 61 and the leakage prevention portion 70 are separately configured will be described. Note that the connecting portion 61 provided in each body support portion S may be of the type shown in FIG. 8 (separate type), or may be of the type in which the connecting portion 61 and the leakage prevention portion 70 are integrated as shown in FIG. 9. The configurations of the connecting portion 61 and the leakage prevention portion 70 will be described later.
[0059] Note that a pair of left and right armrest units 6 are provided for the massage machine 1. More specifically, they are provided on the upper surface of the armrest 2 of the massage machine 1 so that their openings face each other in a front view (see FIG. 1). The left and right armrest units 6L and 6R have the same symmetrical configuration. Therefore, hereinafter, the right armrest unit 6R will be described as an example, and the description of the configuration of the left armrest unit 6L will be omitted.
[0060] [Configuration around the elbow rest part (Pattern 1)] Pattern 1 shows a state where the elbow rest unit 6R is attached to the upper surface of the I-shaped elbow rest part 2 (see Fig. 5). That is, it is a combination of the U-shaped elbow rest unit 6R and the I-shaped elbow rest part 2. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, a pipe 60 (more specifically, the second pipe 60b) is integrally formed inside the elbow rest part 2. One end of the second pipe 60b is connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 via the connecting part 61 (see Fig. 11), and a connecting part 61b (female connecting part) is attached to the tip of the other end (the side connected to the elbow rest unit 6R). The second pipe 60b is a hole provided in the elbow rest part 2. More specifically, the second pipe 60b is a hole drilled from the lower surface side to the upper surface side of the elbow rest part 2. The connecting part 61b (female connecting part) is connected (joined) to the connecting part 61a (male connecting part) protruding from the lower wall side of the elbow rest unit 6R (body support part S).
[0061] As shown in Fig. 5(a), the elbow rest unit 6R is formed in a substantially U-shape consisting of a lower wall, side walls, and an upper wall. Arm massage parts 6a (massage parts M) are attached to the upper wall and the lower wall, respectively. The arm massage parts 6a (massage parts M) are connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 via the pipe 60. More specifically, the pipe 60 is the second pipe 60b connected to the air cell 100, which consists of the first pipe 60a connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9, the pipe integrally formed inside the elbow rest unit 6R, and the pipe integrally formed inside the elbow rest part 2. The second pipe 60b and the first pipe 60a are connected via the connecting part 61 (see Fig. 11).
[0062] At the tip of the pipe 60 (the hole drilled in the upper wall) provided on the upper wall of the elbow rest unit 6R, a connecting portion 61b (female connecting portion) is attached and is connected (coupled) to the connecting portion 61a (male connecting portion) provided on the arm massage portion 6a. At the tip of the pipe 60 (the hole drilled in the lower wall) provided on the lower wall, a connecting portion 61b (female connecting portion) is attached and is connected (coupled) to the connecting portion 61a (male connecting portion) provided on the arm massage portion 6a.
[0063] In each wall (upper wall, side wall, lower wall) constituting the elbow rest unit 6R, holes are drilled along the shape of each wall. That is, the holes also form a U-shaped configuration. Near the center of the upper wall, a hole is drilled from the lower surface side toward the upper surface side, bends 90 degrees in the middle, and extends (extends toward the side wall). Then, when it approaches near the center of the side wall, it bends 90 degrees, and the hole extends from the upper surface side toward the lower surface side. When it approaches the lower surface side of the side wall, it further bends 90 degrees and bends and extends toward the right side in the left-right direction (extends in the direction approaching the user). The holes provided in each wall (upper wall, side wall, lower wall) serve as the pipe 60 (second pipe 60b).
[0064] On the upper wall and the lower wall, an arm massage portion 6a (massage portion M) composed of an air cell 100 is detachably attached. The air discharged from the air supply and exhaust device 9 is supplied to the arm massage portion 6a through the pipe 60 (first pipe 60a, second pipe 0b). That is, the user can massage the arm (forearm) by fitting the arm into the concave portion of the elbow rest unit 6R formed in a substantially U-shaped configuration.
