Massage equipment

Abstract

To provide a massage device that has excellent handleability at the time of use and excellent storage performance at the time of non-use and is easy to attach and detach.SOLUTION: A massage device (10) comprises: a cylindrical body (11) that includes an inner peripheral part (14) constituting an inner surface and an outer peripheral part (12) constituting an outer surface, the peripheral parts having flexibility, and includes one end in the longer direction from which an arm can be inserted into a therapeutic space (15) inside the inner peripheral part; air bags (30, 40, 50) that are disposed between the inner peripheral part and the outer peripheral part and are capable of expansion and contraction; and an air supply controller (70) that is disposed between the inner peripheral part and the outer peripheral part and controls air supply to the air bags to expand and contract the air bags.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a massage device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, massage devices for massaging various parts of the body have become widely available. Massage devices for treating legs and feet can be attached and detached using both hands by the user, so there are few restrictions on the ease of attachment and detachment. In contrast, massage devices for treating arms and hands cannot (or are difficult to) be used to attach and detach the massage device, so the ease of attachment and detachment can be an issue.

[0003] Hand massage devices that treat the fingertips, palms, and other parts of the hand are known to have an airbag or inner cloth attached to the inside of a cylindrical or box-shaped hard shell, and are used by inserting the hand into the shell (e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2). If the hard shell has a self-shape-maintaining property, as in this hand massage device, it can be worn simply by inserting the hand, making it easy to put on and take off.

[0004] The massage device described in Patent Document 3 is designed to treat the entire arm, and is equipped with a flat massage tool body that contains an air bag. By connecting slide fasteners attached to both ends of the massage tool body, it is shaped to wrap around the arm. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Publication No. 2021-035457 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3225470 Publication [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 6783843 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In a massage device that treats an area wider than the fingertips and including the arms, if it is configured with a hard outer shell like existing hand massage devices (such as Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2), there is a problem that it becomes large and heavy, making it difficult to store and handle.

[0007] The massage device of Patent Document 3 has a problem in that the planar massage tool body is wrapped around the arm and then the slide fastener is connected, making it difficult to put on and take off using only one hand (the hand opposite the hand to be treated).

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a massage device whose treatment range includes the arms, which is easy to handle when in use and to store when not in use, and which is easy to put on and take off. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The massage device of the present invention includes a cylinder having an inner circumferential portion constituting an inner surface and an outer circumferential portion constituting an outer surface, both of which are flexible, and allowing an arm to be inserted from one end in a longitudinal direction into a treatment space inside the inner circumferential portion; an airbag that is disposed between the inner circumferential portion and the outer circumferential portion and is capable of inflating and deflating; and an air supply control device that is disposed between the inner circumferential portion and the outer circumferential portion and controls the supply of air to the airbag to inflate and deflate it. A reinforcing member that is disposed between the airbag and the outer circumferential portion, is deformable in association with the inflation and deflation of the airbag, and is harder and less stretchable than the outer circumferential portion; has. Effect of the Invention

[0010] In the massage device of the present invention, the arm is inserted into the cylindrical body, so that the massage device can be easily attached and detached. Also, since the cylindrical body is generally flexible, it is easy to handle when in use and is easy to store when not in use. Therefore, the problem can be solved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1]1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the massage device of the present embodiment is used. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2A is a top view showing the front side of the massage device, and FIG. 2B is a bottom view showing the back side of the massage device. [Diagram 3] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing the deployed states of the airbag units built into the massage device. [Figure 4] (a) is a side view of the massage device with the size adjustment fastener closed and the auxiliary belt fixed, (b) is a side view of the massage device with the auxiliary belt released, and (c) is a side view of the massage device with the size adjustment fastener further opened. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2(a) is a top view showing the arrangement of attachments attached to the massage device, and FIG. 2(b) is a side view showing the attachments and the attachment storage space. [Figure 6] FIG. 2(a) is a top view showing the arrangement of finger hooks provided on the massage device, and FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view showing the finger hooks in use. [Figure 7] FIG. 2(a) is a top view showing the arrangement of an air supply control device in the massage device, and FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view of the air supply control device. [Figure 8] 7(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line S1-S1 in FIG. 7(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line S2-S2 in FIG. 7(a). [Figure 9] 10 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the finger airbag unit and the reinforcing member, and the relationship between the hand airbag unit and the reinforcing member. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the arm airbag unit and a reinforcing member. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the massage device in a stored form when not in use. [Figure 12] 1A is a diagram showing the arrangement of tubes connecting the air supply control device and each airbag unit, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a portion of the arrangement of tubes. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the internal structure of the air supply control device. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a control system of the massage device. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of control of the operation of the massage device. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of control of the operation of the massage device. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of control of the operation of the massage device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, a massage device 10, which is one embodiment of a massage device to which the present invention is applied, will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the massage device 10 is worn in the area from the user's fingers to the arm to perform a massage. More specifically, the massage device 10 has a size that can wrap around and treat an adult's fingers to forearm when the thumb is placed on finger rests 23 and 24, which will be described later. Note that this treatment area is one example and may be different. For example, it is also possible to apply the massage device to a larger massage device whose treatment area includes the upper arm (upper arm).

[0013] The massage device 10 is a long, thin cylinder that fits along the arm, and has a slightly flattened shape when not attached to the arm. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the massage device 10 is defined as the Z-axis direction. In the Z-axis direction, the direction corresponding to the tip (fingertip) side of the user's arm is defined as the tip side, and the direction corresponding to the base (shoulder) side of the arm is defined as the base side. The circumferential direction of the massage device 10 is defined as the circumferential direction of a circle centered on a virtual line extending in the Z-axis direction.

