Massage equipment

Abstract

To enhance satisfaction to be obtained by massaging and also to prevent the occurrence of a failure and the increase of power consumption by suppressing a motor load with the increase of a drive resistance concerning a massage machine.SOLUTION: A massage machine includes: a massage head 2 equipped with a drive part 16 having a motor 17; and massage bodies 6 arranged in the massage head 2 so as to be abutted to the front surface of a human body. The massage bodies 6 include: mobile massage bodies 74 to be driven by the drive part 16; and fixed massage bodies 75 arranged in a fixed state. The mobile massage bodies 74 and the fixed massage bodies 75 are projected forward from the front surface of the massage head 2. The massage bodies 6 have movability. The elastic modulus of the mobile massage bodies 74 is relatively smaller and the elastic modulus of the fixed massage bodies 75 is relatively greater.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a massage device that applies massage stimulation to a human body surface such as the scalp. [Background technology]

[0002] This type of massage device is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. The massage device (name of invention: scalp care device) in Patent Document 1 is constructed using a main housing as a base, and is provided with a massager (massage body) on the upper part of the main housing, and a mist generating unit arranged to surround the outer periphery of the massager. The massager is formed in a roughly cylindrical shape, and has four massage projections extending upward on its upper surface, and is driven to rotate by a motor mounted in the main housing. The massage projections are made of a flexible elastic body, and are arranged at equal intervals on the same circle centered on the rotation axis of the massager. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-11177 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the scalp care device of Patent Document 1, the strength of the massage stimulation by the treatment projection can be adjusted by adjusting the pressure of the scalp care device against the scalp (surface of the human body), so that the massage stimulation of the strength preferred by the user can be applied to the scalp. However, in the scalp care device of Patent Document 1, the massage stimulation is only applied to the scalp by the rotation of the treatment projection, and the massage stimulation is monotonous, making it difficult to obtain a sense of satisfaction. In addition, when the scalp is pressed strongly against the scalp during massage, a braking force acts on the rotational motion of the treatment element due to the driving resistance caused by friction between the scalp and the treatment projection, and the load of the motor that rotates the treatment element increases due to the braking force. This increase in motor load causes an overcurrent to be supplied from the power supply unit to the motor, and if the supply of the overcurrent is prolonged, the motor may burn out. In addition, there is also a problem that the power consumption of the motor increases by the amount of the overcurrent supplied.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a massage device that not only enhances the sense of satisfaction obtained from a massage, but also suppresses the motor load associated with increased drive resistance, thereby preventing the occurrence of breakdowns and increased power consumption. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The massage device of the present invention comprises a massage head 2 provided with a drive unit 16 having a motor 17, and a massage body 6 provided on the massage head 2 and brought into contact with the surface of the human body. The massage body 6 comprises a movable massage body 74 driven by the drive unit 16 and a fixed massage body 75 provided in a fixed state, and a plurality of movable massage bodies 74 and fixed massage bodies 75 are provided so as to protrude forward from the front surface of the massage head 2.

[0007] When the front surface of the massage head 2 is defined as a reference plane F, the dimension from the reference plane F to the front end of the movable massage body 74 in the front-rear direction is defined as H1, and the dimension from the reference plane F to the front end of the fixed massage body 75 in the front-rear direction is defined as H2, the inequality (H2 ​

[0008] At least the movable massage body 74 is flexible.

[0009] The movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75 are flexible.

[0010] The elastic modulus of the movable massage body 74 and the elastic modulus of the fixed massage body 75 are configured to be different from each other.

[0011] The elastic modulus of the movable massage body 74 is relatively small, and the elastic modulus of the fixed massage body 75 is relatively large.

[0012] The massage body 6 includes an annular base ring 73 that supports the base ends of a movable massage body 74 and a fixed massage body 75, and the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction on the front surface of the base ring 73. A mounting recess 121 is formed in a circumferential manner on the front surface of the massage head 2, and the base ring 73 is fitted and fixed in the mounting recess 121 in an embedded manner.

[0013] The massage head 2 includes a head body 10 having a drive unit 16 provided therein, a ring-shaped unit holder 11 detachably provided at the front of the head body 10, and a head unit 12 whose peripheral portion is held by the unit holder 11 and fixed to the head body 10. The massage body 6 is provided in the head unit 12.

[0014] The driving unit 16 has a rotation axis R in the front-rear direction and is equipped with an output shaft 26 to which the rotational power of the motor 17 is output. The movable massage body 74 of the massage body 6 is operated by an operation shaft 102 that is rotatably supported by the head unit 12 and connected to the output shaft 26. The operation shaft 102 has an operation arm 110 that extends forward and is inserted into the movable massage body 74 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a central axis C along the extension direction of the operation arm 110 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis R of the output shaft 26. The connection posture of the operation shaft 102 with respect to the output shaft 26 is configured to be changeable around the rotation axis R of the output shaft 26.

[0015] A mounting recess 80 formed as a circumferential recess is provided on the rear surface of the base ring 73 of the massage body 6, and an opening 81 of the movable massage body 74 faces the mounting recess 80. The head unit 12 includes a unit base 83 on which the operation shaft 102 is pivotally supported, and a ring holder 85 provided on the front side of the unit base 83 and holding the base ring 73 while being disposed inside the mounting recess 80, and the unit base 83 and the ring holder 85 are fastened and fixed by a fastener 128. The operation arm 110 of the operation shaft 102 is inserted into the movable massage body 74 from the opening 81 through a notch 92 formed in the ring holder 85.

[0016] The head unit 12 includes a unit cover 84 having a cover front wall 117 that constitutes the front surface of the massage head 2, and a mounting recess 121 is formed in the cover front wall 117. The unit base 83 and the ring holder 85 are provided in a state in which they sandwich a recess bottom wall 122 of the mounting recess 121 provided in the unit cover 84.

[0017] A water discharge part 5 that discharges water forward is provided on the front surface of the massage head 2.

[0018] The massage body 6 includes an annular base ring 73 that supports the base ends of the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75, and the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75 are disposed on the front surface of the base ring 73. The water discharger 5 is configured to be formed on the inside of the base ring 73 and on the front surface of the massage head 2 facing the outer periphery of the base ring 73. When viewed from the front of the massage head 2, the water discharger 5 is not formed on the front surface of the massage head 2 that overlaps with the movable area S defined by the area surrounded by the drive locus of the movable massage body 74.

[0019] The base ring 73 of the massage body 6 is arranged concentrically with the front surface of the massage head 2, which is formed into a circular shape when viewed from the front, and the front surface of the massage head 2 is formed into a partially spherical shape with its central portion protruding furthest forward. Effect of the Invention

[0020] In the massage device of the present invention, when a plurality of movable massage bodies 74 driven by the drive unit 16 and fixed massage bodies 75 are provided, massage stimuli of different stimulating modes can be applied to a plurality of locations on the human body surface by the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75, so that the massage stimuli can be prevented from becoming monotonous as in the conventional massage device (scalp care device). In addition, when the fixed massage body 75 is provided protruding forward from the front surface of the massage head 2, the pressing operation of the massage head 2 against the human body surface is regulated by the fixed massage body 75 by the fixed massage body 75 being stretched between the massage head 2 and the human body surface, so that the driving resistance caused by the friction between the human body surface and the movable massage body 74 can be prevented from becoming excessive. As described above, according to the massage device of the present invention, the satisfaction obtained from the massage can be increased, and further, the motor load associated with the increase in driving resistance can be suppressed, so that the massage device can be prevented from breaking down and the power consumption from increasing.