[0065] In addition, in this embodiment, the case where the connecting portion 61b (female connecting portion) is provided at the tip of the pipe 60 (hole formed in the upper wall), and the connecting portion 61a (male connecting portion) is provided at the arm massage portion 6a is described. However, the connecting portion 61a (male connecting portion) may be provided at the tip of the pipe 60 (hole formed in the upper wall), and the connecting portion 61b (female connecting portion) may be provided at the arm massage portion 6a. Any configuration may be used as long as the arm massage portion 6a can be easily attached to and detached from (connected to) the pipe 60.
[0066] The pipe 60 is integrally formed with the elbow rest unit 6R (body support portion S). As an example, a method of digging a groove when molding the elbow rest unit 6R is used. As shown in FIG. 1, the elbow rest unit 6R is configured to be long in the front-rear direction for placing the user's forearm. At this time, the elbow rest unit 6R is configured to be divided into two parts in the front-rear direction. A semi-circular groove is dug along the shape (U-shaped) of the elbow rest unit 6R on the rear surface of the front elbow rest unit 6R, and a semi-circular groove is dug along the shape (U-shaped) of the elbow rest unit 6R on the front surface of the rear elbow rest unit 6R. By welding them to each other, a circular hole is integrally formed inside the elbow rest unit 6R. By doing so, the hole itself can be used as the pipe 60, and the number of pipes 60 used in the massage machine 1 can be reduced (for example, the length of the air hose for supplying air to the air cell 100 can be shortened).
[0067] Note that the periphery of the hole may be coated so that air does not leak to the outside. By coating, the unevenness of the hole is eliminated, and air can pass more smoothly. As shown in FIG. 5(a), by providing the pipe 60 inside the body support portion S (elbow rest unit 6R, right elbow rest 2), the pipe 60 is not exposed to the outside. Therefore, compared with the case where the pipe 60 is provided on the back or side surface of the body support portion S, the thickness in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction can be made more compact. In addition, the appearance is not impaired. Also, since the pipe 60 can be arranged at the position intended by the manufacturer, even when the number of pipes 60 increases, there is no worry that the pipes 60 will become entangled or twisted.
[0068] Alternatively, the pipe 60 may be integrally formed on the side surface of the right elbow rest portion 2 (body support portion S). As an example, a method of burying a part of the cylindrical pipe 60 in the side surface of the right elbow rest portion 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the arm massage portion 6a (massage portion M) provided in the elbow rest unit 6R of the right elbow rest portion 2 is connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 via the pipe 60. More specifically, the pipe 60 includes a first pipe 60a connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9, the inside of the elbow rest unit 6R, and a pipe integrally formed on the side surface (right side in the left-right direction) of the right elbow rest portion 2 (the pipe buried in the right elbow rest portion 2), and is a second pipe 60b connected to the air cell 100. Since the connection relationship between the arm and back massage portion 6a and the pipe 60 (second pipe 60b) is the same as that in FIG. 3(a) and the like, the description thereof will be omitted.
[0069] A semi-circular groove is dug on the side surface of the right elbow rest portion 2, a hollow cylindrical member is buried in the semi-circular groove, and the right elbow rest portion 2 and the cylindrical member are welded to each other, so that the cylindrical member can be used as the pipe 60. More specifically, a semi-circular groove is linearly dug upward from the bottom to the top on the side surface of the right elbow rest portion 2, and the cylindrical member (long side) is brought into close contact with the semi-circular groove, so that the pipe 60 can be integrally formed on the side surface of the right elbow rest portion 2 (body support portion S).
[0070] The semi-circular groove is provided upward from the bottom of the right elbow rest portion 2 to a position near the contact with the lower wall of the elbow rest unit 6R. The inner circumference of the groove is substantially the same shape as the outer circumference of the cylindrical member. That is, the inner circumference of the groove and the outer circumference (long side) of the cylindrical member can be attached in close contact. Since a semi-circular groove is dug on the side surface of the right elbow rest portion 2, a part of the cylindrical member is buried in the back surface of the right elbow rest portion 2, and the remaining part is exposed from the right elbow rest portion 2. The exposed portion is a raised portion 2d raised from the right elbow rest portion 2 (see FIG. 5(b)). In addition, similar to the case of FIG. 3(a), the inner circumference of the hole may be coated to prevent air leakage so that the air discharged from the air supply and exhaust device 9 does not leak outside the hole.