[0014] The width direction of the massage device 10, which has a slightly flat shape in a free state, is defined as the X-axis direction, and the thickness direction is defined as the Y-axis direction. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. In the Y-axis direction, the side shown in Fig. 2(a) is defined as the front side, and the side shown in Fig. 2(b) is defined as the back side. The massage device 10 is designed assuming that it will be used in an orientation in which the front side is located on the back of the hand and the back side is located on the palm.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 8(a) and Fig. 8(b), the massage device 10 has a cylindrical body 11 configured by laminating an outer fabric 12, an intermediate fabric 13, and an inner fabric 14. The outer fabric 12, the intermediate fabric 13, and the inner fabric 14 are all formed of a material such as soft cloth and are flexible. The outer fabric 12 constitutes the outer surface (outer shell) of the cylindrical body 11 and forms the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 11. The inner fabric 14 constitutes the inner surface of the cylindrical body 11 and forms the inner periphery of the cylindrical body 11. A fabric material having high strength, water resistance, etc. is selected for the outer fabric 12. A fabric material having higher flexibility than the outer fabric 12 is selected for the intermediate fabric 13 and the inner fabric 14.

[0016] The outer fabric 12, the middle fabric 13, and the inner fabric 14 are joined together by sewing to form the cylindrical body 11. As shown in Figs. 8(a) and 8(b), in the cylindrical body 11, a treatment space 15 into which the arm to be treated is inserted is formed inside the inner fabric 14 (the area surrounded by the inner fabric 14). The treatment space 15 penetrates in the Z-axis direction. That is, the cylindrical body 11 has openings at the tip and base ends (both ends) in the Z-axis direction through which the treatment space 15 communicates with the outside.

[0017] 2(a) and 2(b), the width of the cylindrical body 11 increases from the distal end to the proximal end in the longitudinal direction, and the opening through which the treatment space 15 communicates with the outside is larger on the proximal end side than on the distal end side. This configuration makes it easier to insert a hand or arm into the treatment space 15 of the cylindrical body 11 from the proximal end side.

[0018] 8(a) and 8(b), inside the cylindrical body 11, an inner storage space 16 is formed between the middle fabric 13 and the inner fabric 14, and an outer storage space 17 is formed between the outer fabric 12 and the middle fabric 13. The inner storage space 16 and the outer storage space 17 are closed at both the tip end side and the base end side in the Z-axis direction (the outer fabric 12, the middle fabric 13, and the inner fabric 14 are sewn together).

[0019] As shown in Fig. 5(b), an attachment storage section 18 is further formed inside the cylindrical body 11. The attachment storage section 18 is formed in a pocket shape by separating the inner fabric 14 and the inner storage space 16 with another fabric, and is located between the palm airbag 42 (described later) and the inner fabric 14.

[0020] The components housed within the inner storage space 16, the outer storage space 17 and the attachment storage section 18 will be described later.

[0021] As shown in Figures 4(a) to 4(c), a size adjustment fastener 20 is provided on the outer surface of the side of the cylindrical body 11 (outer fabric 12). The size adjustment fastener 20 extends in the Z-axis direction from the base end side of the cylindrical body 11, and is disposed over a range slightly more than half the length of the cylindrical body 11. When the slider 20a is moved toward the base end side, the size adjustment fastener 20 is closed (Figures 4(a) and 4(b)), and when the slider 20a is moved toward the tip end side, the size adjustment fastener 20 is opened (Figure 4(c)).

[0022] The cylindrical body 11 has a folded-in portion 11a on the inside of the portion that is opened and closed by the size-adjusting fastener 20 (FIG. 4(c)). By opening the size-adjusting fastener 20, it is possible to expand the circumferential size of the cylindrical body 11 by the amount of the folded-in portion 11a, making it easier to insert the arm into the treatment space 15. The larger the opening of the size-adjusting fastener 20, the wider the range in the Z-axis direction over which the cylindrical body 11 can be expanded.

[0023] When the size-adjusting fastener 20 is closed after inserting the arm into the treatment space 15, the expansion caused by the folded-in portion 11a is eliminated, and the cylindrical body 11 fits the arm. In this way, the size of the cylindrical body 11 can be adjusted by changing the opening degree of the size-adjusting fastener 20, improving the ease of attaching and detaching the cylindrical body 11.

[0024] 5(b), the attachment storage section 18 is provided at a position adjacent to the fold-in section 11a in the Z-axis direction (a position overlapping with the vicinity of the tip of the size adjusting fastener 20). The attachment storage section 18 opens on one side in the X-axis direction, and the attachment storage section 18 is opened by opening the size adjusting fastener 20, and is closed by closing the size adjusting fastener 20.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b), a size adjustment belt 21 is provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical body 11. The size adjustment belt 21 is arranged along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body 11, and a part of it is fixed to the outer fabric 12 by sewing or the like. The size adjustment belt 21 is wound around the cylindrical body 11 in the circumferential direction by passing it through a ring 21a provided at one end, and then folded back and fixed with a hook and loop fastener 21b (the hook surface and the loop surface constituting the hook and loop fastener 21b are bonded together), thereby improving the retention of the arm inserted into the treatment space 15. The range of the hook and loop fastener 21b is set long in the circumferential direction, and the user can arbitrarily select the fixing position of the size adjustment belt 21 to adjust the size of the cylindrical body 11 in the circumferential direction. The size adjustment belt 21 is provided at a position slightly toward the base end side from the center in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the size adjustment belt 21 is wound so as to intersect with a part of the size adjustment fastener 20.

[0026] The opening on the base end side of the cylindrical body 11 is set larger than the opening on the tip end side to facilitate insertion of the arm into the treatment space 15. Even when the size adjustment fastener 20 is closed, there are individual differences in how the cylindrical body 11 fits the user's arm. The size adjustment belt 21 is provided closer to the base end than to the center of the cylindrical body 11 in the Z-axis direction (at a position closer to the base end than the tip). Therefore, by using the size adjustment belt 21, it is possible to improve the retention of the cylindrical body 11 at the base end side, which has a larger opening. In particular, this contributes to preventing the cylindrical body 11 from slipping in the Z-axis direction.

[0027] 6(a) and 6(b), a pair of finger hooks 23, 24 are provided within treatment space 15. Finger hooks 23, 24 are located near the tip of cylinder 11 in the Z-axis direction and are provided near both edges of treatment space 15 in the X-axis direction. Finger hooks 23, 24 each have a ring-like (cylindrical) shape extending generally in the Z-axis direction, with both ends penetrating through.