[0021] When the front surface of the massage head 2 is defined as a reference plane F, the dimension from the reference plane F to the front end of the movable massage body 74 in the front-rear direction is defined as H1, and the dimension from the reference plane F to the front end of the fixed massage body 75 in the front-rear direction is defined as H2, the inequality (H2

[0022] If at least the movable massage body 74 has flexibility, the movable massage body 74 can be deformed when driven, and therefore the driving resistance between the human body surface and the movable massage body 74 can be reduced. In addition, the movable massage body 74 driven by the drive unit 16 can be made to feel soft on the skin. If the fixed massage body 75 is rigid, the movable massage body 74 can give a massage stimulus that feels soft on the skin, and the fixed massage body 75 can give a massage stimulus that feels hard on the skin, to the human body surface.

[0023] If the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75 are flexible, the massage bodies 74, 75 can be made to feel soft against the skin.

[0024] If the elastic modulus of the movable massage body 74 and the elastic modulus of the fixed massage body 75 are configured to be different in magnitude, massage stimuli of different strengths can be applied to the human body surface even when the massage body 6 is brought into contact with the human body surface without driving the movable massage body 74. Therefore, regardless of the driving state of the movable massage body 74, massage stimuli of different stimulating modes can be applied to the human body surface.

[0025] ​When the elastic modulus of the movable massage body 74 is relatively small and the elastic modulus of the fixed massage body 75 is relatively large, the pressing operation of the massage head 2 against the surface of the human body can be precisely regulated by the fixed massage body 75 bracing it.

[0026] The massage body 6 includes an annular base ring 73 supporting the base ends of the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75, and the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75 are arranged in a circumferential manner on the front surface of the base ring 73. When the mounting recess 121 is formed in a circumferential manner on the front surface of the massage head 2 and the base ring 73 is embedded and fixed in the mounting recess 121, the base ring 73 supporting the base ends of both massage bodies 74 and 75 is firmly supported so as to be surrounded by the wall of the mounting recess 121, and deformation of the base ring 73 when both massage bodies 74 and 75 come into contact with the surface of the human body can be suppressed. Therefore, the base ring 73 supports both massage bodies 74 and 75 in a proper posture, and the massage stimulation by the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75 can be appropriately applied to the surface of the human body.

[0027] The massage head 2 comprises a head body 10 on which a drive unit 16 is provided, a ring-shaped unit holder 11 detachably provided on the front of the head body 10, and a head unit 12 whose peripheral portion is held by the unit holder 11 and fixed to the head body 10, and when the massage body 6 is provided on the head unit 12, the head unit 12 can be separated from the massage head 2 by removing the unit holder 11 from the head body 10 and releasing the hold of the head unit 12. This allows the entire head unit 12, including the massage body 6 which comes into contact with the human body surface and is prone to sebum and the like, to be easily washed without the head body 10 getting in the way.

[0028] The driving unit 16 has a rotation axis R in the front-rear direction and is equipped with an output shaft 26 to which the rotational power of the motor 17 is output, and the movable massage body 74 of the massage body 6 is operated by an operating shaft 102 rotatably supported by the head unit 12 and connected to the output shaft 26, and the operating shaft 102 has an operating arm 110 that is inserted into the movable massage body 74 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape extending forward, and the central axis C along the extending direction of the operating arm 110 can be configured to be inclined with respect to the rotation axis R of the output shaft 26. According to this, the movable massage body 74 can be rotated so that the tip draws a circle when viewed from the front, thereby providing a massage stimulus to the surface of the human body. In addition, if the connecting attitude of the operating shaft 102 with respect to the output shaft 26 is configured to be changeable around the rotation axis R of the output shaft 26, the connecting attitude of the operating shaft 102 can be set individually for each operating shaft 102, and the rotation start position of the movable massage body 74 to be rotated can be changed for each movable massage body 74. Therefore, simply by changing the connection posture of the operating shaft 102 relative to the output shaft 26, the rotational drive phases of each movable massage body 74 can be made to operate in the same phase or in different phases, making it possible to apply various forms of massage stimulation to the surface of the human body.

[0029] The head unit 12 includes a unit base 83 on which the operating shaft 102 is pivotally supported, and a ring holder 85 that holds the base ring 73 while being disposed inside an attachment recess 80 formed in a recess on the rear surface of the base ring 73. When the unit base 83 and the ring holder 85 are fastened and fixed with a fastener 128, the base ring 73 of the massage body 6 can be reinforced and firmly held by the ring holder 85 fastened and fixed to the unit base 83. In addition, when the operating arm 110 of the operating shaft 102 is inserted into the inside of the movable massage body 74 from the opening 81 facing the attachment recess 80 through the cutout 92 formed in the ring holder 85, the movable massage body 74 can be properly operated by the operating arm 110 while avoiding the reinforcing ring holder 85, while the unit base 83 is firmly held by the ring holder 85.

[0030] The head unit 12 is equipped with a unit cover 84 having a cover front wall 117 that forms the front surface of the massage head 2, and a mounting recess 121 is formed in the cover front wall 117. When the unit base 83 and the ring holder 85 are arranged in a state in which they sandwich the bottom wall 122 of the mounting recess 121 provided in the unit cover 84, the ring holder 85, the unit cover 84 and the unit base 83 can be firmly fixed together, and further, the movable massage body 74 of the massage body 6 held by the ring holder 85 and fixed to the unit cover 84 can be reliably operated by the operating arm 110 of the operating shaft 102 that is pivotally supported by the unit base 83.

[0031] When a water discharge section 5 that discharges water forward is provided on the front side of the massage head 2, the pressure of the water discharged from the water discharge section 5 in addition to the massage body 6 can impart a massage stimulation to the human body surface that is different from the stimulation mode provided by the massage body 6, further enhancing the satisfaction of the massage.

[0032] The water-discharging section 5 is configured to be formed on the inside of the base ring 73 of the massage body 6 and on the front surface of the massage head 2 facing the outer peripheral edge of the base ring 73, and the water-discharging section 5 is configured not to be formed on the front surface of the massage head 2 that overlaps the movable area S defined by the area surrounded by the drive trajectory of the movable massage body 74 when viewed from the front.This makes it possible to prevent water discharged from the water-discharging section 5 from colliding with the movable massage body 74, thereby preventing water from splashing in unintended directions.

