Massage tools

Abstract

To provide a massage tool which provides a massage effect by a new stimulus. [Solution] The massage tool 100 includes a treatment body 101 and a gripping body 110. The treatment body 101 includes a protrusion 102, a base surface 103, and a base support part. The protrusion 102 is formed to protrude convexly from the surface of the base surface 103. The protrusion 102 is set to a protruding amount such that the contact area 103a of the base surface 103 can contact the treatment part W simultaneously with the four protrusions 102 when the four protrusions 102 are in contact with the treatment part W. The base surface 103 is formed in a spherical shape that protrudes convexly toward the outside of the treatment body 101. The base support part is formed to bulge on the opposite side to the protrusion 102 side with respect to the base surface 103. The gripping body 110 is composed of a connecting part 111 formed in a convex shape that fits into the connecting part, and a gripping part 112 formed in a disk shape in a plan view.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a massage tool for manually massaging the part of a person to be massaged. [Background technology]

[0002] Massage tools that massage a part of a body of a person to be treated have been known. For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a massage tool having a curved base surface on which a plurality of mountain-shaped protrusions are densely formed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6470443

[0004] However, in the massage tool described in Patent Document 1 above, multiple protrusions made up of mountain-shaped protrusions press against the skin in a point-like manner, but with this type of massage tool, a massage effect that provides a constant new stimulus is always required.

[0005] The present invention has been made to address the above problems, and its object is to provide a massage tool that can provide a massage effect through a new stimulus. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the feature of the present invention is that it is a massage tool to be held in the hand to perform massage, comprising a treatment body having a base surface composed of a spherical surface that protrudes convexly toward the treatment area, and at least three protrusions formed to protrude from the base surface, and the at least three protrusions are formed with an amount of protrusion such that when the at least three protrusions contact the treatment area simultaneously, the base surface in the inner region of the at least three protrusions also contacts the treatment area simultaneously.

[0007] According to the features of the present invention configured in this way, when the at least three protrusions of the massage tool are brought into contact with the part to be treated at the same time, the base surface in the inner region of these three protrusions also comes into contact with the part to be treated at the same time, so that the part to be treated is pressed by the at least three protrusions and the spherical base at the same time, and a massage effect can be given by a new stimulus. In this case, the massage tool can give a massage effect by changing the stimulus because the pressing force of the at least three protrusions changes compared to the change in the stimulus of the base by tilting the massage body by manual operation.

[0008] Another feature of the present invention is that in the massage tool, at least one of the protrusions contains a heat storage material inside that has a higher specific heat than the material that constitutes the surface of the protrusion.

[0009] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the massage tool contains heat storage material inside at least one of the protrusions, which has a higher specific heat capacity than the material constituting the surface of the protrusion. Therefore, by heating or cooling the heat storage material in advance, the massage effect can be enhanced by providing a warm or cool sensation.

[0010] In this case, the heat storage material should preferably be composed mainly of water (the material with the largest amount of components). In addition, latent heat storage material or sensible heat storage material can also be used as the heat storage material. In addition to liquid, the heat storage material can be gel-like, granular (such as seeds of plants such as cherries, red beans, and foam beads), or made of fibers such as cotton, either alone or in combination.

[0011] Another feature of the present invention is that in the massage tool, the base surface has a contact area in the center where no protrusions are formed and the diameter of the protrusions is at least 10 mm or more, and the at least three protrusions are formed outside the contact area on the base surface.

[0012] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the massage tool has a contact area in the center of the base surface where no protrusions are formed and the diameter is at least 10 mm or more, and protrusions are formed outside of this contact area, so that the base surface can be brought into contact with the skin of the treatment area with high precision, thereby improving the treatment effect.

[0013] Another feature of the present invention is that in the massage tool, the protruding direction of each of the at least three protrusions faces outward with respect to the central axis of the base surface.

[0014] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this way, the protruding direction of each of the at least three protrusions faces outward relative to the central axis of the base surface, so that the protrusions can provide a massage effect by stimulating the area to be treated in the inclined direction of the protrusions. Note that the protruding direction of the protrusions faces outward means that, assuming the central axis of the base surface, the axis of the protruding direction of each protrusion is formed so as to be inclined outward relative to the central axis.

[0015] Another feature of the present invention is that in the massage tool, the treatment body has a hollow portion formed inside the inside of the base surface.

[0016] According to another feature of the present invention, the massage tool has a hollow space formed inside the base surface of the massage tool body, which makes the massage tool body lighter and easier to massage. Also, the massage tool can quickly bring the temperature of the base surface of the massage tool to a temperature close to the skin temperature when it comes into contact with the treatment area, reducing the coldness and improving the massage effect.

[0017] Another feature of the present invention is that in the massage tool, the treatment body has a gripping body that protrudes from the side opposite the base surface and can be grasped by hand.

[0018] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the massage tool has a gripping body for manual gripping that protrudes from the opposite side of the base surface of the treatment body, thereby improving the operability of the treatment body.

[0019] Another feature of the present invention is that in the massage tool, the gripping body is configured to be detachable from the treatment body.

[0020] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the massage tool is configured so that the gripping body can be easily attached and detached from the treatment body, making it easy to maintain the gripping body and the treatment body, and if either the gripping body or the treatment body becomes soiled, they can be easily replaced with new ones.

[0021] Another feature of the present invention is that in the massage tool, the gripping body is configured so that the orientation thereof can be changed relative to the treatment body.