[0028] Finger hooks 23, 24 are provided at positions suitable for inserting the thumb when the user inserts his / her arm into treatment space 15. Finger hook 23 is provided at a position assumed to correspond to the thumb of the left hand when the left arm is inserted (see FIG. 6(b)), and finger hook 24 is provided at a position assumed to correspond to the thumb of the right hand when the right arm is inserted.

[0029] Hanging a finger on finger hook portion 23 or finger hook portion 24 has the effect of preventing displacement of cylindrical body 11. For example, a finger comes into contact with the inner surface of finger hook portion 23 or finger hook portion 24, thereby restricting displacement of cylindrical body 11 in the X-axis direction or Y-axis direction. Also, a finger comes into contact with the end of finger hook portion 23 or finger hook portion 24 in the crotch area of ​​the finger, thereby restricting displacement of cylindrical body 11 in the Z-axis direction.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 2(b) and other figures, an outer pocket 25 is formed on the base end side in the Z-axis direction of the cylindrical body 11. The outer pocket 25 is formed by making a part of the outer fabric 12 into a bag shape, and is open toward the tip side in the Z-axis direction. The outer pocket 25 is arranged on the back side of the outer surface of the cylindrical body 11 in the Y-axis direction, and is provided in a range that occupies almost the entire width of the cylindrical body 11 in the X-axis direction.

[0031] The cylindrical body 11 of the massage device 10 configured as above is attached to and detached from the user's arm as follows. When attaching the cylindrical body 11, the size-adjusting fastener 20 is opened, allowing the cylindrical body 11 to expand in the circumferential direction, making it easier to insert the arm into the treatment space 15. In particular, since the size-adjusting fastener 20 is structured to open starting from the base end side in the Z-axis direction, the expansion width at the base end side of the cylindrical body 11 is large, making it easier to insert the arm from the base end side.

[0032] Then, the arm is inserted from the base end side of the cylindrical body 11 into the treatment space 15 with the fingertips at the front. During this insertion, the outer pocket 25 may be grasped with the hand opposite to the side inserted into the cylindrical body 11. By inserting the opposite hand into the outer pocket 25 to hold the cylindrical body 11, it is possible to prevent the cylindrical body 11 from moving following the arm due to friction with the arm being inserted (i.e., the arm cannot be smoothly inserted into the cylindrical body 11). Alternatively, the opposite hand may be inserted into the outer pocket 25 to apply a pulling force to the cylindrical body 11 toward the base (shoulder) of the arm being inserted. By using the outer pocket 25 in this way, it is possible to realize smooth insertion of the arm into the treatment space 15. Note that, when inserting the arm into the treatment space 15, another instrument or fixed object may be engaged with the outer pocket 25 instead of the hand opposite to the side inserted.

[0033] The user can freely select how far into the cylindrical body 11 the arm is inserted in the Z-axis direction. As an example, the position where the thumb is inserted (hooked) into the finger hook portion 23 or the finger hook portion 24 (see FIG. 6(b)) can be used as a guide for the insertion position. In this state, the dimensions of the cylindrical body 11 are set so that for many users, the tip end of the cylindrical body 11 is located near the fingertips and the base end of the cylindrical body 11 is located near the elbow. In other words, the cylindrical body 11 is designed to cover the range of the fingers, the hand (palm and back of the hand), and the forearm.

[0034] Once the arm insertion position in the Z-axis direction has been determined, the slider 20a is pulled toward the base end to close the size adjustment fastener 20, and then the size adjustment belt 21 is fixed with the hook-and-loop fastener 21b. The degree of tightness of the size adjustment belt 21 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the hook-and-loop fastener 21b, allowing the user to select the state they prefer.

[0035] In this manner, the attachment of the massage device 10 to the user's arm is completed. In the massage device 10, one arm is inserted into the cylindrical body 11, which is previously formed into a cylindrical shape, and the final fixation is performed using the size-adjusting fastener 20 and the size-adjusting belt 21 arranged on the outer surface of the cylindrical body 11. Therefore, the massage device 10 (cylindrical body 11) can be attached to the arm by the user using the hand that is not inserted or by a simple operation by a caregiver, without requiring complicated operations using both hands.

[0036] The size adjustable fastener 20 can be easily operated with one hand because it is configured to open and close a partial area of ​​the outer fabric 12 in the Z-axis direction while maintaining the cylindrical shape of the cylindrical body 11. In particular, the operation of the slider 20a when closing the size adjustable fastener 20 is to move it from a midway position in the Z-axis direction toward the base end, making it easy to transmit force to the slider 20a and providing excellent operability.

[0037] The size adjustment belt 21 is configured so that the adjustment position of the hook-and-loop fastener 21b is selected while passing it through the ring 21a and pulling it in the circumferential direction, so that it can be easily operated with one hand.

[0038] When removing the massage device 10, the size adjustment belt 21 is released (the hook-and-loop fastener 21b is released) and loosened, and the size adjustment fastener 20 is opened. As when wearing the massage device, these actions can be easily performed by the user using the non-insertion hand or by a simple operation by a caregiver. Then, the cylindrical body 11 can be easily removed by pulling the arm out of the treatment space 15. Since the cylindrical body 11 is in a circumferentially expanded state, there is little resistance when pulling it out.

[0039] After removing the massage device 10, the tip side of the cylindrical body 11 may be inserted into the outer pocket 25, and the cylindrical body 11 may be folded in half in the Z-axis direction, as shown in Fig. 11. Since the entire cylindrical body 11 including the outer fabric 12 is made of a flexible material (such as cloth), it can be stored in such a compact state (unused state).

[0040] The above-described procedure for attaching and detaching the massage device 10 is merely an example, and the user may change it as appropriate depending on the fit, arm size, and the like.

[0041] The opening degree of the size-adjusting fastener 20 when attaching or detaching the massage device 10 is also arbitrary. For example, the massage device 10 may be attached or detached without opening the size-adjusting fastener 20 to the fully open position shown in Fig. 4(c). Alternatively, with the arm inserted in the treatment space 15, the size-adjusting fastener 20 does not have to be closed to the fully closed position shown in Fig. 4(a) or 4(b).