[0033] The base ring 73 of the massage body 6 is arranged concentrically with the front surface of the massage head 2 which is circular when viewed from the front. When the front surface of the massage head 2 is formed in a partially spherical shape with its central portion protruding furthest forward, a difference can be made between the distance between the human body surface and the outlet portion 5 formed on the inner portion of the base ring 73 and the distance between the human body surface and the outlet portion 5 formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the base ring 73, so that the water pressure when it reaches the human body surface at the inner and outer outlet portions 5 can be made different, and massage stimulation by water pressures of different strengths can be applied to the human body surface. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a massage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the entire massage device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of the massage device. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which the grip tube is separated from the base tube. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an exploded plan view showing a state in which a unit holder and a head unit are separated from a head main body. [Figure 8] 13 is a front view showing a state in which the head unit is separated and the head unit and the unit holder are inverted. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a massage body and a ring holder. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which an operating shaft is separated from a unit base. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a method for fixing the connecting shaft and the arm shaft. [Figure 12] 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 11, showing a state in which the operating shaft is attached to the unit base. [Figure 13]FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional plan view showing a state in which the head unit is disassembled. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state of an output shaft and an operating shaft. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a front view of the massage head. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] (Embodiment) Figures 1 to 16 show an embodiment of the massage device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, front, back, left, right, up and down refer to the crossed arrows shown in Figures 2 and 3 and the indications of front, back, left, right, up and down written near each arrow. The massage device of this embodiment is configured as a shower head 1, and in Figure 2, the shower head 1 includes a head portion (massage head) 2 and a grip portion 3 that extends downward from the head portion 2 to form a handle, and a water supply hose 4 is connected to the lower end of the grip portion 3. A group of water outlet holes (water outlet portion) 5 and a massage body 6 are arranged on the front surface of the head portion 2.

[0036] 2 and 3, the head part 2 is formed in a barrel shape and includes a head body 10 serving as a base, a unit holder 11 detachably provided at the front of the head body 10, and a head unit 12 whose peripheral portion is held by the unit holder 11 and fixed to the head body 10. The head body 10 includes a cup-shaped head case 15 having a front opening, and a drive unit (drive section) 16 provided inside the head case 15. The drive unit 16 drives the massage body 6, and includes a motor 17 serving as a drive source, a speed reduction mechanism 18 which reduces the rotational power of the motor 17 while branching and outputting it, and a drive case 19 which houses the motor 17 and the speed reduction mechanism 18.

[0037] As shown in Figures 3, 4 and 8, the reduction mechanism 18 includes a reducer 20 to which the main shaft of the motor 17 is connected and which reduces and outputs the rotation of the motor 17, a driving gear 21 connected to the main shaft of the reducer 20, an intermediate gear 22 which is driven to rotate by the driving gear 21, a pair of left and right branch gears 23, 23 which branch the rotational power of the intermediate gear 22 into two systems, and four driven gears 24 which are driven to rotate by the branch gear 23. The intermediate gear 22 is provided integrally with the left branch gear 23 (see Figure 5), and each branch gear 23 drives two driven gears 24. Each driven gear 24 is fixed to a gear shaft 25, and an output shaft 26 to which the reduced rotational power is output is fixed integrally to the gear shaft 25. The tip side of the output shaft 26 is formed as a drive shaft portion 27 consisting of a cross shaft. In Figure 8, when the driving gear 21 rotates clockwise, the upper and lower output shafts 26 arranged on the left side of the head portion 2 rotate clockwise, and the upper and lower output shafts 26 arranged on the right side of the head portion 2 rotate counterclockwise.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, the drive case 19 includes a cylindrical front case 29 with a bottom and a rear opening, a rear case 30 that covers the rear opening of the front case 29, and a gear frame 31 that is disposed inside the cylinder of the front case 29 and rotatably supports the gears 21-24 and the gear shaft 25. The motor 17 and the reducer 20 are housed and held inside a cylindrical motor cylinder 32 with a bottom formed in the rear case 30. The front case 29 and the rear case 30 are fastened and fixed with screws (not shown) so as to sandwich the gear frame 31 therebetween, and the inside of the drive case 19 surrounded by the front case 29 and the rear case 30 is configured to be watertight. Each output shaft 26 penetrates a case front wall 34 of the front case 29, and the drive shaft portion 27 protrudes forward of the drive case 19 (see FIG. 7). Between the case front wall 34 and each output shaft 26, a seal ring 35 is provided to prevent hot and cold water (water) from entering the inside of the drive case 19, and the seal ring 35 is held by the case front wall 34 and a case front cover 36 fixed to the front side of the case. The drive case 19 is integrated as the head main body 10 by fastening and fixing the rear case 30 to the head case 15 with screws 37.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the grip section 3 includes a hollow cylindrical grip case 40 having circular inner and outer cross sections. The grip case 40 includes a base tube 41 formed integrally with the head case 15, and a grip tube 42 detachably connected to the base tube 41, and the water supply hose 4 is connected to the lower end of the grip tube 42 formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape (see FIG. 2). A cylindrical socket fixing tube 43 is provided inside the base tube 41, and the upper side of the grip section 3 is configured into a double-tube shape by the base tube 41 and the socket fixing tube 43. A socket 45 having a socket recess 44 opening downward is provided at the lower end of the socket fixing tube 43, and a power source 55 described later is fixed to the socket 45.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 6, four bayonet grooves 46 are formed at equal intervals on the upper outer peripheral edge of the grip tube 42, and four bayonet claws 47 are formed at equal intervals on the lower inner peripheral edge of the base tube 41 corresponding to the bayonet grooves 46. The grip tube 42 is attached to the base tube 41 or separated from the base tube 41 by engaging and disengaging these bayonet grooves 46 and bayonet claws 47. When the grip tube 42 is separated from the base tube 41, the power supply 55 fixed to the socket 45 can be exposed. In Figs. 3 and 6, reference numeral 48 denotes a packing that seals the connection between the base tube 41 and the grip tube 42 in a watertight manner.

[0041] In order to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the base tube 41 and the grip tube 42, a grip index body 49 is provided on the grip case 40. As shown in FIG. 6, the grip index body 49 is composed of a reference mark 50 protruding from the front of the outer surface of the base tube 41, and a release mark 51 and a lock mark 52 protruding from the front of the outer surface of the grip tube 42. The right side of the marks on the front surface of the grip tube 42 is the release mark 51, and when the release mark 51 matches the reference mark 50, the bayonet claw 47 comes out of the bayonet groove 46, and the grip tube 42 can be inserted and removed in the vertical direction relative to the base tube 41. The left side is the lock mark 52, and when the lock mark 52 matches the reference mark 50, the bayonet groove 46 and the bayonet claw 47 are engaged, and the grip tube 42 is fixed to the base tube 41.