[0071] In the case of Fig. 5(a), a hole (pipe 60) is integrally formed near the center of the armrest part 2. However, in the case of Fig. 5(b), a hole (pipe 60) will be integrally formed on the side surface of the armrest part 2. That is, the position of the connecting part 61a on the side of the armrest unit 6R will also be changed in accordance with the position of the hole (pipe 60) on the side of the armrest part 2. More specifically, the connecting part 61a (male connecting part) protruding from the lower wall of the armrest unit 6R will be provided with a displacement to the right in the left - right direction of the lower wall.
[0072] [Configuration around the armrest part (Pattern 2)] Pattern 2 is a state in which the armrest part 2 is configured in an L - shape when viewed from the front, and the armrest unit 6R is attached to the L - shaped notch part (see Fig. 6). That is, it is a combination of the U - shaped configured armrest unit 6R and the L - shaped configured armrest part 2. As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, a pipe 60 (more specifically, the second pipe 60b) is integrally formed inside the armrest part 2. One end of the second pipe 60b is connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9 via the connecting part 61 (see Fig. 11), and a connecting part 61b (female connecting part) is attached to the tip of the other end (the side connected to the armrest unit 6R). The second pipe 60b is a hole provided in the armrest part 2. More specifically, the second pipe 60b is a hole opened from the lower surface side to the upper surface side of the armrest part 2. The connecting part 61b (female connecting part) is connected (coupled) to the connecting part 61a (male connecting part) protruding from the lower wall side of the armrest unit 6R (body support part S).
[0073] Regarding the configuration of the armrest unit 6R, except for the difference in the position of the connecting part 61a (male connecting part) for connecting (coupling) to the connecting part 61b (female connecting part) of the armrest part 2, it has the same configuration as Pattern 1. Therefore, the description of the parts with the same configuration as the armrest unit 6R in Fig. 5 will be omitted.
[0074] In the case of Pattern 1, the connecting part 61a (male connecting part) protruding from the armrest unit 6R protrudes downward from the lower wall constituting the armrest unit 6R. On the other hand, in the case of Pattern 2, the connecting part 61a (male connecting part) protruding from the armrest unit 6R protrudes outward in the left-right direction (right side) from the side wall constituting the armrest unit 6R.
[0075] More specifically, in the case of Pattern 2, the right armrest 2 is configured to be L-shaped when viewed from the front. The armrest unit 6R is attached to the L-shaped part. The upper surface of the right armrest 2 and the upper surface of the armrest unit 6R are substantially flush. The hole (pipe 60) integrally formed inside the right armrest 2 is offset to the right in the left-right direction, different from the case of Pattern 1. At this time, the hole (pipe 60) extends upward from below the armrest 2 and bends 90 degrees in the direction approaching the user midway. The bending position is a position facing the connecting part 61a (male connecting part) provided on the side wall of the armrest unit 6R. A connecting part 61b (female connecting part) is attached to the tip of the hole (pipe 60). That is, the armrest unit 6R is connected (linked) to the right armrest 2 via the connecting part 61.
[0076] Note that in both Pattern 1 and Pattern 2, similar to the case where the pipe 60 is formed in the seat part 3 and the backrest part 4, the periphery of the hole may be coated so that air does not leak to the outside. Also, as shown in Fig. 6(b), by providing the pipe 60 on the side surface of the body support part S (right armrest 2), it may be configured to integrally form the pipe 60 with the right armrest 2 (body support part S). The method of integral formation is the same as the case of integrally forming on the side surface of the seat part 3 or the side surface of the backrest part 4. That is, a semi-circular groove is dug on the side surface of the right armrest 2, a hollow cylindrical member is buried in the semi-circular groove, and the right armrest 2 and the cylindrical member are welded to each other, and the cylindrical member is used as the pipe 60. Since this method has already been described, the raised parts 3d, 4d are read as the raised part 2d, and the description is omitted.
[0077] [Configuration of the Footrest Portion] FIG. 7 is a view of a cross-section obtained by cutting the body support portion S (footrest portion 5) according to an embodiment of the present invention in the left-right direction as seen from a plane. (a) is a view showing a state configured by separate pipes on the left and right, (b) is a view showing a state configured by separate pipes on the left and right, and (c) is a view showing a state configured by a common pipe on the left and right. The difference between (a), (b), and (c) is the number of connecting portions 61a protruding from the footrest portion 5, and details will be described later.