[0022] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the massage tool is formed so that the orientation of the gripping body can be changed relative to the treatment body, so that the angle of the treatment body can be adjusted to the desired angle to perform massage.

[0023] Another feature of the present invention is that in the massage tool, the gripping body is composed of an arm portion extending from the treatment main body and a gripping portion provided on the arm portion to be gripped by hand.

[0024] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the massage tool has a gripping body that includes an arm portion extending from the treatment body and a gripping portion that is attached to the arm portion and can be held by hand, so that it can effectively massage even areas that are difficult to reach.

[0025] Another feature of the present invention is that the massage tool is provided with two gripping bodies, and the two gripping bodies are connected to each other so that one end of each of the arm portions can move toward or away from each other at the other end, and the treatment main body is respectively provided in a position facing each other on each arm portion of the two gripping bodies.

[0026] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the massage tool has treatment bodies provided at opposing positions on each arm of two holding bodies, one end of which is movably connected to open and close, so that the area to be treated can be sandwiched between the two treatment bodies to perform the massage.

[0027] Another feature of the present invention is that it is a massage tool to be held in the hand to perform massage, comprising a treatment body having a base surface formed of a spherical surface that protrudes convexly toward the area to be treated, a plurality of first protrusions formed protruding from the base surface, and a plurality of second protrusions formed protruding from the base surface, the plurality of first protrusions having conically pointed tips, and the plurality of second protrusions having tips that are thicker than the tips of the first protrusions.

[0028] According to the features of the present invention configured in this manner, the massage tool is equipped with a first protrusion portion having a conically pointed tip, and a second protrusion portion having a thicker tip than the tip of the first protrusion portion, so that the second protrusion portion is pressed against the area to be treated, thereby allowing the massage to be performed in a stable state with the pointed tip of the first protrusion portion, thereby providing a massage effect through a new stimulation.

[0029] Another feature of the present invention is that in the massage tool, the tip of the first protrusion protrudes further than the tip of the second protrusion.

[0030] According to the features of the present invention configured in this manner, the massage tool has a plurality of second protrusions formed in an inner region of the first protrusion, in which at least three second protrusions are formed, so that stimulation is given by the pointed tip portions constituting the second protrusions inside the region pressed by the first protrusions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic overall configuration of a massage tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a front view showing the outline of the external configuration of the massage tool shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the massage tool is in contact with a part to be massaged. FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a bottom view showing a schematic external configuration of the massage device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the internal configuration of the massage tool shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the massage tool is placed on a flat surface. [Diagram 5] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic overall configuration of a massage tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a schematic overall configuration of a massage tool according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 13(A) and (B) are schematic diagrams showing the overall configuration of a massage tool according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a front view of the massage tool and (B) is a side view of the massage tool. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the internal structure of a massage tool according to a modified example of the present invention, the massage tool being placed on a flat surface. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the internal structure of a massage tool according to another modified example of the present invention, in a state where the massage tool is placed on a flat surface. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic overall configuration of a massage tool according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 11 is a half-sectional view showing an outline of the external configuration and the internal configuration of the massage tool shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of the massage tool according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a front perspective view showing the outline of the external configuration of a massage tool 100 according to the present invention, viewed from diagonally forward. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the outline of the external configuration of the massage tool 100 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom view showing the outline of the external configuration of the massage tool 100 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the outline of the internal configuration of the massage tool 100 shown in Fig. 1. The massage tool 100 is a tool that is manually pressed against a treatment area W, which is a treatment target area of ​​a person, to perform a pressure massage.

[0033] (Configuration of massage tool 100) The massage tool 100 is mainly composed of a treatment body 101 and a gripping body 110. The treatment body 101 is a component having a protrusion 102 and a base surface 103 for performing treatment on the treatment area W, and is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape that protrudes in a convex shape. The treatment body 101 is mainly composed of the protrusion 102, the base surface 103, and the base support part 104.

[0034] The protrusions 102 are portions for pressing the treated area W by being pressed against the treated area W, and are formed to protrude convexly from the surface of the base surface 103. More specifically, the four protrusions 102 are arranged evenly in the circumferential direction on one imaginary circle on the base surface 103. In other words, the four protrusions 102 are arranged so as to be located at the four corners of a square on the base surface 103. Here, the diameter of the imaginary circle C on which the four protrusions 102 are arranged is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 20 mm to 80 mm. In this embodiment, the diameter of the imaginary circle C on which the four protrusions 102 are arranged is set to 40 mm.

[0035] Moreover, the four protrusions 102 are formed so that the protruding direction faces outward with respect to the central axis J of the base surface. Moreover, each of the four protrusions 102 is formed with the same protruding amount, and each tip is formed in a spherical shape. In this case, the protruding amount H of these four protrusions 102 from the base surface 103 is set to a protruding amount that allows the contact area 103a of the base surface 103, which will be described later, to contact the treatment area W simultaneously with the four protrusions 102 when the four protrusions 102 are in contact with the treatment area W (see FIG. 3). In FIG. 3, the range of the contact area 103a is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0036] In this embodiment, the protrusion amount H of each of the four protrusions 102 is set to a protrusion amount such that when the four protrusions 102 are placed on a plane, the gap S between the plane and the bottom surface of the contact area 103a is 2 mm. Note that in Fig. 2, the center lines of the two protrusions 102 in the protruding direction of these protrusions 102 are respectively indicated by dashed lines.