[0042] A power supply unit 55 is provided inside the grip unit 3 to supply power to the motor 17. As shown in FIG. 6, the power supply unit 55 is made up of a battery 56, which is a secondary battery having an integrated charging circuit, a battery module 57 in which the battery 56 is hermetically enclosed, and a module case 58 formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom for fixing the battery module 57 to the socket 45. The power supply unit 55 is configured to be detachable from the socket 45 by a screw structure provided between the module case 58 and the socket recess 44. The battery module 57 has a pair of power supply terminals 61 that output power from the battery 56, and the socket 45 has a pair of power receiving terminals 62 that receive the power output by the power supply terminals 61. The terminals 61 and 62 are connected when the power supply unit 55 is fixed to the socket 45, and a current-carrying state is established.

[0043] The power supply 55 separated from the socket 45 is fixed to the socket 45 by inserting the upper end of the module case 58 into the socket recess 44 with the battery module 57 housed inside the module case 58, and then rotating the battery module 57 clockwise to establish the screwed state of the screw structure. The power supply 55 fixed to the socket 45 is separated from the socket 45 by rotating the battery module 57 counterclockwise to release the screwed state of the screw structure, and then pulling it out downward.

[0044] 7 and 8, the unit holder 11 is formed in a ring shape and is attached to the front outer periphery of the head main body 10. Four bayonet grooves 65 are formed at equal intervals on the front outer periphery of the head case 15, and four bayonet claws 66 are formed at equal intervals on the rear inner periphery of the unit holder 11 in correspondence with the bayonet grooves 65. The unit holder 11 is attached to the head case 15 or separated from the head case 15 by engaging and disengaging these bayonet grooves 65 and bayonet claws 66.

[0045] A head index body 67 is provided to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the unit holder 11. The head index body 67 is composed of a reference mark 68 protruding from the upper outer surface of the head case 15, and a release mark 69 and a lock mark 70 protruding from the upper outer surface of the unit holder 11. The right side of the marks on the upper surface of the unit holder 11 is the release mark 69, and when the release mark 69 matches the reference mark 68 (as shown in FIG. 7), the unit holder 11 can be inserted and removed in the front-rear direction relative to the head case 15. The left side is the lock mark 70, and when the lock mark 70 matches the reference mark 68 (as shown in FIG. 2), the bayonet groove 65 and the bayonet claw 66 engage with each other to fix the unit holder 11 to the head case 15.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 9, the massage body 6 includes an annular base ring 73, a movable massage body 74, and a fixed massage body 75, the base end of which is supported by the base ring 73, and the massage body 6 is entirely made of a flexible rubber material. The movable massage body 74 is configured to be driven by the drive unit 16, and is formed in a bottomed tubular shape protruding from the base ring 73. The fixed massage body 75 is fixedly provided on the base ring 73, and is formed in a solid conical column shape protruding from the base ring 73. The elastic modulus of the movable massage body 74 and the elastic modulus of the fixed massage body 75 are configured to be different in magnitude, and the movable massage body 74 formed in a hollow shape has a relatively small elastic modulus, and the fixed massage body 75 formed in a solid shape has a relatively large elastic modulus. Five stimulating protrusions 76 formed in a cylindrical shape are provided at the front end of the movable massage body 74.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 9, the base ring 73 has an annular ring wall 77, an inner peripheral wall 78 extending rearward from the inner peripheral edge of the ring wall 77, and an outer peripheral wall 79 extending rearward from the outer peripheral edge of the ring wall 77. A mounting recess 80 consisting of a circular recess surrounded by the ring wall 77 and the inner and outer peripheral walls 78 and 79 is formed on the rear surface of the base ring 73. Four (plural) movable massage bodies 74 and four (plural) fixed massage bodies 75 are provided, and are alternately arranged at equal intervals on the front surface of the ring wall 77. An opening 81 of the bottomed cylindrical movable massage body 74 is open facing the mounting recess 80.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 13, the head unit 12 includes the massage body 6, a unit base 83 that is the base of the head unit 12, a unit cover 84 that covers the front surface and the upper, lower, left and right peripheral surfaces of the unit base 83, and a ring holder 85 that holds the massage body 6. The ring holder 85 includes a holder body 86 made of an annular plate and four bosses 87 for fastening and fixing that are provided at equal intervals on the rear surface of the holder body 86. Four inner fitting claws 88 are provided on the inner peripheral edge of the holder body 86 so as to protrude inward, and four outer fitting claws 89 are provided on the outer peripheral edge of the holder body 86 so as to protrude outward. The inner fitting claws 88 and the outer fitting claws 89 are formed at positions that are out of phase with each other by 90 degrees. The massage body 6 and the ring holder 85 are integrated by fitting the holder body 86 into the mounting recess 80, fitting the inner fitting claws 88 into the inner fitting holes 90 formed in the inner peripheral wall 78, and further fitting the outer fitting claws 89 into the outer fitting holes 91 formed in the outer peripheral wall 79, and the massage body 6 is held by the ring holder 85 by this integration. The ring holder 85 has a notch 92 cut inward from the outer peripheral edge at a portion directly opposite the opening 81 of the movable massage body 74, and the opening 81 is exposed on the rear surface through the notch 92. When the massage body 6 is held by the ring holder 85, a gap is formed between the front surface of the holder body 86 and the rear surface of the ring wall 77.

[0049] 13 and 14, the unit base 83 includes a disk-shaped main wall 95, a base peripheral wall 96 extending forward and backward from the peripheral edge of the main wall 95, a boss receiver 97 provided on the front surface of the main wall 95 for receiving the boss 87 of the ring holder 85, a water channel tube 98 protruding forward from the center of the front surface of the main wall 95, and a water channel frame 99 provided on the rear surface of the main wall 95 and having a hollow portion opening on the left and right sides of the base peripheral wall 96 and on the bottom surface of the water channel tube 98. The unit base 83 rotatably supports an operating shaft 102 connected to the output shaft 26 to operate the movable massage body 74.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the operating shaft 102 includes a connecting shaft 103 for connecting with the output shaft 26, and an arm shaft 104 inserted into the movable massage body 74. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 12, the connecting shaft 103 has a fastening shaft portion 105 formed of a cross shaft formed on the front surface, and a passive hole 106 formed of a cross hole into which the drive shaft portion 27 is inserted formed on the rear surface. In addition, a flange wall 107 is formed to protrude outward from the rear end of the connecting shaft 103. The arm shaft 104 has a fastening seat 109 having an insertion hole 108 formed of a cross hole into which the fastening shaft portion 105 is inserted on the rear surface, and an operating arm 110 extending forward from the fastening seat 109, and a flange wall 111 is formed to protrude outward from the rear end of the fastening seat 109. As shown in FIG. 15, the central axis C along the extension direction of the operating arm 110 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis R of the output shaft 26, and in this embodiment, the angle between the rotation axis R and the central axis C is set to 20 degrees.