[0042] Next, the components disposed inside the cylindrical body 11 of the massage device 10 will be described.

[0043] 3(a) to 3(c) show the finger airbag unit 30, the hand airbag unit 40, and the arm airbag unit 50 stored in the inner storage space 16. The inner storage space 16 is divided into three sections in the Z-axis direction by sewing or the like so that the airbag units 30, 40, and 50 can be stored individually. As shown in Figs. 2(a) and 2(b), this division is set so that the finger airbag unit 30 is located at the tip side in the Z-axis direction, the hand airbag unit 40 is located in the middle, and the arm airbag unit 50 is located at the base end side.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3(a), finger airbag unit 30 is configured by connecting finger front airbag 31 and finger back airbag 32 with band-shaped connecting part 33. Finger front airbag 31 and finger back airbag 32 constitute a finger airbag. Finger front airbag 31 has a double (two-layer) air chamber structure in which one main air chamber 31a and one sub air chamber 31b are stacked in the Y-axis direction, and main air chamber 31a and sub air chamber 31b are connected to each other through communication passage 31c so that air can flow through them. Finger back airbag 32 has a structure consisting of one air chamber, and a partition part 32a is provided in part of the air chamber to connect the front and back.

[0045] The finger airbag unit 30 does not have a structure in which air is circulated between the finger front airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32, and the air chamber on the finger front airbag 31 side and the air chamber on the finger back airbag 32 side are independent of each other. A nozzle protrusion 34 (air supply protrusion) for supplying air to the finger front airbag 31 and a nozzle protrusion 35 (air supply protrusion) for supplying air to the finger back airbag 32 are provided.

[0046] The finger airbag unit 30 is in a flat deployed shape as shown in FIG. 3(a) before being attached to the cylindrical body 11. As shown in FIG. 8(a), the finger airbag unit 30 is folded in half and placed in the inner storage space 16 so that the finger front airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 are positioned on either side of the treatment space 15 in the Y-axis direction (opposite in the Y-axis direction). The finger front airbag 31 is located on the front side of the treatment space 15 in the Y-axis direction, with the main air chamber 31a facing outward (toward the outer fabric 12 and the inner fabric 13) and the sub air chamber 31b facing inward (toward the inner fabric 14). The finger back airbag 32 is located on the back side of the treatment space 15 in the Y-axis direction. The nozzle protrusion 34 and the nozzle protrusion 35 each protrude outward (toward the outer fabric 12 and the inner fabric 13) within the inner storage space 16.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3(b), hand airbag unit 40 has a configuration in which back-of-hand airbag 41 and palm-of-hand airbag 42 are connected by band-shaped connecting part 43. Back-of-hand airbag 41 and palm-of-hand airbag 42 constitute a hand airbag. Back-of-hand airbag 41 has a double (two-layer) airchamber structure in which one main airchamber 41a and two sub-airchambers 41b are stacked in the Y-axis direction, and main airchamber 41a and each sub-airchamber 41b are connected to each other through communication part 41c so that air can flow through them. Palm-of-hand airbag 42 also has a double (two-layer) airchamber structure in which one main airchamber 42a and two sub-airchambers 42b are stacked in the Y-axis direction, and main airchamber 42a and each sub-airchamber 42b are connected to each other through communication passage 42c so that air can flow through them. The main air chambers 41a and 42a are each provided with a partition 41d and a partition 42d inside thereof, which connect the front and back of the air chambers.

[0048] Nozzle protrusion 44 (air supply protrusion) is provided for supplying air to hand airbag unit 40. Nozzle protrusion 44 is provided at a location communicating with main air chamber 41a of back of hand airbag 41. Main air chamber 41a and main air chamber 42a are connected to each other through communication passage 43a in connection portion 43 so that air can flow therethrough. Therefore, air can be supplied to the entire hand airbag unit 40 through nozzle protrusion 44.

[0049] Before being attached to the cylindrical body 11, the hand airbag unit 40 is in a flat deployed shape as shown in Fig. 3(b). The hand airbag unit 40 is folded in half and placed in the inner storage space 16 so that the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 are positioned on either side of the treatment space 15 in the Y-axis direction (facing each other in the Y-axis direction). The back of the hand airbag 41 is positioned on the front side of the treatment space 15 in the Y-axis direction, and the palm airbag 42 is positioned on the back side of the treatment space 15 in the Y-axis direction. In each of the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42, the main air chamber 41a and the main air chamber 42a face outward (towards the outer fabric 12 and the middle fabric 13), and the sub-air chamber 41b and the sub-air chamber 42b face inward (towards the inner fabric 14). The nozzle projection 44 projects outward (toward the outer fabric 12 and the inner fabric 13) within the inner storage space 16.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 3(c), the arm airbag unit 50 is composed of two parts arranged in the Z-axis direction. The first part of the arm airbag unit 50, which is located at the tip end in the Z-axis direction, is composed of an airbag 51 for the front of the forearm and an airbag 52 for the back of the forearm connected by a band-shaped connecting part 53. The airbag 51 for the front of the forearm and the airbag 52 for the back of the forearm constitute an arm airbag. The airbag 51 for the front of the forearm has a double (two-layer) air chamber structure in which one main air chamber 51a and one sub air chamber 51b are layered in the Y-axis direction, and the main air chamber 51a and the sub air chamber 51b are connected to each other through a communication part 51c so that air can flow through them.

[0051] Nozzle protrusions 54 (air supply protrusions) are provided to supply air to the forearm front airbag 51 and the forearm back airbag 52. The nozzle protrusions 54 are provided at a location communicating with the main air chamber 51a of the forearm front airbag 51. The main air chamber 51a and the main air chamber 52a are connected to each other through a communication passage 53a in the connection portion 53 so that air can flow therethrough. Therefore, air can be supplied to the entire forearm front airbag 51 and the forearm back airbag 52 through the nozzle protrusions 54.