[0037] The base surface 103 is a portion that is pressed against the treatment area W to press the treatment area W and supports the protrusion 102, and is formed in a spherical shape that protrudes outward from the treatment body 101 in a convex manner. Here, the spherical shape does not necessarily mean the surface shape of a sphere in the strict sense, but may be formed of a curved surface that is convex in all four directions with respect to the center point of the base surface 103. The radius of curvature of the base surface 103 is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 30 mm to 80 mm. In this embodiment, the radius of curvature of the base surface 103 is 47 mm. The surface of the base surface 103 can be formed into a smooth surface or a rough surface such as a matte surface.

[0038] A contact area 103a is formed in the center of the base surface 103. The contact area 103a is a portion that contacts the treatment area W together with the four protrusions 102 described above, and is formed of a flat surface on which no protrusions such as the protrusions 102 are formed. The contact area 103a is formed in an area inside the four protrusions 102 on the base surface 103. In this embodiment, the contact area 103a is formed of a spherical surface, but may be formed of a flat surface. The size of the contact area 103a is not particularly limited, but is preferably a size equivalent to a circle with a diameter of about 10 mm to 40 mm. In this embodiment, the size of the contact area 103a is formed to a size equivalent to a circle with a diameter of 20 mm.

[0039] The base support portion 104 is a portion that supports the base surface 103 and is connected to the gripping body 110, and is formed so as to bulge outward in the radial direction on the side opposite the protrusion portion 102 side with respect to the base surface 103. A connection portion 105 is formed on the base support portion 104 on the side opposite the base surface 103.

[0040] The connection part 105 is a part to which the gripping body 110 is connected, and is formed in a concave shape. The connection part 105 is fitted with the connection part 111 of the gripping body 110 via the intermediate pad 106. The intermediate pad 106 is a part for holding the treatment main body 101 in a freely changeable orientation relative to the gripping body 110, and is formed by forming a soft resin material into a cylindrical shape with a bottom. In this case, the outer surface and the inner surface of the intermediate pad 106 are formed into a spherical surface. In addition, the part of the base support part 104 other than the connection part 105 is covered by the support part cover 107.

[0041] The support part cover 107 is a part that covers the base support part 104 to keep the inside of the base support part 104 warm and to prevent the surface of the base support part 104 from directly contacting the treatment part W and giving the treatment part a hot or cold feeling. The support part cover 107 is made by forming a flexible and stretchable silicone sheet into a cylindrical shape.

[0042] In addition, the protrusions 102, the base surface 103, and the base support 104 of the treatment body 101 are integrally formed of a metal material (stainless steel in this embodiment). In this case, a heat storage material accommodating section 108 is formed inside the treatment body 101. The heat storage material accommodating section 108 is a section that accommodates the heat storage material 108a, and is a section that forms the inside of the treatment body 101 in a hollow shape. In this case, the heat storage material accommodating section 108 is formed in a hollow shape including the four protrusions 102. As a result, the four protrusions 102 and the base surface 103 are each formed to have the same thickness.

[0043] The heat storage material 108a is a member for giving a feeling of warmth or coldness to the treatment area W, and is made of a material with a larger specific heat than the materials constituting the protrusions 102 and the base surface 103. In this embodiment, the heat storage material 108a is made of a liquid in which pure water is the main component (the material containing the most components) and cellulose ether, preservatives, etc. are mixed. In this case, the heat storage material 108a is filled in the heat storage material storage section 108 in an amount such that the heat storage material 108a fills all of the protrusions 102 in the heat storage material storage section 108 with the four protrusions 102 facing downward.

[0044] The gripping body 110 is a part for making it easier to grip the treatment body 101, and is mainly composed of a connection part 111 and a gripping part 112. The connection part 111 is a part that is connected to the connection part 105 in the treatment body 101, and is formed in a convex shape that fits into the connection part 105. Specifically, the connection part 111 is composed of a spherical ball part 111a that fits into the connection part 105 via the intermediate pad 106 described above, and a stud part 111b that extends in a rod shape from the ball part 111a. That is, the treatment body 101 is connected to the gripping body 110 via a ball joint (ball bearing), and the ball part 111a slides along a spherical surface around the ball part 111a in the connection part 105 via the intermediate pad 106, thereby changing the orientation with respect to the gripping body 110.

[0045] Moreover, the ball portion 111a is connected by being pressed against the intermediate pad 106, and can be separated by being pulled out from the intermediate pad 106. That is, the gripping body 110 is configured to be freely attached and detached to the treatment main body 101. The intermediate pad 106 can be pulled out from the connection portion 105 in a state in which the ball portion 111a is separated.

[0046] The gripping portion 112 is a portion that is gripped by a person (e.g., a person to be treated) who applies the treatment body 101 to a part to be treated W, and is formed in a disk shape in a plan view. The gripping portion 112 is formed to expand in a flange shape at the tip of the stud portion 111b protruding from the connection portion 105. In this embodiment, the gripping portion 112 is formed in a disk shape with a diameter of 50 mm. In this case, the gripping portion 112 is formed so that the back surface on the stud portion 111b side is tapered to make it easy to grip.

[0047] The connecting portion 111 and the gripping portion 112 are integrally molded from a resin material (e.g., polypropylene) to form the gripping body 110. The connecting portion 111 and the gripping portion 112 of the gripping body 110 can be made of a material other than a resin material, for example, a metal material or wood. The gripping body 110 can also be constructed by forming the connecting portion 111 and the gripping portion 112 as separate bodies and integrally connecting them using a method such as adhesion, fitting, screwing, or welding.