[0078] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the footrest portion 5 has a recess 5b into which the user's legs can be inserted. The recess 5b is composed of inner walls located on the left and right and a bottom wall connecting the left and right inner walls. The recesses 5 are provided symmetrically on the left and right. Foot massage portions 5a (massage portions M) for massaging the user's legs are provided on the inner walls on both the left and right sides of the recess 5b. The foot massage portion 5a is composed of an air cell 100 that expands and contracts by supplying and exhausting air.
[0079] The foot massage portions 5a are provided one by one on the inner walls on both the left and right sides of the right recess 5b and one by one on the inner walls on both the left and right sides of the left recess 5b. Each foot massage portion 5a may be configured to be able to expand and contract independently. In that case, it can be realized by configuring the left and right pipes 60 with separate pipes 60. Further, a sole massage portion (not shown) for massaging the user's sole may be provided on the bottom surface of the recess 5b.
[0080] The footrest part 5 is attached to the front side of the seat part 3. More specifically, the footrest part 5 is attached to the seat part 3 via a swing axis (not shown) extending in the left - right direction. On the back surface of the footrest part 5, a drive part (not shown) for swinging the footrest part 5 in the vertical direction with respect to the seat part 3 is located. By driving the drive part (not shown), the footrest part 5 can be swung in the vertical direction with respect to the seat part 3 with a swing axis (not shown) extending in the left - right direction as a fulcrum. The drive of the drive part (not shown) is controlled by the control part 7. The control part 7 will be described later. Incidentally, an extension means (not shown) that can move in the front - rear direction with respect to the seat part 3 may be provided on the footrest part 5.
[0081] As shown in FIG. 7(a), the foot massage part 5a (massage part M) is connected to a pipe 60 formed inside the footrest part 5 via a connecting part 61. The pipe 60 is integrally formed inside the footrest part 5 (body support part S). As an example, it is formed by a method of digging a groove when molding the footrest part 5. The footrest part 5 is configured to be long in the vertical direction (the length direction of the leg). When molding the footrest part 5, the footrest part 5 is divided into two parts. Specifically, it is configured to be divided vertically into an upper footrest part and a lower footrest part. A semi - circular groove is dug along the shape (U - shaped) of the footrest part 5 on the bottom surface of the upper footrest part, and a semi - circular groove is also dug along the shape (U - shaped) of the footrest part 5 on the upper surface (the surface facing the upper footrest part) of the lower footrest part. By welding them to each other, a circular hole is formed in the footrest part 5. By doing so, the hole itself can be used as the pipe 60. That is, the pipe 60 used in the massage machine 1 can be reduced.
[0082] On the inner walls on both the left and right sides of the recess 5b on the right side of the footrest portion 5 and the inner walls on both the left and right sides of the recess 5b on the left side, holes are respectively formed, and at the tips of the holes, connecting portions 61b (female connecting portions) are attached. Near the center of the foot massage portion 5a, a connecting portion 61a (male connecting portion) is attached. That is, by connecting (coupling) the connecting portion 61a (male connecting portion) to the connecting portion 61b (female connecting portion) attached to the hole in the inner wall, the air supplied from the air supply and exhaust device 9 is supplied to the foot massage portion 5a through the pipe 60, and both the left and right sides of the user's leg can be massaged.
[0083] On the back surface of the footrest portion 5 (the bottom wall forming the recess 5b), a connecting portion 61a (male connecting portion) protruding rearward is attached. By connecting the pipe 60 extending from the air supply and exhaust device 9 to this connecting portion 61a, the air supplied from the air supply and exhaust device 9 can be supplied to the foot massage portion 5a. As shown in Fig. 7(a), by providing the pipe 60 inside the body support portion S (footrest portion 5), the pipe 60 is not exposed to the outside. Therefore, compared with the case where the pipe 60 is provided on the back surface or side surface of the body support portion S (see Fig. 7(b)), the thickness in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction can be made more compact. Also, the appearance is not damaged. In addition, since the pipe 60 can be arranged at the position intended by the manufacturer, even when the number of pipes 60 increases, there is no worry about the pipes 60 getting entangled or twisted with each other.
[0084] Also, as shown in Fig. 7(c), the pipe 60 connecting to the left and right foot massage portions 5a may be configured as a single pipe 60. By configuring it with a single pipe, the number of connecting portions 61a protruding from the bottom wall of the footrest portion 5 becomes one, so the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Note that the method of providing the pipe 60 can be realized by the same method as in Fig. 7(a).