[0052] The second part of the arm airbag unit 50, located at the base end side in the Z-axis direction, is configured by connecting the front airbag 55 and the back airbag 56 with a connecting part 57. The front airbag 55 and the back airbag 56 form an arm airbag. The back airbag 56 has a double (two-layer) air chamber structure in which one main air chamber 56a and two sub air chambers 56b are stacked in the Y-axis direction, and the main air chamber 56a and each sub air chamber 56b are connected to each other through a communication passage 56c so that air can flow through them. The inside of the front airbag 55 and the inside of the main air chamber 56a of the back airbag 56 are provided with a partition part 55a and a partition part 56d that connect the front and back of the air chamber.

[0053] Nozzle protrusions 58 (air supply protrusions) are provided for supplying air to the airbag 55 for the front of the forearm and the airbag 56 for the back of the forearm. The nozzle protrusions 58 are provided at locations that communicate with the airbag 55 for the front of the forearm. The airbag 55 for the front of the forearm and the airbag 56 for the back of the forearm (main air chamber 56a) are connected to each other through a communication passage 57a in the connection portion 57 so that air can flow through them. Therefore, air can be supplied to the entire airbag 55 for the front of the forearm and the airbag 56 for the back of the forearm through the nozzle protrusions 58.

[0054] The arm airbag unit 50 is in a flat deployed shape as shown in Fig. 3(c) before being attached to the cylindrical body 11. The arm airbag unit 50 is folded in half and placed in the inner storage space 16 so that the airbag for the front of the forearm 51 and the airbag for the back of the forearm 52 are positioned on either side of the treatment space 15 in the Y-axis direction (opposite each other in the Y-axis direction), and the airbag for the front of the forearm 55 and the airbag for the back of the forearm 56 are positioned on either side of the treatment space 15 in the Y-axis direction (opposite each other in the Y-axis direction). The airbag for the front of the forearm 51 and the airbag for the front of the forearm 55 are positioned on the front side of the treatment space 15 in the Y-axis direction, and the airbag for the back of the forearm 52 and the airbag for the back of the forearm 56 are positioned on the back side of the treatment space 15 in the Y-axis direction. In each of the front forearm airbag 51 and the back forearm airbag 56, the main air chambers 51a, 56a face outward (toward the outer fabric 12 and the inner fabric 13), and the sub air chambers 51b, 56b face inward (toward the inner fabric 14). The nozzle projections 54, 58 protrude outward (toward the outer fabric 12 and the inner fabric 13) within the inner storage space 16.

[0055] When the massage device 10 is attached to the arm, the finger airbag unit 30 is located at a position (Z-axis direction range) where the fingers are treated, the hand airbag unit 40 is located at a position (Z-axis direction range) where the palm and back of the hand are treated, and the arm airbag unit 50 is located at a position (Z-axis direction range) where the forearm is treated. More specifically, in the finger airbag unit 30, the finger front airbag 31 is located opposite the front side of the fingers (back of the hand), and the finger back airbag 32 is located opposite the back side of the fingers (palm side). In the hand airbag unit 40, the hand back airbag 41 is located opposite the back of the hand, and the palm airbag 42 is located opposite the palm. In the arm airbag unit 50, the forearm front airbag 51 and the forearm front airbag 55 are positioned opposite the front side of the forearm (back of the hand), and the forearm back airbag 52 and the forearm back airbag 56 are positioned opposite the front side of the forearm (palm side).

[0056] By adjusting the internal pressure of each airbag unit 30, 40, and 50 using an air supply control device 70 described later, each air chamber is inflated and deflated, and treatment (massage) is performed on the arm (including the fingers, hand, and forearm) wearing the massage device 10. In the airbags (31, 41, 42, 51, and 56) having a double structure of main and sub air chambers, in addition to the inflation and deflation of the main air chamber (31a, 41a, 42a, 51a, and 56a), the sub air chambers (31b, 41b, 42b, 51b, and 56b) arranged on the inside facing the arm in the treatment space 15 are simultaneously inflated and deflated, thereby enhancing the effect of the massage.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 5(b), an attachment 60 for adjusting the treatment effect can be attached and detached in the attachment storage section 18 of the cylindrical body 11. The attachment 60 has a structure in which a protrusion 62 is attached to a plate-shaped base 61. The attachment storage section 18 has an internal shape that can store the base 61 in a stable position. With the size adjustment fastener 20 open, the attachment storage section 18 can be accessed from the outside, and the attachment 60 can be attached and detached.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 5(a), the attachment 60 stored in the attachment storage section 18 is located slightly from the center toward the tip in the Z-axis direction. The position of this attachment 60 corresponds to the hand airbag unit 40. More specifically, the attachment storage section 18 is formed between the location where the palm airbag 42 is stored and the inner fabric 14 in the Y-axis direction. In other words, the attachment 60 inserted into the attachment storage section 18 is positioned facing the palm in the treatment space 15 (with the inner fabric 14 in between). The attachment 60 is inserted into the attachment storage section 18 so that the protrusion 62 faces inward (toward the inner fabric 14). With this configuration, when the palm airbag 42 is inflated, the attachment 60 is pushed inward, and the protrusion 62 pushes the palm. As a result, the treatment effect on the palm can be improved via the protrusion 62.

[0059] In addition, in the attachment 60, it is possible to vary the position and shape of the protrusion 62 to vary the treatment effect. For example, the protrusion 62 may be detachable from the base 61 with a hook-and-loop fastener or the like. In this configuration, the position of the protrusion 62 on the base 61 can be changed according to the user's preference. Also, a plurality of protrusions 62 with different shapes can be prepared, and the protrusion 62 with the preferred shape can be selected and replaced.

[0060] Alternatively, a plurality of types of attachments 60 in which the base 61 and the protrusions 62 are integrated in advance may be prepared, and the entire attachment 60 may be replaced. Each attachment 60 has a variation in the position and shape of the protrusions 62.

[0061] An air intake control device 70 is stored in the outer storage space 17 of the cylindrical body 11. Figure 7(b) shows the appearance of the air intake control device 70, and Figure 7(a) shows the arrangement of the air intake control device 70 when stored in the outer storage space 17.