[0051] 11 and 12, the operating shaft 102 is supported by a support hole 112 penetrating the main wall 95. A retaining rib 113 is provided on the inner surface of the support hole 112, protruding inward at a midpoint in the front-rear direction, and bearing sleeves 114, one end of which is received by the retaining rib 113, are inserted and fixed into the support holes 112 on the front and rear sides of the retaining rib 113. To assemble the operating shaft 102 to the unit base 83, first, in the state shown in FIG. 10, the bearing sleeves 114 are inserted into the support holes 112 from the front and rear of the unit base 83. Next, the connecting shaft 103 is inserted into both bearing sleeves 114 from the rear side of the unit base 83, and then, from the front side of the unit base 83, the arm shaft 104 is fitted into the connecting shaft 103 after aligning the fastening shaft portion 105 with the insertion hole 108. Finally, by screwing a screw 115 into the fastening shaft portion 105 from the fastening seat 109 side, the connecting shaft 103 and the arm shaft 104 are integrated, and the operating shaft 102 is journaled by the unit base 83. The integrated operating shaft 102 has a bearing sleeve 114 sandwiched between a flange wall 107 of the connecting shaft 103 and a flange wall 111 of the arm shaft 104, which restricts movement of the operating shaft 102 in the front-rear direction.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, the unit cover 84 includes a disk-shaped cover front wall 117 and a cylindrical cover peripheral wall 118 extending rearward from the peripheral edge of the cover front wall 117. A first inner cylinder wall 119 having a smaller diameter than the cover peripheral wall 118 and a second inner cylinder wall 120 having a smaller diameter than the first inner cylinder wall 119 are formed on the rear surface of the cover front wall 117, and a circular mounting recess 121 in which the massage body 6 is mounted is recessed and formed on the front surface of the cover front wall 117 between the first inner cylinder wall 119 and the second inner cylinder wall 120. The mounting recess 121 is defined by a recess bottom wall 122 forming the bottom of the mounting recess 121, the first inner cylinder wall 119, and the second inner cylinder wall 120, and the recess bottom wall 122 is alternately provided with four boss holes 123 through which the boss 87 is inserted and four insertion holes 124 through which the operating shaft 102 is inserted. The insertion hole 124 is disposed so as to face the notch 92 when the unit cover 84 and the ring holder 85 are assembled. The front surface of the cover front wall 117 of the unit cover 84, together with the front surface of the base ring 73 of the massage body 6, constitutes the front surface of the head portion 2.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 16, a group of minute water discharge holes 5 is formed on the inside and outside of the mounting recess 121 (massage body 6) in the cover front wall 117. The water discharge holes 5 inside the mounting recess 121 are arranged at equal intervals on a double concentric circle, and the water discharge holes 5 outside the mounting recess 121 are also arranged at equal intervals on a double concentric circle. In other words, the group of water discharge holes 5 is formed inside the base ring 73 of the massage body 6 and on the front surface of the head part 2 facing the outer periphery of the base ring 73. In Fig. 16, the symbol S is a movable area (part surrounded by a dashed line) defined by the area surrounded by the drive trajectory when the movable massage body 74 is driven, and the cover front wall 117 (front surface of the head part 2) overlapping the movable area S in a front view of the head part 2 is configured so that no water discharge holes 5 are formed. By removing the water discharge holes 5 from the portion overlapping with the movable area S of the movable massage body 74, it is possible to prevent hot and cold water discharged from the water discharge holes 5 from colliding with the movable massage body 74.

[0054] To assemble the head unit 12, first, the massage body 6 is held by the ring holder 85 in the state shown in Fig. 9, and then, as shown in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, the boss 87 is aligned with the boss hole 123 from the front side of the unit cover 84, and the massage body 6 is attached to the unit cover 84 so that the base ring 73 fits into the mounting recess 121, thereby temporarily fixing the ring holder 85 holding the massage body 6 to the unit cover 84. At this time, the insertion hole 124 and the cutout portion 92 face each other, and the opening 81 is exposed to the rear surface through the insertion hole 124 and the cutout portion 92. Next, the operating arm 110 of the operating shaft 102 assembled to the unit base 83 is aligned with the insertion hole 124 from the rear side of the unit cover 84, and the unit cover 84 is attached to the unit base 83 so that the front end of the base peripheral wall 96 fits inside the first inner cylinder wall 119, thereby temporarily fixing the unit base 83 and the unit cover 84 with the operating arm 110 inserted inside the movable massage body 74.

[0055] Finally, the three temporarily fixed components (unit base 83, unit cover 84, and ring holder 85 holding massage body 6) are fastened together with a screw (fastener) 128. The screw 128 is screwed into the boss 87 of the ring holder 85 through a screw hole 127 formed in the unit base 83. In Fig. 1 and Fig. 14, reference numerals 129 and 130 respectively denote packings. The packing 129 provides a watertight seal between the unit base 83 and the unit cover 84, and the packing 130 provides a watertight seal between the head unit 12 and the front case 29.

[0056] When the unit base 83, the unit cover 84, the ring holder 85, and the massage body 6 are assembled as the head unit 12, the cover front wall 117 of the unit cover 84 is sandwiched between the main wall 95 of the unit base 83 and the ring holder 85, so that the unit cover 84 is firmly fixed. As shown in FIG. 15, the operation arm 110 is inserted into the movable massage body 74 from the opening 81 through the insertion hole 124 and the notch 92. In FIG. 13 and FIG. 15, the reference numeral 131 denotes a cap body that is attached so as to cover the tip of the operation arm 110, and the cap body 131 is made of a material having a relatively small coefficient of friction, such as fluororesin. The movable massage body 74 is operated by the operation arm 110 with the cap body 131 in contact with its inner surface, and the cap body 131 reduces the frictional resistance between the movable massage body 74 and the operation arm 110, and also reduces wear of the movable massage body 74. As shown in Fig. 16, the front surface of the head portion 2, which is formed in a circular shape when viewed from the front, and the base ring 73 are arranged concentrically. Also, as shown in Fig. 5, the front surface of the cover front wall 117 and the front surface of the base ring 73 are smoothly continuous, and the front surface of the head portion 2 formed by these two (cover front wall 117 and base ring 73) is formed in a partially spherical shape with its center portion protruding furthest forward.

[0057] The vertex position of the front surface of the head part 2 formed in a partially spherical shape, that is, a plane that passes through the center of the front surface of the head part 2 and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction, is defined as a reference plane F. The dimension in the front-rear direction from the reference plane F to the front end of the movable massage body 74 is defined as H1, and the dimension in the front-rear direction from the reference plane F to the front end of the fixed massage body 75 is defined as H2. As shown in FIG. 1, H1 and H2 are expressed by the inequality (H2

[0058] ​As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a power switch 134 for controlling the operation state of the drive unit 16 is provided on the rear surface of the head part 2. The power switch 134 includes a tactile switch body 135 and an operation button 136 for pressing the switch body 135, and the switch body 135 is mounted on a control board 137 for controlling the operation of the drive unit 16. When the operation button 136 is pressed while the drive unit 16 is stopped, the control board 137 energizes the motor 17, and the movable massage body 74 is operated by the operation arm 110 of the operation shaft 102 via the output shaft 26 to perform a massage operation. The motor 17 is first driven in a weak mode (low rotation speed) for providing a weak massage stimulus, and when the operation button 136 is pressed again, the motor 17 is driven in a strong mode (high rotation speed) for providing a strong massage stimulus. When the operation button 136 is pressed in the strong mode, the control board 137 stops the motor 17. Thereafter, each time the operation button 136 is pressed, the control board 137 repeatedly controls the motor 17 to switch between the weak mode, the strong mode, and stopped.