[0048] (Operation of massage tool 100) Next, the operation of the massage tool 100 thus configured will be described. First, a user who uses this massage tool 100 prepares the massage tool 100 and cools or warms it. Specifically, the user can cool the heat storage material 108a by placing the massage tool 100 in a refrigerator or freezer. Also, the user can warm the heat storage material 108a by placing the massage tool 100 in a hot water bath.

[0049] The user here may be the person being massaged using the massage tool 100, the massager who directly massages the person being massaged, or a person who assists in the massage of the person being massaged (for example, a family member of the person being massaged, etc.). The massage tool 100 can be used at room temperature without being cooled or heated.

[0050] Next, the user grasps the gripping body 110 of the cooled, heated or room temperature massage tool 100 and applies it to the area to be treated W of the person to be treated. Specifically, the user grasps the gripping portion 112 and inserts a finger between the gripping portion 112 and the massage body 101, or grasps the massage body 101 itself to bring the four protrusions 102 into contact with the area to be treated W.

[0051] In this case, the surface of the body that becomes the treatment area W is often made up of gently or sharply curved surfaces with very few flat surfaces. For this reason, the massage tool 100 contacts the treatment area W with the four protrusions 102 and the contact area 103a on the base surface 103. As a result, the person being treated recognizes the surface contact of the four protrusions 102 and the contact area 103a without recognizing partial contact by the four protrusions 102. Furthermore, when the massage tool 100 is cooled or heated, the person being treated feels a cold or warm sensation due to the surface contact.

[0052] Next, the user presses the treatment body 101, which is in contact with the treatment area W, against the treatment area W. As a result, the person to be treated receives strong pressing force from the four protrusions 102 and weak pressing force from the contact area 103a. In this case, the person to be treated noticeably recognizes the pressing force from the point contact of the four protrusions 102 suddenly from the surface contact state, and feels an unexpected sensation. Then, the user can obtain various massage effects by performing various operations such as tilting the treatment body 101, rotating it, sliding it along the skin, changing the pressing force, tapping the treatment area W with the treatment body 101, or changing the treatment position. In this case, the massage tool 100 can also obtain a massage feeling by contacting the base surface 103 other than the contact area 103a with the treatment area W by tilting the treatment body 101.

[0053] When the user wishes to finish the treatment with the massage tool 100, the user can finish the treatment with the massage tool 100 by removing the treatment body 101 from the part to be treated W. The part to be treated W can be any part of the body that the person to be treated desires to be treated, for example, the head, face, upper limbs, trunk, or lower limbs.

[0054] As can be understood from the above description of operation, according to the first embodiment, when the four protrusions 102 of the massage tool 100 are simultaneously brought into contact with the treated part W, the contact area 103a of the base surface 103 in the inner area of ​​the four protrusions 102 also simultaneously comes into contact with the treated part W, so that the treated part W is simultaneously pressed by the four protrusions 102 and the spherical contact area 103a, and a massage effect can be given by a new stimulus. Also, in this case, the massage tool 100 can give a massage effect by changing the stimulus because the pressing force of the four protrusions 102 changes compared to the change in the stimulus of the contact area 103a or other parts of the base surface 103 when the massage body 101 is tilted by manual operation.

[0055] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the massage tool according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5. In the description of the second embodiment, the parts different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the common parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The massage tool 200 according to the second embodiment differs from the massage tool 100 according to the first embodiment in that a part of the configuration of the grip body 110 is different.

[0056] (Configuration of massage tool 200) The massage tool 200 includes a gripping body 210 that corresponds to the gripping body 110 in the massage tool 100 according to the first embodiment. The gripping body 210 includes a connecting portion 211 similar to the connecting portion 111, and also includes an arm portion 212 and a gripping portion 213.

[0057] Arm portion 212 is configured like a handle, extending in a rod-like shape in a direction perpendicular to stud portion 211b corresponding to stud portion 111b. Grip portion 213 is formed at the tip of arm portion 212 with a thickness greater than arm portion 212. Naturally, grip portion 213 may be formed with the same thickness as arm portion 212, or may be formed with a thickness thinner than arm portion 212. Arm portion 212 and grip portion 213 are configured integrally with connecting portion 211 by integral molding of a resin material, but may also be configured as separate bodies using a metal material or the like.

[0058] (Operation of massage tool 200) Next, the operation of the massage tool 200 thus configured will be described. This massage tool 200 can be used in the same manner as the massage tool 100. That is, the user can perform a treatment by holding the gripping portion 213 and pressing the treatment body 101 against the part to be treated W. In this case, since the massage tool 200 is configured such that the orientation of the treatment body 101 is movable relative to the gripping body 210, when the treatment body 101 is pressed against the part to be treated W, the orientation of the treatment body 101 changes, so that the protrusions 102 and the contact area 103a on the base surface 103 precisely face and fit against the part to be treated W.

[0059] In addition, the user can perform treatment on areas that are difficult to reach, such as the shoulders or back, by grasping the grip portion 213. In addition, the user can perform treatment by grasping the grip portion 213 and swinging it widely, thereby hitting the treatment area W with a strong impact.