[0062] As shown in Figures 7(b) and 13, the air supply control device 70 has a housing 71 that serves as an outer shell. The housing 71 is configured by combining an upper housing 71a and a lower housing 71b. The bottom side of the lower housing 71b has a concave curved shape that fits the arm.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 13, an air pump 72, a battery 73, and an electromagnetic valve unit 74 are supported on the lower housing 71b. By attaching the upper housing 71a to the lower housing 71b, the components supported on the lower housing 71b are covered, resulting in the completed state shown in Fig. 7(b).

[0064] As shown in Fig. 13, two air pumps 72 are provided in parallel in the X-axis direction, and each air pump 72 is supported by the lower housing 71b via a holding bracket 75. More specifically, the holding bracket 75 is composed of two parts arranged at a predetermined interval in the Z-axis direction. Each part of the holding bracket 75 has a pair of support legs 75a protruding from a cylindrical portion into which the air pump 72 is inserted toward both sides in the X-axis direction. In other words, a total of four support legs 75a are provided, two on each side in the X-axis direction, at different positions in the Z-axis direction.

[0065] The lower housing 71b is formed with a frame-shaped vertical wall portion 71c surrounding the two air pumps 72. An inner cover 76 that covers the vertical wall portion 71c is fixed to the lower housing 71b. A recess (groove) recessed in the Y-axis direction is formed on the end surfaces of the vertical wall portion 71c and the inner cover 76 that face each other in the Y-axis direction, and the position of the holding bracket 75 in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction is determined by fitting each support leg 75a into this recess. Each support leg 75a has a pair of large-diameter flanges on both sides of the position where it fits into the recess, and the pair of flanges sandwich the side portions of the vertical wall portion 71c and the inner cover 76 from both sides, thereby restricting the movement of the holding bracket 75 in the X-axis direction.

[0066] By housing air pump 72 in the space surrounded by the bottom surface of lower housing 71b, vertical wall portion 71c, and inner cover 76, the operating noise of air pump 72 when it is driven is less likely to leak out of housing 71. As a result, when using massage device 10, the vibrations and operating noise generated by air supply control device 70 are less likely to be detected by the user, improving the usability.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 13, the battery 73 and the solenoid valve unit 74 are arranged at different positions in the Z-axis direction with respect to the two air pumps 72. Each of the air pumps 72 and the battery 73 has a cylindrical shape and is arranged with its axis (longitudinal direction) facing the Z-axis direction. The solenoid valve unit 74 includes a first solenoid valve 84, a second solenoid valve 85, and a third solenoid valve 86 (FIG. 14) described later, and these three solenoid valves 84, 85, and 86 are arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction. One of the air pumps 72 and the battery 73 are arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction, and the other air pump 72 and the solenoid valve unit 74 are arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction. This component layout realizes a thin air supply control device 70 with good space efficiency in the housing 71 and reduced dimensions in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the air supply control device 70 can be stored efficiently in the outer storage space 17 without increasing the size of the cylindrical body 11 or causing a part of the cylindrical body 11 to bulge significantly in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction.

[0068] As shown in Fig. 13, each air pump 72 and solenoid valve unit 74 are connected by an internal pipeline 72a. Three nozzle protrusions 74a, 74b, and 74c are aligned in the Z-axis direction and protrude from solenoid valve unit 74. Nozzle protrusions 74a, 74b, and 74c are exposed to the outside of air supply control device 70 through openings formed in housing 71 (see Fig. 7(b)).

[0069] Fig. 12(a) shows the internal structure of the outer storage space 17. Fig. 12(a) shows the state of the massage device 10 during manufacture or maintenance, and the inside of the outer storage space 17 is not exposed when the massage device 10 is in use. A tube 77 connected to the nozzle protrusion 74a, a tube 78 connected to the nozzle protrusion 74b, and a tube 79 connected to the nozzle protrusion 74a are disposed in the outer storage space 17. Each of the tubes 77, 78, and 79 is supported by a plurality of loop-shaped tube guides 27 attached to the inside of the outer fabric 12 (see Fig. 12(b)), and each is appropriately oriented.

[0070] Tube 77 is connected to nozzle projection 34 and nozzle projection 35 provided on finger airbag unit 30 and nozzle projection 54 provided on arm airbag unit 50. Tube 78 is connected to nozzle projection 44 provided on hand airbag unit 40. Tube 79 is connected to nozzle projection 58 provided on arm airbag unit 50. This forms an air supply system that can inflate and deflate each of finger airbag unit 30, hand airbag unit 40, and arm airbag unit 50.

[0071] The means for operating and controlling the massage device 10 is mounted on the air supply control device 70. The air supply control device 70 is provided with a box-shaped operating unit 80 that protrudes above the housing 71 (upper housing 71a). A rectangular opening is formed in the outer fabric 12 to allow the operating unit 80 to pass through (see FIG. 8(b)), and when the air supply control device 70 is stored in the outer storage space 17, the operating unit 80 is exposed to the outside (front side) of the cylinder 11 through the opening.

[0072] A plurality of (three) operation buttons 81 are arranged on the operation unit 80. The user operates each operation button 81 to turn the power on and off, select an operation mode (massage pattern), and the like. The operation unit 80 is further provided with a power supply port 82. The battery 73 in the air supply control device 70 can be charged through the power supply port 82.

[0073] 14 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the control system mounted on the air supply control device 70. The control unit 83 comprehensively controls the operation of the air supply control device 70, and is configured by mounting a processor that executes programs, memory that stores the programs, and the like on a circuit board.

[0074] The first solenoid valve 84, the second solenoid valve 85, and the third solenoid valve 86 provided in the solenoid valve unit 74 are opened and closed individually under the control of the control unit 83. The first solenoid valve 84 controls the air flow between the air pump 72 and the nozzle protrusion 74a. The second solenoid valve 85 controls the air flow between the air pump 72 and the nozzle protrusion 74b. The third solenoid valve 86 controls the air flow between the air pump 72 and the nozzle protrusion 74c.