[0059] A water passage is provided inside the showerhead 1, leading from the water supply hose 4 to the water outlet hole 5. The water passage is made up of a water passage 140 provided inside the grip portion 3, a water supply passage 141 provided inside the head portion 2, and a water supply port 142 formed in the lower peripheral wall of the head case 15 to which the base tube 41 is connected, and communicating the water passage 140 and the water supply passage 141. The water passage 140 is made up of the internal space of the grip case 40, and the portion from the lower end of the grip tube 42 to the lower end of the power supply body 55 (module case 58) is a cylindrical water passage, and the portion above this portion, i.e., the power supply body 55, the socket 45, and the socket fixing tube 43, is a circular water passage.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the water supply passage 141 includes a main water supply passage 143 for supplying hot water to a group of water outlet holes 5 arranged on the outside of the massage body 6, and an auxiliary water supply passage 144 for supplying hot water to a group of water outlet holes 5 arranged on the inside of the massage body 6, and the main water supply passage 143 and the auxiliary water supply passage 144 are communicated with each other through a communication water passage 145. The main water supply passage 143 is partitioned by a space surrounded by the front case 29 and the unit base 83, and the head case 15 and the cover peripheral wall 118 in the front half of the head part 2, and the auxiliary water supply passage 144 is partitioned by an internal space of the water passage frame 99 and a space surrounded by the cover front wall 117 and the second inner cylinder wall 120. The communication water passage 145 is formed by the internal space of the water passage frame 99 (see Fig. 5). Water supplied from water supply port 142 to the inside of head portion 2 reaches water outlet holes 5 via water supply passage 141 and is discharged forward from each water outlet hole 5. The rear end side of main water supply passage 143 is partitioned watertight by watertight packing 146 arranged between head case 15 and drive case 19 (front case 29), preventing water from entering the rear half of the interior of head portion 2. When hot and cold water is supplied from an external water source to showerhead 1, it passes through water passage 140, water supply port 142, and water supply passage 141 and is discharged forward from the multiple water outlet holes 5.

[0061] The massage action can be performed regardless of whether hot and cold water is being discharged, and when hot and cold water is not being supplied from an external water source, the massage body 6 is performing a massage action, and the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75 are placed on the head to provide a massage stimulus to the scalp, etc. When hot and cold water is being supplied from an external water source, a massage stimulus can be provided to the scalp, etc. while washing away detergent, etc., adhering to the hair. The operation of the movable massage body 74 can assist in washing away detergent, etc., adhering to the hair.

[0062] For example, when the shower head 1 is operated with the drive unit 16 driven to place the massage body 6 on the head, the movable massage body 74 operated by the drive unit 16 comes into contact with the scalp (surface of the human body) first, and massage stimulation is applied to the scalp. In this embodiment, the movable massage body 74 is operated by the operation arm 110 whose central axis C is inclined with respect to the rotation axis R of the output shaft 26, so that the movable massage body 74 is swung as a whole so that its tip draws a circle when viewed from the front of the head part 2, and a kneading stimulation (massage stimulation) is applied to the scalp. When the shower head 1 is operated to further press the massage body 6 against the head, the fixed massage body 75 comes into contact with the scalp, and a pressing stimulation (massage stimulation) is applied to the scalp, and the movable massage body 74 gives a kneading stimulation to the scalp while the fixed massage body 75 holds the scalp.

[0063] If the massage body 6 is pressed further against the head from this state, the fixed massage body 75, which is set to have a relatively large elastic modulus, pushes against the scalp, preventing the massage body 6 from being pressed against the scalp excessively. This prevents the driving resistance caused by friction between the scalp and the movable massage body 74 from becoming excessive. At this time, due to the relationship between the protruding dimensions of the movable massage body 74, the fixed massage body 75, and the operating arm 110 described above, there is a distance between the operating arm 110 operating the movable massage body 74 and the scalp, so the operating arm 110 does not come into contact with the scalp via the movable massage body 74, which also prevents the driving resistance from becoming excessive.

[0064] On the other hand, by applying the massage body 6 to the head while hot and cold water is being discharged from the group of water discharge holes 5, a massage stimulus similar to a tapping stimulus can also be applied to the scalp by the pressure of the discharged hot and cold water. At this time, due to the shape of the front surface of the head part 2, the group of water discharge holes 5 arranged on the inside of the massage body 6 is closer to the scalp than the group of water discharge holes 5 arranged on the outside of the massage body 6. Therefore, the water pressure when the hot and cold water discharged from the former hits the scalp is greater than the water pressure when the hot and cold water discharged from the latter hits the scalp, so that tapping stimulus of different strengths is applied to the scalp inside and outside.

[0065] The battery 56, whose power has been consumed by the drive unit 16, is separated from the shower head 1 and charged. When removing the power supply unit 55 from the shower head 1 in the state of FIG. 2, first, while the head case 15 is supported, the grip tube 42 is rotated counterclockwise to align the release mark 51 with the reference mark 50, thereby releasing the engagement between the bayonet groove 46 and the bayonet claw 47. In this state, the grip tube 42 is slid downward to separate the grip tube 42 from the base tube 41. Next, while the head case 15 is fixed, the module case 58 is rotated counterclockwise to release the screw structure, thereby separating the power supply unit 55 from the socket 45, and the battery module 57 can be removed by pulling it out of the module case 58. The battery module 57 can be charged by attaching the removed battery module 57 to a charger (not shown).

[0066] To attach the power supply unit 55 after charging the battery module 57, first insert the battery module 57 into the cylindrical interior of the module case 58. Next, insert the upper cylindrical end of the module case 58 into the socket recess 44. From this state, when the module case 58 is rotated clockwise, the screwing of the screw structure begins, and when the screwed state of the screw structure is established, the fixing of the power supply unit 55 to the socket 45 is completed. When the fixing of the power supply unit 55 is completed, the electrical connection between the power supply terminal 61 and the power receiving terminal 62 is also established.

[0067] Once the power supply unit 55 has been fixed to the socket 45, the reference mark 50 and the release mark 51 are aligned so that the power supply unit 55 is housed inside the grip tube 42, and then the grip tube 42 is inserted into the base tube 41 from below (see FIG. 6). Furthermore, the grip tube 42 is rotated clockwise with the head case 15 still fixed, and the reference mark 50 is matched with the lock mark 52, whereby the bayonet groove 46 and the bayonet claw 47 are engaged, and mounting of the grip tube 42 to the base tube 41 is completed.