[0060] Third embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the massage tool according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In the description of the third embodiment, the parts different from the first and second embodiments will be mainly described, and the common parts will be given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The massage tool 300 according to the third embodiment differs from the massage tool 200 according to the second embodiment in that the two massage tools 200 are connected to each other by changing a part of the configuration of the gripping body 210 in the massage tool 200 according to the second embodiment.

[0061] (Configuration of massage tool 300) The massage tool 300 includes a gripping body 310 corresponding to the gripping body 210 in the massage tool 200 according to the second embodiment. The gripping body 310 includes a connecting portion 311 and a gripping portion 313 similar to the connecting portion 211 and the gripping portion 213, respectively, and also includes an arm portion 312.

[0062] The arm portion 312 is configured like a handle by extending in a rod-like shape in a direction perpendicular to the stud portion 311b corresponding to the stud portion 211b, similar to the arm portion 212 in the massage tool 200 according to the second embodiment. In this case, the arm portion 312 has a connecting portion 314 formed at the end opposite to the gripping portion 313.

[0063] The connecting portion 314 is a portion that connects the two arm portions 312 to each other so that they can rotate freely, and is configured by connecting the ends of the two arm portions 312 to each other with a metal pin. As a result, the two arm portions 312 open and close as the gripping portion 313 side rotates back and forth around the connecting portion 314 side. In this case, the two arm portions 312 are connected in such a way that the treatment main bodies 101 held by the respective arm portions 312 face each other.

[0064] Therefore, in the massage tool 300, the two treatment bodies 101 approach or move away from each other by opening and closing the two arm parts 312. In this case, the connecting part 314 is configured so that the two arm parts 312 open and close at an angle of less than 180° and within a range in which the two treatment bodies 101 do not come into contact with each other.

[0065] (Operation of massage tool 300) Next, the operation of the massage tool 300 thus configured will be described. First, the user grasps the two gripping parts 313 of the massage tool 300, respectively, to open the two arm parts 312, and places the two treatment bodies 101 on both sides of the area to be treated W, such as the neck, shoulder, arm, or leg. Then, the user operates the two gripping parts 313 to approach each other, thereby closing the two arm parts 312.

[0066] As a result, the massage tool 300 can perform treatment by sandwiching the treated area W between the two treatment bodies 101. In this case, since the massage tool 300 is configured such that the orientation of the treatment body 101 is movable relative to the gripping body 310, when the treatment body 101 is pressed against the treated area W, the orientation of the treatment body 101 changes, so that the protrusions 102 and the contact area 103a on the base surface 103 precisely face and fit against the treated area W.

[0067] (Fourth embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the massage tool according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 7(A) and (B). In the description of the fourth embodiment, the parts different from the first to third embodiments will be mainly described, and the common parts will be given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The massage tool 400 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the massage tool 300 according to the third embodiment in that a part of the configuration of the gripping body 310 is different.

[0068] (Configuration of massage tool 400) The massage tool 400 includes a gripping body 410 corresponding to the two gripping bodies 310 in the massage tool 300 according to the third embodiment. The gripping body 410 includes one arm portion 412 and two connecting portions 411 similar to the connecting portion 311.

[0069] The arm portion 412 is a part that movably holds the two treatment bodies 101, and is configured by forming a resin material into an inverted U shape having flexibility in a plan view. In this case, the arm portion 412 is formed by bending a strip having a rectangular cross section into an inverted U shape. It is obvious that the cross section of the arm portion 412 may be a circle (including an oval), a polygon, or an irregular shape (irregular shape).

[0070] In this arm part 412, a connection part 411 is formed on each inner side surface on both sides of the center line L of the inverted U-shaped curved part, protruding inward, and the treatment main body 101 is attached to each of these two connection parts 411. As a result, the two treatment main bodies 101 are held by the arm part 412 with each protrusion part 102 and base surface 103 tilted toward the center line L side.

[0071] Grip portion 413 is formed at the tip of arm portion 412 with a thickness greater than arm portion 412. Needless to say, grip portion 413 may be formed with the same thickness as arm portion 412, or may be formed with a thickness thinner than arm portion 412. Arm portion 412 and grip portion 413 are integrally formed together with connecting portion 411 by integral molding of a resin material, but they may also be formed as separate bodies using a metal material or the like.

[0072] (Operation of massage tool 400) Next, the operation of the massage tool 400 thus configured will be described. First, the user grasps the two gripping parts 413 of the massage tool 400, and places the two treatment bodies 101 on the area to be treated W, such as the neck, shoulder, arm, or leg. Then, the user pulls and operates the two gripping parts 413 to press the two treatment bodies 101 against the area to be treated W.

[0073] As a result, the massage tool 400 can perform treatment by pressing the two treatment bodies 101 against the treatment area W. In this case, since the massage tool 400 is configured such that the orientation of each treatment body 101 is movable relative to the gripping body 410, when the treatment body 101 is pressed against the treatment area W, the orientation of the treatment body 101 changes, so that the protrusion 102 and the contact area 103a on the base surface 103 precisely face and fit against the treatment area W.

[0074] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0075] For example, in each of the above embodiments, the treatment body 101 is configured to include four protrusions 102. However, the treatment body 101 may be configured to include at least three or more protrusions 102.

[0076] In each of the above embodiments, the four protrusions 102 are configured to have the same protrusion amount H. However, the protrusions 102 may be formed to have protrusion amounts H that are different from one another.