[0075] By opening the solenoid valves 84, 85, and 86 while the air pump 72 is in operation, air is supplied to the corresponding nozzle projections 74a, 74b, and 74c, and the corresponding airbags can be inflated through the tubes 77, 78, and 79. When the solenoid valves 84, 85, and 86 are closed, air is gradually released from the airbags to which the air supply has been stopped, and the airbags are deflating (deflated). More specifically, the operation of the first solenoid valve 84 controls the inflation and deflation of the finger front airbag 31, the finger back airbag 32, the forearm front airbag 51, and the forearm back airbag 52. The operation of the second solenoid valve 85 controls the inflation and deflation of the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42. The operation of the third solenoid valve 86 controls the inflation and deflation of the forearm front airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56.

[0076] When the user operates the operation button 81, an operation signal is input to the control unit 83, and the control unit 83 controls each unit according to the operation signal based on the stored program. Specifically, the contents of control by the control unit 83 include turning on and off the power circuit, driving the air pump 72, opening and closing the solenoid valves 84, 85, and 86, and the like.

[0077] As described above, the massage device 10 is configured to be used by inserting the arm into the cylindrical body 11, which is configured in advance to have a cylindrical shape, so that it can be easily attached and detached even in a situation where the inserted arm itself cannot be used for attaching and detaching. The cylindrical body 11 is provided with a size adjustment fastener 20 and a size adjustment belt 21 that allow the size to be adjusted in the circumferential direction while the device is being worn. These size adjustment means are selected to have a structure that allows them to be operated comfortably with one hand.

[0078] The cylindrical body 11, including the outer fabric 12 constituting the outer periphery, the inner fabric 14 constituting the inner periphery, and the middle fabric 13 located therebetween, is made of a flexible material as a whole and does not have a hard outer shell. Therefore, it has the advantage of being lightweight, small, and easy to handle. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the massage device 10 can be folded and stored when not in use.

[0079] In the massage device 10, all components including the airbag units 30, 40, and 50 as well as the air supply control device 70 are housed in the cylindrical body 11 and are completed as a single massage device. Therefore, there is no need to connect to an external air supply source or power source, and it is easy to handle when in use. For example, the user can move freely while using the massage device 10 without having to worry about cables or tubes connected to the outside.

[0080] By the way, in an airbag type massage device, when the built-in airbag is operated (inflated or deflated), it is required to suppress outward deformation as much as possible and efficiently transmit the force to the treatment target inside (such as an arm). If the amount of outward deformation is large, the force to press the treatment target will escape to the outside, resulting in poor efficiency.

[0081] In the massage device 10 of the present embodiment, the cylinder 11 is made of a flexible material, and thus the above-mentioned effects can be obtained. On the other hand, compared to a massage device having a hard outer shell, it is necessary to take care that the airbags 31, 32, 41, 42, 55, and 56 do not deform significantly outwardly, causing power loss.

[0082] First, in the massage device 10, the fabric material used for the outer fabric 12 is thicker and less stretchable than the fabric materials used for the middle fabric 13 and the inner fabric 14, making it difficult for the outer fabric 12 itself to spread outward. For the inner fabric 14 that comes into contact with the user's arm inserted into the treatment space 15, a relatively thin and flexible fabric material must be used because it is required to be pleasant to the touch and to be able to follow the deformation of each of the airbags 31, 32, 41, 42, 55, and 56. In contrast, for the outer fabric 12, since there is almost no part that comes into direct contact with the arm that is the treatment target, it is possible to select a fabric material that is relatively thick and hard (difficult to stretch) while maintaining basic flexibility.

[0083] 9 and 10, the massage device 10 further includes reinforcing members 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95. The reinforcing members 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 are overlapped with the airbags 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52, 55, and 56, and are disposed between the airbags 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52, 55, and 56 and the outer fabric 12 in the inner storage space 16. The reinforcing members 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 are each a resin plate-like material that is harder and less stretchable than the fabric material of the outer fabric 12, and are set to a shape that matches the airbags 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52, 55, and 56 that are overlapped with each other.

[0084] Each of the nozzle projections 34, 35, 44, 54 and 58 provided on each of the airbags 31, 32, 41, 51 and 55 has a structure in which a cylindrical nozzle projects from the side surface of a box-shaped base.

[0085] The reinforcing member 90 is disposed so as to overlap the outer side of the finger-surface airbag 31 (more specifically, the main air chamber 31a) in the Y-axis direction. The position of the reinforcing member 90 with respect to the finger-surface airbag 31 is determined by inserting and fitting the box-shaped base of the nozzle protrusion 34 into a rectangular positioning hole 90a formed in the reinforcing member 90.

[0086] The reinforcing member 91 is disposed so as to overlap the outer side of the finger back airbag 32 in the Y-axis direction. The position of the reinforcing member 91 with respect to the finger back airbag 32 is determined by inserting and fitting the box-shaped base of the nozzle protrusion 35 into a rectangular positioning hole 91a formed in the reinforcing member 91.

[0087] The reinforcing member 92 is disposed so as to overlap the outside of the back of the hand airbag 41 (more specifically, the main air chamber 41a) in the Y-axis direction. The position of the reinforcing member 92 with respect to the back of the hand airbag 41 is determined by inserting and fitting the box-shaped base of the nozzle protrusion 44 into a rectangular positioning hole 92a formed in the reinforcing member 92.

[0088] The reinforcing member 93 is disposed overlapping the outer side of the palm airbag 42 (more specifically, the main air chamber 42a) in the Y-axis direction. Since the palm airbag 42 is not provided with a nozzle protrusion, the reinforcing member 93 does not have a positioning hole corresponding to the nozzle protrusion.

[0089] The reinforcing member 94 is disposed so as to overlap the outer sides of the forearm surface airbag 51 (more specifically, the main air chamber 51a) and the forearm surface airbag 55 in the Y-axis direction. The position of the reinforcing member 94 relative to the forearm surface airbag 51 and the forearm surface airbag 55 is determined by inserting and fitting the box-shaped bases of the nozzle protrusions 54, 58 into two rectangular positioning holes 94a, 94b formed in the reinforcing member 94.