[0068] During use of the shower head 1, limescale may build up in the hot and cold water channels, including the water supply channel 141, which may cause the hot and cold water to flow poorly from the water outlet 5. Therefore, it is preferable to periodically clean the hot and cold water channels. In addition, in order to prevent deterioration of hygiene due to adhesion of sebum and the like to the massage body 6, it is preferable to periodically wash the massage body 6. The water supply channel 141 and the massage body 6 can be easily cleaned by removing the head unit 12 from the head part 2. When removing the head unit 12 from the shower head 1 in the state of FIG. 2, first, the unit holder 11 attached to the head body 10 is rotated counterclockwise (counterclockwise when viewed from the front). This releases the engagement between the bayonet claw 66 and the bayonet groove 65, so that the unit holder 11 can be separated from the head case 15 to the front side. Furthermore, by separating the unit holder 11, the head unit 12 is released from the head case 15, so that the head unit 12 can be removed forward from the head case 15.

[0069] After removing the head unit 12, the head unit 12, the unit holder 11, and the inside of the head case 15 can be cleaned to remove water stains and the like adhering to the water supply passage 141. In addition, by washing the massage body 6, sebum and the like adhering to the massage body 6 can be removed. After cleaning and washing, the output shaft 26 and the operating shaft 102 are aligned, and the head unit 12 is inserted from the front to the rear into the head body 10. Next, after aligning the reference mark 68 and the release mark 69, the unit holder 11 is placed on the front of the head case 15 and rotated in the right direction (clockwise when viewed from the front), so that the bayonet claw 66 and the bayonet groove 65 are engaged, and the unit holder 11 can be attached to the head body 10. By attaching the unit holder 11, the head unit 12 is held by the head case 15.

[0070] Since the output shaft 26 and the operating shaft 102 are connected by the drive shaft portion 27 consisting of a cross shaft and the passive hole 106 consisting of a cross hole, when aligning the output shaft 26 and the operating shaft 102, the inclination direction of the central axis C of the operating arm 110 can be set in four directions, for example, upward, downward, left, and right, and the connection attitude of the operating shaft 102 to the output shaft 26 can be changed in four directions around the rotation axis R of the output shaft 26. The inclination direction of the central axis C of the operating arm 110 can be changed, for example, by inserting a flathead screwdriver or the like into the operating shaft 102 of the separated head unit 12 from the rear side. The connection posture of the operating shafts 102 can be changed for each operating shaft 102. For example, when viewed from the front, the upper two operating shafts 102 can be in a connection posture in which the central axis C of the operating arm 110 is tilted upward, and the lower two operating shafts 102 can be in a connection posture in which the central axis C of the operating arm 110 is tilted downward, or all of the operating shafts 102 can be in a connection posture in which the central axis C of the operating arm 110 is tilted leftward. By changing the connection posture of the operating shafts 102, the stimulation mode of the kneading stimulation by the movable massage body 74 can be changed.

[0071] As described above, in the massage device of this embodiment configured as the shower head 1, a plurality of movable massage bodies 74 driven by the drive unit 16 and fixed massage bodies 75 installed in a fixed state are provided, so that massage stimuli of different stimulating modes can be applied to a plurality of places on the scalp by the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75, and the massage stimuli do not become monotonous as in the conventional massage device (scalp care device). In addition, by providing the fixed massage body 75 protruding forward from the front surface of the massage head 2, the pressing operation of the massage head 2 against the human body surface is regulated by the fixed massage body 75 by the fixed massage body 75 being stretched between the massage head 2 and the human body surface, so that excessive driving resistance due to friction between the human body surface and the movable massage body 74 can be prevented. The movable massage body 74, which has a relatively small elastic modulus, is easily deformed, so that the driving resistance between the scalp and the movable massage body 74 can also be reduced. As described above, the massage device of this embodiment can enhance the sense of satisfaction obtained from a massage, and furthermore, can suppress the motor load associated with increased driving resistance, thereby preventing breakdown of the massage device and increased power consumption.

[0072] Since the dimension H1 in the front-rear direction from the reference plane F of the head part 2 to the front end of the movable massage body 74 is made larger than the dimension H2 in the front-rear direction from the reference plane F of the head part 2 to the front end of the fixed massage body 75, the movable massage body 74 can be brought into contact with the scalp before the fixed massage body 75 comes into contact with the scalp. This allows the massage stimulation by the movable massage body 74, which has a relatively strong stimulation intensity when driven, to be accurately applied to the scalp.

[0073] Since the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75 are flexible, the massage bodies 74, 75 can be made to feel soft against the skin.

[0074] Since the elastic modulus of the movable massage body 74 and the elastic modulus of the fixed massage body 75 are configured to be different from each other, massage stimuli of different strengths can be applied to the human body surface even when the massage body 6 is brought into contact with the human body surface without driving the movable massage body 74. Therefore, regardless of the driving state of the movable massage body 74, massage stimuli of different stimulating modes can be applied to the human body surface.

[0075] Furthermore, since the elastic modulus of the movable massage body 74 is relatively small and that of the fixed massage body 75 is relatively large, the pressing operation of the massage head 2 against the surface of the human body can be precisely regulated by the fixed massage body 75 pushing against it.

[0076] The annular base ring 73 of the massage body 6 is embedded and fixed in the mounting recess 121 formed as a circumferential recess on the front surface of the head part 2, so that the base ring 73 supporting the base ends of both massage bodies 74, 75 is firmly supported by being surrounded by the walls of the mounting recess 121 (the first inner cylinder wall 119, the second inner cylinder wall 120, and the recess bottom wall 122), thereby suppressing deformation of the base ring 73 when both massage bodies 74, 75 come into contact with the scalp. Therefore, the base ring 73 supports both massage bodies 74, 75 in the proper posture, and massage stimulation by the movable massage body 74 and the fixed massage body 75 can be accurately applied to the scalp.

[0077] When the massage body 6 is provided on the head unit 12 of the head part 2, which includes the head body 10 on which the drive unit 16 is provided, the ring-shaped unit holder 11 detachably provided on the front part of the head body 10, and the head unit 12 whose peripheral part is held by the unit holder 11 and fixed to the head body 10, the head unit 12 can be separated from the head part 2 by removing the unit holder 11 from the head body 10 and releasing the holding of the head unit 12. This allows the entire head unit 12, including the massage body 6 which comes into contact with the scalp and is prone to sebum and the like, to be easily washed without the head body 10 getting in the way.

[0078] The central axis C along the extension direction of the operating arm 110 that operates the movable massage body 74 of the operating shaft 102 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis R of the output shaft 26 connected to the operating shaft 102, so that the movable massage body 74 can be rotated so that the tip draws a circle when viewed from the front, thereby providing a massage stimulus to the scalp. In addition, the connecting attitude of the operating shaft 102 to the output shaft 26 is configured to be changeable around the rotation axis R of the output shaft 26, so that the connecting attitude of the operating shaft 102 can be set individually for each operating shaft 102, so that the rotation start position of the movable massage body 74 that is rotated can be changed for each movable massage body 74. Therefore, by simply changing the connecting attitude of the operating shaft 102 to the output shaft 26, the phase of the rotation drive of each movable massage body 74 can be operated in the same phase or in different phases, and various forms of massage stimuli can be provided to the scalp.