[0085] Also, as shown in FIG. 7(b), by providing the pipe 60 on the side surfaces (the side and the back side) of the body support portion S (the footrest portion 5), the pipe 60 may be integrally formed with the footrest portion 5 (the body support portion S). As an example, it is by the same method as in the case of FIG. 7(a), that is, the method of digging a groove when molding the footrest portion 5.
[0086] More specifically, the footrest portion 5 is configured to be divided into two parts vertically. A semicircular groove penetrating the inner walls on the outer sides in the left - right direction of the left - and - right concave portions 5b is dug on the bottom surface of the upper footrest portion 5, and an L - shaped groove is dug on the inner walls on the inner sides in the left - right direction of the left - and - right concave portions 5b. A substantially U - shaped cylindrical pipe 60 is fitted into the grooves. The upper surface of the lower footrest portion 5 is also dug with grooves having the same shape as the bottom surface of the upper footrest portion 5, and the upper footrest portion 5 and the lower footrest portion 5 are welded to each other, thereby integrally forming the pipe 60 with respect to the footrest portion 5. By doing so, the hole itself can be used as the pipe 60. That is, the number of pipes 60 used in the massage machine 1 can be reduced.
[0087] At this time, the U - shaped member is preferably made of the same material as the footrest portion 5. By configuring the footrest portion 5 and the U - shaped member with the same member, they can be easily welded. Also, by adopting this method, the man - hours for integral formation can be reduced compared to the case where the pipe 60 is provided inside the body support portion S (the footrest portion 5). Note that these examples are just examples, and any configuration and any method may be used as long as the pipe 60 can be integrally formed with the footrest portion 5 (the body support portion S).
[0088] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the case where the connecting portion 61 and the leakage prevention portion 70 are separately configured has been described as an example. However, as shown in FIG. 9, the connecting portion 61 and the leakage prevention portion 70 may be of an integral type. The configurations of the connecting portion 61 and the leakage prevention portion 70 will be described later.
[0089] [Configuration of the control unit] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the massager 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the massager 1 is provided with a control unit 7 composed of a microcomputer or the like for operating a massage mechanism 99, an air supply and exhaust device 9, a backrest part 4, and a drive part (not shown) for swinging the footrest part 5. This control unit 7 is provided below the seat part 3 and is connected to a controller 8 operated by the user. By the user operating the controller 8, various massage operations are performed.
[0090] [Configuration of the air supply and exhaust device] As shown in Figures 2 and 11, the air supply and exhaust device 9 is composed of a pump 9a for supplying air to each massage part M composed of an air cell 100, a valve 9b for connecting each massage part M and the pump 9a, and a short pipe 9c for connecting the pump 9a and each valve 9b. By turning the valve 9b ON / OFF, air can be supplied and exhausted to each massage part M composed of an air cell. That is, by turning the valve 9b ON, an air flow path can be secured and air can be supplied to each massage part M. Also, by turning the valve 9b OFF, the air inside each massage part M can be exhausted.
[0091] Figure 8 is a diagram showing the attachment relationship between the air cell 100 and the pipe 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a diagram showing the attachment relationship between the air cell 100 and the pipe 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state where the connecting part 61 and the leakage prevention part 70 are integrated. Figure 10 is a diagram showing the leakage prevention part 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a cross-sectional view showing the state where the pipe 60 is connected, (b) is a cross-sectional view of the process of connecting the pipe 60, and (c) is a cross-sectional view showing the state where the pipe 60 is not connected. Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the connection state of the pipes from the air supply and exhaust device 9 of the massager 1 to the arm massage part 6a according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0092] [Configuration of the pipe] As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, the pipe 60 is composed of a first pipe 60a connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9, a second pipe 60b connected to the air cell 100, and a connecting portion 61 connecting the first pipe 60a and the second pipe 60b. By combining a plurality of members for the pipe 60, the pipe 60 can be laid out in various shapes. FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the connection (linkage) relationship between the air cell 100 and the second pipe 60b, and the connection (linkage) relationship between the first pipe 60a and the second pipe 60b is shown in FIG. 11.