[0077] In each of the above embodiments, the protruding direction of the four protruding portions 102 is configured to face outward with respect to the central axis J. However, the protruding direction of each of the protruding portions 102 may be formed to be parallel to the central axis J or to face inward with respect to the central axis J.

[0078] In each of the above embodiments, the four protrusions 102 have spherical tips. However, the tip of each of the protrusions 102 may have a shape other than a sphere, such as a pointed shape or a flat shape.

[0079] In each of the above embodiments, the four protrusions 102 are formed so that all of the protrusions 102 are arranged on one imaginary circle C. However, it is not necessary that all of the protrusions 102 are arranged on one imaginary circle C, and the protrusions 102 may be arranged irregularly and randomly. For example, when the four protrusions 102 are arranged at the four corners of a rectangle on the base surface 103, the four protrusions 102 can be rotated to increase the variation in the arrangement positions of the four protrusions 102 relative to the treatment area W, compared to when the four protrusions 102 are arranged at the four corners of a square.

[0080] In each of the above embodiments, the treatment body 101 is configured to accommodate the heat storage material 108a. However, the treatment body 101 can be configured without the heat storage material 108a. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the treatment body 101 can be configured with the heat storage material accommodation part 108 being a hollow cavity part 113 in which no object is accommodated inside. According to this, the treatment body 101 is made lighter, making it easier to perform massage, and the temperature when the base surface 103 comes into contact with the treatment part W can be quickly brought to a temperature close to the skin temperature, reducing the coldness and enhancing the massage effect.

[0081] The treatment body 101 can also be formed in a solid shape as shown in Fig. 9. In this case, the protrusion 102 and the base surface 103 may be configured to be elastically deformed by pressing against the treatment area W, or may be configured to have rigidity that does not elastically deform.

[0082] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the treatment body 101 is configured to be detachable from the gripping bodies 110, 210, 310, and 410, and the mounting angle is changeable. However, the treatment body 101 can also be configured to be non-detachable from the gripping bodies 110, 210, 310, and 410. That is, the treatment body 101 can be configured separately from the gripping bodies 110, 210, 310, and 410, but can also be configured integrally from the same material. Also, the treatment body 101 can be configured to be non-changeable in mounting angle from the gripping bodies 110, 210, 310, and 410.

[0083] In addition, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the massage tools 100 to 400 are configured such that the connecting portion 105 is formed in a concave shape and the connecting portions 111, 211, 311, and 411 are each formed in a convex shape, and the connecting portions 111, 211, 311, and 411 are fitted into the connecting portion 105. However, the massage tools 100 to 400 can also be configured such that the connecting portion 105 is formed in a convex shape and the connecting portions 111, 211, 311, and 411 are each formed in a concave shape, and the connecting portion 105 is fitted into the connecting portions 111, 211, 311, and 411.

[0084] In each of the above embodiments, the treatment body 101 is configured to include the support portion cover 107. However, the treatment body 101 may be configured without the support portion cover 107.

[0085] In each of the above embodiments, the treatment body 101 forms the contact area 103a in the inner area surrounded by the four protrusions 102. However, the treatment body 101 may form the contact area 103a outside the area surrounded by the four protrusions 102 instead of or in addition to the inner area surrounded by the four protrusions 102.

[0086] In the first embodiment, the massage tool 100 is configured by connecting the gripping body 110 to the treatment body 101. However, the massage tool 100 can be configured without the gripping body 110. In this case, the user can directly grip the treatment body 101 to perform the massage.

[0087] In the second, third and fourth embodiments, the massage tools 200 to 400 are configured to include one or two treatment bodies 101. However, it is sufficient that the massage tools 200 to 400 include at least one treatment body 101. Therefore, the massage tools 200 to 400 can be configured to include two or three or more treatment bodies 101.

[0088] Fifth embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment of the massage tool according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. In the description of the fifth embodiment, the parts different from the first to fourth embodiments will be mainly described, and the common parts will be given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The massage tool 500 according to the fifth embodiment differs from the massage tool 100 according to the first embodiment mainly in that the configuration of the treatment body 101 is different.

[0089] The massage tool 500 includes a treatment body 501 corresponding to the treatment body 101 in the massage tool 100 according to the first embodiment. The treatment body 501 is a component having a protrusion 502 and a base surface 503 for performing treatment on the treatment area W, and is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape that protrudes in a convex shape. The treatment body 501 is mainly configured to include the protrusion 502, the base surface 503, and the base support part 504.

[0090] The protrusion 502 is a portion for pressing against the treated area W to press the treated area W, and is formed to protrude in a convex shape from the surface of the base surface 103. More specifically, the protrusion 502 is composed of a first protrusion 502a and a second protrusion 502b.

[0091] The first protrusion 502a is formed in a cone shape with a pointed tip. The first protrusion 502a has four first protrusions 502a formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at the center of the base surface 503, and four first protrusions 502a formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at the outer edge of the base surface 503 outside the four first protrusions 502a. Each of the eight first protrusions 502a is formed to protrude parallel to the central axis J of the base surface 503. In this case, each of the eight first protrusions 502a is formed to protrude further than the second protrusions 502b.

[0092] The second protrusions 502b are formed in a cylindrical shape with a spherical tip. The second protrusions 502b are formed between the four first protrusions 502a formed on the outer edge of the base surface 503, one for each space. Each of the four second protrusions 502b is formed to protrude parallel to the central axis J of the base surface 503.