[0079] The head unit 12 includes a unit base 83 on which the operating shaft 102 is pivotally supported, and a ring holder 85 that holds the base ring 73 while being disposed inside a mounting recess 80 formed in a recess on the rear surface of the base ring 73. The unit base 83 and the ring holder 85 are fastened and fixed with screws 128, so that the base ring 73 of the massage body 6 can be firmly held while being reinforced by the ring holder 85 fastened and fixed to the unit base 83. In addition, the operating arm 110 of the operating shaft 102 is inserted into the inside of the movable massage body 74 from the opening 81 facing the mounting recess 80 through the cutout portion 92 formed in the ring holder 85, so that the movable massage body 74 can be properly operated by the operating arm 110 while avoiding the reinforcing ring holder 85, while the unit base 83 is firmly held by the ring holder 85.

[0080] The unit base 83 and the ring holder 85 are arranged in a state in which they sandwich the bottom wall 122 of the mounting recess 121 provided in the unit cover 84, so that the ring holder 85, the unit cover 84 and the unit base 83 can be firmly fixed together, and further, the movable massage body 74 of the massage body 6 held by the ring holder 85 and fixed to the unit cover 84 can be reliably operated by the operating arm 110 of the operating shaft 102 pivotally supported by the unit base 83.

[0081] A water discharge section 5 that discharges water forward is provided on the front of the head section 2, so that the pressure of the water discharged from the water discharge section 5 in addition to the massage body 6 can impart a massage stimulation to the scalp that is different from the stimulation mode provided by the massage body 6, further enhancing the satisfaction of the massage.

[0082] When viewed from the front, the head unit 2 is configured so that the water-discharging section 5 is not formed on the front surface of the head unit 2 that overlaps with the movable area S defined by the area surrounded by the drive trajectory of the movable massage body 74. This prevents water discharged from the water-discharging section 5 from colliding with the movable massage body 74 and prevents water from splashing in unintended directions.

[0083] The front surface of the head portion 2 is formed into a partial sphere with its central portion protruding furthest forward, so that a difference is made between the distance between the scalp and the outlet portion 5 formed on the inner portion of the base ring 73 and the distance between the scalp and the outlet portion 5 formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the base ring 73, making the water pressures when the inner and outer outlet portions 5 reach the scalp different, and allowing massage stimulation with water pressures of different intensities to be applied to the scalp.

[0084] In addition, the massage device of this embodiment can contribute to achieving some of the 17 goals set out in the "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)" established by the United Nations, such as "3: Good Health and Well-Being (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages)."

[0085] In the above embodiment, the base ring 73, the movable massage body 74, and the fixed massage body 75 are made of the same material to form the massage body 6 as an integrated unit, but the massage body 6 can also be formed by combining different materials. For example, both massage bodies 74 and 75 can be made of rigid bodies such as resin materials, and only the base ring 73 supporting these massage bodies 74 and 75 can be made of a flexible rubber material. Also, the base ring 73 and the movable massage body 74 can be made of a flexible rubber material, and the fixed massage body 75 can be made of a rigid body such as resin materials, or the movable massage body 74 can be made of a rigid body such as resin materials, and the base ring 73 and the fixed massage body 75 can be made of a flexible rubber material. Even if the movable massage body 74 is made of a rigid body, if the base ring 73 has flexibility, the base ring 73 supporting the base end of the movable massage body 74 will deform, so that the movable massage body 74 can be operated.

[0086] The configuration in which the elastic modulus of the movable massage body 74 and the elastic modulus of the fixed massage body 75 are different from each other includes a case in which both massage bodies 74, 75 are made of the same material, as well as a case in which both massage bodies 74, 75 are made of different materials. For example, when the fixed massage body 75 is a rigid body, it is possible to impart to the human body surface a massage stimulus that is soft on the skin by the movable massage body 74 and a massage stimulus that is hard on the skin by the fixed massage body 75.

[0087] In addition to the above, a flow sensor can be provided in the hot and cold water flow path, and when the flow sensor detects the flow of hot and cold water, drive unit 16 can be automatically driven. In this case, power switch 134 can be omitted. In the above, the massage device is configured as a shower head, but it can also be configured as a handheld so-called hand massager. In particular, in the hand massager, power may be supplied to motor 17 from a commercial power source. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1. Shower head 2 Massage head (head part) 5. Water outlet (water outlet hole) 6 Massage Body 10 Head body 11 Unit Holder 12 Head Unit 16 Drive section (drive unit) 17 Motor 26 Output shaft 73 Base Ring 74 Movable massage body 75 Fixed Massage Body 80 Mounting recess 81 Opening 83 Unit Base 85 Ring Holder 92 Notch 102 Operation axis 110 Operating arm 117 Cover front wall 121 Mounting recess 122 Bottom wall of recess 128 Fasteners (Screws) C Central axis along the extension direction of the operating arm F reference plane R rotation axis S: The movable area defined by the area surrounded by the moving path of the movable massage body H1: Dimension from the reference plane to the front end of the movable massage body in the front-back direction H2: Dimension from the reference plane to the front end of the fixed massage body in the front-back direction

Claims

[Claim 1] a massage head (2) provided with a drive unit (16) having a motor (17); A massage body (6) is provided on the massage head (2) and brought into contact with the surface of the human body. The massage body (6) has a movable massage body (74) driven by a drive unit (16) and a fixed massage body (75) provided in a fixed state, and a plurality of the movable massage bodies (74) and the fixed massage bodies (75) are provided protruding forward from the front surface of the massage head (2); The massage head (2) includes a head body (10) having a drive unit (16) provided therein, and a head unit (12) fixed to the head body (10). A massage body (6) is provided on a head unit (12), The drive unit (16) has a rotation shaft (R) in the front-rear direction and is equipped with an output shaft (26) to which the rotational power of the motor (17) is output. The movable massage body (74) of the massage body (6) is operated by an operating shaft (102) rotatably supported by the head unit (12) and connected to the output shaft (26); The operating shaft (102) has an operating arm (110) that extends forward and is inserted into the movable massage body (74) formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a central axis (C) along the extending direction of the operating arm (110) is inclined with respect to the rotation axis (R) of the output shaft (26); A drive shaft portion (27) is formed on the tip side of the output shaft (26), The operating shaft (102) includes a connecting shaft (103) that connects to the output shaft (26), A receiving hole (106) into which the drive shaft portion (27) is inserted is formed as a recess on the rear surface of the connecting shaft (103), The connecting attitude of the drive shaft portion (27) relative to the passive hole (106) can be changed around the rotation axis (R) of the output shaft (26), thereby enabling the connecting attitude of the operating shaft (102) relative to the output shaft (26) to be changed around the rotation axis (R) of the output shaft (26); This massage device is characterized in that the phase of each movable massage body (74) around the rotation axis (R) of the output shaft (26) can be individually changed by changing the connection posture between the drive shaft portion (27) and the passive hole (106) around the rotation axis (R) of the output shaft (26).

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