[0093] [Configuration of the first pipe] The pipe 60 has a first pipe 60a connected to the air supply and exhaust device 9. The first pipe 60a is a pipe for sending the air supplied from the air supply and exhaust device 9 to the second pipe 60b. The first pipe 60a is preferably composed of a flexible member such as rubber. By adopting a flexible member for the first pipe 60a constituting the pipe 60, the first pipe 60b can be bent, and the pipe 60 can be installed efficiently.
[0094] [Configuration of the second pipe] The pipe 60 has a second pipe 60b connected to the air cell 100. The second pipe 60b is a pipe integrally formed on the back surface or inside of the body support portion S, and is a pipe for sending the air supplied from the air supply and exhaust device 9 via the first pipe 60a to the air cell 100. By integrally forming the second pipe 60b constituting the pipe 60 on the back surface or inside of the body support portion S, the length of the member required for the pipe 60 can be shortened, or the member itself required can be reduced.
[0095] [Configuration of the connecting portion] The pipe 60 has a connecting portion 61 connecting the first pipe 60a and the second pipe 60b. There are two types of the connecting portion 61: a male connecting portion 61a and a female connecting portion 61b. By connecting the male connecting portion 61a and the female connecting portion 61b, the first pipe 60a and the second pipe 60b constituting the pipe 60 can be connected to each other. Note that a male connection part 61a may be provided at one end of the first pipe 60a, or a male connection part 61a may be provided at one end of the second pipe 60b. Any combination is acceptable as long as the male connection part 61a and the female connection part 61b are connected to each other.
[0096] [Configuration of Leak Prevention Part] As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, a leak prevention part 70 for preventing air leakage is provided in the second pipe 60b (pipe 60). FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the leak prevention part 70 is provided on the body support part S side, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which the leak prevention part 70 is provided on the massage part M (air cell 100) side. As shown in FIG. 8, a mortar-shaped recess 30 is provided in the body support part S. The leak prevention part 70 and the connection part 61 are attached to the recess 30.
[0097] Inside the body support part S, a pipe 60 (second pipe 60b) formed of holes is provided. More specifically, near the center of the body support part S, there is a mortar-shaped recess 30 whose both sides approach each other as going downward, and the second pipe 60b is located at the position that is the bottom point of the recess 30. The recess 30 matches the inclination angle of the tip of the connection part 61a. More specifically, a female connection part 61b is attached to the second pipe 60b (pipe 60). A male connection part 61a that protrudes downward is attached to the air cell 100.
[0098] A connection part 61 is attached to the tip of the second pipe 60b. More specifically, a female connection part 61b is attached. A leak prevention part 70 for preventing air leakage is provided on the upper surface of the connection part 61. The leak prevention part 70 is, for example, an annular rubber member. When connecting the connection parts 61 to each other (connecting the male connection part 61a to the female connection part 61b), the leak prevention part 70 serves to fill the gap between the connection parts 61. By doing so, when supplying air from the air supply and exhaust device 9 to the air cell 100, it is possible to prevent air from leaking from the connection part (the first pipe 60a and / or the second pipe 60b) of the pipe 60. In addition, in this embodiment, the case where the leakage prevention part 70 is provided in the second pipe 60b has been described, but this is merely an example and not limited to this. For example, the leakage prevention part 70 may be provided in the first pipe 60a, or the leakage prevention part 70 may be provided in both the first pipe 60a and the second pipe 60b.
[0099] Also, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a coupler may be employed as the leakage prevention part 70. The leakage prevention part 70 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "coupler") in FIGS. 9 and 10 is constituted by a so-called one-touch coupler. A one-touch coupler is a device that inserts a male coupler into a female coupler and connects the couplers to each other.
[0100] FIG. 10(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the pipe 60 is connected (a state where the male coupler is inserted into the female coupler). FIG. 10(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a process of connecting the pipe 60 (a state where the male coupler is being inserted into the female coupler). FIG. 10(c) is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the pipe 60 is not connected (a state before the male coupler is inserted into the female coupler).
[0101] The male coupler will be described. As shown in FIG. 10(c), the male coupler is provided at the end of the pipe 60. More specifically, it is integrally formed with a connecting part 61a provided at the end of the pipe 60. The male coupler has a coupler main body 63 extending straight from the pipe 60 and a plurality of uneven parts 62 provided around the coupler main body 63. The coupler main body 63 has a hollow structure and tapers towards the tip. The plurality of uneven parts 62 are formed on the surface of the connecting part 61a.