[0093] The base surface 503 is a portion that supports the protrusions 502, and is formed in a spherical shape that protrudes outwardly from the treatment body 501. In this case, the center portion of the base surface 503 surrounded by the four first protrusions 502a is formed as a flat surface. These protrusions 502 and the base surface 503 are integrally molded from a flexible elastomer material such as silicone.

[0094] The base support part 504 is a part that supports the base surface 503 and is connected to the gripping body 110, and is composed of an external support part 504a and an internal support part 504b. The external support part 504a is a part that supports the outer edge part of the base surface 503 while being exposed to the outside, and is connected to the gripping body 110.

[0095] External support portion 504a has a circular opening on the base surface 503 side, and is formed to bulge out from base surface 503 on the opposite side to protrusion portion 502. A connection portion 505 to which gripper 510 is connected is formed in a concave shape on the portion of external support portion 504a opposite base surface 503. External support portion 504a is made of a hard resin material, wood, or metal material.

[0096] The internal support part 504b is a part disposed inside the external support part 504a for supporting the base surface 503 from the back surface side by closely contacting the base surface 503 with the back surface, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom. The external support part 504a is made of a hard resin material, wood, or metal material.

[0097] The gripping body 510, like the gripping body 110, is a part for making it easier to grip the treatment body 501, and is mainly composed of a connection part 511 and a gripping part 512. The connection part 511 is a part that is connected to the connection part 505 in the treatment body 501, and is formed in a rod shape that fits into the connection part 505. In this case, an annular fitting ring 511a is fitted to the outer periphery of the connection part 511.

[0098] The fitting ring 511a is a part for allowing the orientation of the treatment body 101 to be changed with respect to the gripping body 510, and is made of an elastic body such as rubber. The inner periphery of the fitting ring 511a is elastically fitted to the connection part 511, and the outer periphery is elastically fitted to the inner periphery of the connection part 505. As a result, the treatment body 501 is movably supported with respect to the gripping body 510, and the orientation can be changed. The fitting ring 511a is connected by being pushed into the connection part 505, and can be separated by being pulled out from the connection part 505. That is, the gripping body 510 is configured to be freely attached and detached to the treatment body 501.

[0099] The gripping portion 512 is a portion that is gripped by a person (e.g., a person to be treated) who applies the treatment body 101 to a part to be treated W, and is formed in a disk shape in a plan view. The gripping portion 512 is formed to expand in a flange shape at the tip of the connecting portion 511. In this embodiment, the gripping portion 512 is formed in a disk shape with a diameter of 50 mm.

[0100] These connection part 511 and grip part 512 are integrally molded from a resin material (for example, polypropylene) to constitute grip body 510. Note that connection part 111 and grip part 112 of grip body 510 can be made of a material other than a resin material, for example, a metal material or wood. Also, grip body 510 can be constructed by forming connection part 511 and grip part 512 separately from each other and integrally connecting them using a method such as adhesion, fitting, screwing, or welding.

[0101] (Operation of massage tool 500) Next, the operation of the massage tool 500 thus configured will be described. First, a user who uses this massage tool 500 prepares the massage tool 100 and applies it to the part to be treated W of the person to be massaged. Specifically, the user grasps the gripping part 512 and inserts a finger between the gripping part 512 and the massage body 101, or grasps the massage body 501 itself and brings the protruding part 502 into contact with the part to be treated W and moves it.

[0102] In this case, the user can perform a massage with a weak pressing force by the tip of the first protrusion 502a formed in a cone shape, by bringing the first protrusion 502a into contact with the treated part W and moving the second protrusion 502b close to or away from the treated part W so as not to contact the treated part W, or by sliding it back and forth along the treated part W. In particular, when the treated part W is the scalp, in addition to massaging the scalp, it is possible to promote lathering during hair washing and to improve the washing effect of the scalp and hair. In addition, the user can obtain various massage effects by performing various operations such as tilting the treatment main body 101, rotating it, changing the pressing force, tapping the treated part W with the treatment main body 501, or changing the treatment position.

[0103] In addition, the user can perform massage using the second protrusion 502b in addition to the first protrusion 502a by contacting the treatment area W with the second protrusion 502b and moving it closer to or farther from the treatment area W, changing the pressing force, rotating the treatment body 501, or sliding it back and forth along the treatment area W, thereby performing massage using the second protrusion 502b in addition to massage using the first protrusion 502a. In particular, when the treatment area W is the scalp, a massage like finger pressure can be performed using the columnar second protrusion 502b with a spherical tip. In addition, the user can obtain various massage effects by performing various operations such as tilting the treatment body 101, sliding it along the skin, tapping the treatment area W with the treatment body 101, or changing the treatment position.

[0104] When the user wishes to finish the treatment with the massage tool 500, the user can finish the treatment with the massage tool 500 by removing the treatment body 501 from the part to be treated W. The part to be treated W can be any part of the body that the person to be treated desires to be treated, for example, the head, face, upper limbs, trunk, or lower limbs.

[0105] As can be understood from the above operation description, according to the fifth embodiment, the massage tool 500 is provided with a first protrusion 502a having a conically pointed tip, and a second protrusion 502b having a thicker tip than the first protrusion 502a. Therefore, by pressing the second protrusion 502b against the treatment area W, a massage can be performed in a stable state using the first protrusion 502a having a pointed tip, thereby providing a massage effect through a new stimulus.