[0102] The female coupler will be described. As shown in Fig. 10(c), the female coupler is provided at the end of the connecting portion 61b. More specifically, it is integrally formed with the connecting portion 61b. The female coupler is configured in a cylindrical shape. The inner diameter of the female coupler is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the connecting portion 61a of the male coupler. Therefore, when the male coupler is inserted into the female coupler, the couplers are in close contact with each other.
[0103] Near the center of the female coupler, a pair of protrusions 70c are provided at a predetermined interval. Between the pair of protrusions 70c, there are a ball 70b for engaging and locking with the recesses of the plurality of convex and concave portions 62 provided on the male coupler, and a spring 70a for urging the ball 70b in a direction away from the wall of the female coupler. The tip of the protrusion 70c is bent to prevent the ball 70b from popping out. More specifically, the tips of the pair of protrusions 70c are bent in a direction approaching each other. The spring 70a, the ball 70b, and the protrusion 70c are provided in a pair vertically. Note that the number of the protrusions 70c is an example and is not limited to this. For example, the protrusions 70c may be provided in a pair on the left and right, or may be provided in pairs vertically and horizontally. By increasing the number of the protrusions 70c, the locking accuracy can be improved.
[0104] At the tip of the connecting portion 61b, a mortar-shaped groove 70d is provided. The groove 70d matches the shape of the tip of the male coupler body 63 (the tip becomes thinner as it goes from the piping 60 side to the female coupler side). By matching the shapes, the degree of close contact between the couplers is increased, and air leakage to the outside can be prevented.
[0105] When inserting the male coupler into the female coupler, the ball 70b of the female coupler is pushed vertically by a plurality of uneven portions 62 of the male coupler (see Fig. 10(b)). More specifically, in the concave portion, the ball 70b is pushed in a direction approaching the coupler body 63 by the spring 70a, and in the convex portion, the ball 70b is pushed in a direction away from the coupler body 63 by the convex portion. When the male coupler is further brought closer to the female coupler in this state, the tip of the male coupler body 63 aligns with the groove 70d. At this time, the concave portion of the uneven portion 62 comes to a position facing the ball 70b. Since the ball 70b is biased by the spring 70a, the concave portion and the ball 70b engage with each other so that the connection between the couplers is not easily released. By doing so, when supplying air from the air supply and exhaust device 9 to the air cell 100, it is possible to prevent air from leaking from the connection portion of the pipe 60 (the first pipe 60a and / or the second pipe 60b).
Industrial Applicability
[0106] The present invention can be applied to a massage machine capable of reducing piping.
Explanation of Reference Numerals
[0107] Air supply and exhaust device 9 Pipe 60 Air cell 100 Massage unit M Body support unit S
Claims
1. A body support part, A massage part provided on the body support part, And an air supply and exhaust device for sucking air into the massage part, The massage part is composed of an air cell that expands and contracts by air supply and exhaust, The air cell is connected to the air supply and exhaust device via a pipe, The pipe is integrally formed with the body support part, and a massage machine characterized by this.
2. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the pipe is composed of a flexible member.
3. The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pipe is formed on the back or inside of the body support part.
4. The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pipe is composed of a first pipe connected to the air supply and exhaust device, a second pipe connected to the air cell, and a connecting part connecting the first pipe and the second pipe.
5. The massage machine according to claim 4, wherein a leakage prevention part for preventing air leakage is provided in the first pipe and / or the second pipe.
6. The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body support part is a seat part or a backrest part.
7. The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body support part is an armrest part or a footrest part.
8. An air cell that expands and contracts by air supply and exhaust, The air cell is configured to be connectable to a pipe through which air is supplied, The pipe is integrally formed with the body support part, and an air cell for a massage machine characterized by this.
9. A massage mechanism having an air cell that expands and contracts by air supply and exhaust, The air cell is configured to be connectable to a pipe through which air is supplied, The pipe is integrally formed with the body support part, and a massage mechanism characterized by this.
10. The air cell for a massage machine according to claim 8 or the massage mechanism according to claim 9, wherein a leakage prevention part for preventing air leakage is provided in the pipe.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Chair type massage machine
JP2021006185A