[0106] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0107] For example, in the fifth embodiment, the protrusion 502 is configured so that the first protrusion 502a protrudes more than the second protrusion 502b. However, the protrusion 502 may be configured so that the first protrusion 502a and the second protrusion 502b have the same protrusion amount, or the second protrusion 502b protrudes more than the first protrusion 502a.

[0108] In the fifth embodiment, the protrusion 502 is composed of eight first protrusions 502a and four second protrusions 502b. However, the protrusion 502 may have at least two first protrusions 502a and two second protrusions 502b. In this case, the protrusion 502 has the first protrusions 502a arranged around at least three or more second protrusions 502b, so that the second protrusions 502b are pressed against the treatment area W, and the first protrusions 502a with their pointed tips can perform a massage in a stable state.

[0109] In the fifth embodiment, the treatment body 501 is configured to be detachable from the gripping body 510 and the mounting angle is changeable. However, the treatment body 501 can be configured to be non-detachable from the gripping body 510. That is, the treatment body 501 can be configured as a separate body from the gripping body 510, but can also be configured integrally with the same material. Also, the treatment body 501 can be configured to be non-changeable in mounting angle with respect to the gripping body 510.

[0110] In the fifth embodiment, the massage tool 500 is configured such that the connecting portion 505 is formed in a concave shape and the connecting portion 511 is formed in a convex shape, and the connecting portion 511 is fitted into the connecting portion 505. However, the massage tool 500 can also be configured such that the connecting portion 505 is formed in a convex shape and the connecting portion 511 is formed in a concave shape, and the connecting portion 505 is fitted into the connecting portion 511.

[0111] In the above fifth embodiment, the massage tool 500 is configured by connecting the gripping body 510 to the treatment body 501. However, the massage tool 500 can be configured without the gripping body 510. In this case, the user can directly grip the treatment body 501 to perform massage. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] W...Treatment area, C...Virtual circle, J...Central axis, H...Protrusion amount, S...Gap, L...Center line, 100...Massage tools, 101... treatment body, 102... protrusion, 103... base surface, 103a... contact area, 104... base support part, 105... connection part, 106... intermediate pad, 107... support part cover, 108... heat storage material storage part, 108a... heat storage material, 110: gripping body, 111: connection portion, 111a: ball portion, 111b: stud portion, 112: gripping portion, 113: hollow portion, 200...Massage equipment, 210: gripping body, 211: connection portion, 211b: stud portion, 212: arm portion, 213: gripping portion, 300...Massage equipment, 310: gripping body, 311: connection portion, 311b: stud portion, 312: arm portion, 313: gripping portion, 314: connecting portion, 400...Massage equipment, 410: gripping body, 411: connection portion, 412: arm portion, 413: gripping portion, 500...Massage equipment, 501... treatment body, 502... protrusion, 502a... first protrusion, 502b... second protrusion, 503... base surface, 504... base support, 504a... external support, 504b... internal support, 505... connection, 510: gripping body, 511: connection portion, 511a: engagement ring, 512: gripping portion.

Claims

1. A massage tool that is held by hand for massage, A treatment body having a base surface formed of a spherical surface that protrudes convexly toward the treatment area; At least three protrusions formed protruding from the base surface, The at least three protrusions are A massage tool characterized in that, when the at least three protrusions contact the treatment area simultaneously, the base surface in the inner region of the at least three protrusions also contacts the treatment area simultaneously.

2. The massage tool according to claim 1, At least one of the protrusions is A massage tool characterized in that a heat storage material having a specific heat larger than that of a material constituting the surfaces of said protrusions is accommodated inside said massage tool.

3. The massage tool according to claim 1 or 2, The base surface is The contact area has a diameter of at least 10 mm at the center, and the protrusion is not formed therein. The at least three protrusions are A massage tool characterized in that it is formed outside the contact area on the base surface.

4. The massage tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The at least three protrusions are A massage tool, characterized in that the protruding direction of each protrusion faces outward with respect to the central axis of the base surface.

5. The massage tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The treatment body is A massage tool characterized in that a hollow portion is formed inside the inside of the base surface.

6. The massage tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The treatment body is A massage tool comprising a grip for being held by hand and protruding from the side opposite to the base surface.

7. The massage tool according to claim 6, The gripping body is The massage tool is configured to be freely attached to and detached from the massage body.

8. The massage tool according to claim 6 or 7, The gripping body is A massage tool characterized in that the orientation of the massage tool is changeable relative to the treatment body.

9. The massage tool according to any one of claims 6 to 8, The gripping body is An arm portion extending from the treatment body; and a gripping portion provided on the arm portion to be gripped by hand.

10. The massage tool according to claim 9, The gripping body includes two gripping bodies. The two gripping bodies are The ends of the arms are connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other such that the ends of the arms approach or move away from each other. The treatment body is A massage tool characterized in that the massagers are provided at opposing positions on each arm portion of the two gripping bodies.

11. A massage tool that is held by hand for massage, A treatment body having a base surface formed of a spherical surface that protrudes convexly toward the treatment area; A plurality of first protrusions formed to protrude from the base surface; a plurality of second protrusions formed to protrude from the base surface; The first protrusions have a tip portion formed to be conically pointed, The massage tool according to claim 1, wherein the second protrusions have tips that are thicker than the tips of the first protrusions.

12. The massage tool according to claim 11, The first protrusion portion is A massage tool, characterized in that a tip portion thereof protrudes further than the tip portion of the second protrusion portion.

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