[0090] The reinforcing member 95 is disposed overlapping the outside of the airbag for the back of the forearm 52 and the airbag for the back of the forearm 56 (more specifically, the main air chamber 56a) in the Y-axis direction. Since the airbag for the back of the forearm 52 and the airbag for the back of the forearm 56 are not provided with nozzle protrusions, the reinforcing member 95 does not have positioning holes corresponding to the nozzle protrusions.

[0091] When the massage device 10 is manufactured, the reinforcing members 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 are disposed in the inner storage space 16 of the cylindrical body 11 together with the airbag units 30, 40, and 50. The reinforcing members 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 can be deformed to a certain degree, such as curved, in response to the expansion and contraction of the airbags 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52, 55, and 56 arranged on top of each other (they have flexibility), but their stretchability is extremely small. Therefore, when the airbags 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52, 55, and 56 are expanded, the reinforcing members 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 do not expand significantly outward, but suppress the outward deformation, and act to predominantly expand the airbags 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52, 55, and 56 inward. This makes it possible to suppress power loss of air pump 72, which is the air supply source, and to efficiently use the operation of each airbag 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52, 55 and 56 for treatment within treatment space 15.

[0092] Incidentally, the housing 71 of the air supply control device 70 can also be used as a reinforcing member. The housing 71 is made of a hard resin material or the like in order to stably support and protect the air pump 72, the battery 73, and the solenoid valve unit 74 from the outside. As shown in Fig. 7(a), the air supply control device 70 is provided in an area that generally overlaps with the forearm surface airbags 51, 55, and in this area, the outward inflation of the forearm surface airbags 51, 55 is restricted by the housing 71 (particularly the lower housing 71b).

[0093] Based on the effect of this housing 71, it is also possible to select to omit the provision of reinforcing member 94 on the outer side of forearm airbags 51, 55 (that is, to use only housing 71 as a reinforcing member in place of reinforcing member 94).

[0094] Furthermore, it is also possible to select not to provide the reinforcing member 95 on the outside of the back-of-the-forearm airbags 52, 56 located on the back side of the front-of-the-forearm airbags 51, 55. As described above, the housing 71 of the air supply control device 70 has the effect of suppressing the outward deformation of the front-of-the-forearm airbags 51, 55. Therefore, even if the outside of the back-of-the-forearm airbags 52, 56 is not reinforced, the entire forearm treatment portion of the massage device 10 is suppressed to a certain degree from excessive outward deformation when each airbag is inflated. In view of this, it is possible to select a configuration in which not only the reinforcing member 94 but also the reinforcing member 95 is omitted.

[0095] Since the reinforcing members 94 and 95 are larger than the other reinforcing members 90, 91, 92, and 93, not providing these members is expected to have significant effects in terms of weight reduction, improved maneuverability of the massage device 10, cost reduction, and the like.

[0096] In this way, there is a trade-off between the reinforcing effect (the effect of suppressing the outward deformation of the airbag) and effects other than the reinforcement (weight reduction, improved maneuverability, cost reduction), but when multiple airbags are provided as in this embodiment, the airbags to which the reinforcing member is provided can be appropriately selected depending on which effect is emphasized in which part of the airbag. In other words, when there are multiple airbags, the reinforcing member may be provided for all the airbags, or may be provided for only some of the airbags.

[0097] 15 to 17 show the control of the operation of massage device 10. This control of the operation is executed by control unit 83 of air supply control device 70 based on a program. The program includes control contents for a plurality of operation modes (massage patterns), and the operation mode is selected by the user operating operation button 81 of operation unit 80. Regarding the supply of air to each airbag described below, unless a control entity is specified, it is assumed that the control unit 83 of air supply control device 70 controls it.

[0098] Fig. 15 shows the first operation mode, Fig. 16 shows the second operation mode, and Fig. 17 shows the third operation mode. In Fig. 15 to Fig. 17, the horizontal axis shows the passage of time, and the vertical axis shows the on and off (signal change from the control unit 83) of the first solenoid valve 84, the second solenoid valve 85, and the third solenoid valve 86. On corresponds to the open state of each solenoid valve 84, 85, and 86, and off corresponds to the closed state of each solenoid valve 84, 85, and 86. When the first solenoid valve 84 is opened while the air pump 72 is in operation, air is supplied to the finger surface airbag 31, the finger back airbag 32, the forearm surface airbag 51, and the forearm back airbag 52. When the second solenoid valve 85 is opened while the air pump 72 is in operation, air is supplied to the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42. When the third solenoid valve 86 is opened while the air pump 72 is operating, air is supplied to the front forearm airbag 55 and the back forearm airbag 56. When each solenoid valve 84, 85, or 86 is closed, the supply of air to the corresponding airbag is stopped and the air in each airbag is naturally exhausted.

[0099] Each of the operation modes shown in Fig. 15 to Fig. 17 includes control contents for preventing the massage device 10 from shifting out of position when worn by a user. More specifically, the control contents are intended to prevent the massage device 10 from shifting out of position when the finger front airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 in the finger airbag unit 30 are inflated to massage the finger.

[0100] This prevention of positional deviation is based on the idea that if the second airbags (back of hand airbag 41 and palm airbag 42, and at least one of the forearm front airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56) intended for at least one of the hands and arms are inflated when the first airbags (fingers front airbag 31 and fingers back airbag 32) intended for the fingers are inflated, the pressure acting inward from the second airbags increases the holding pressure on the hands and arms, thereby restricting the movement of the cylinder body 11 (particularly the movement in the Z-axis direction). Therefore, when air is supplied to the first airbag to inflate it, the air supply is controlled so that the second airbag is inflated to a predetermined internal pressure or higher.

[0101] In this embodiment, the second airbags include hand airbags (back of hand airbag 41 and palm airbag 42) for treating the hand, and arm airbags (front forearm airbag 55 and back of forearm airbag 56) for treating the arm. An air supply control device 70 individually controls the air supply to the hand airbags (back of hand airbag 41 and palm airbag 42) and the air supply to the arm airbags (front forearm airbag 55 and back of forearm airbag 56) in the second airbags.

[0102] In addition to the second airbag, there are third airbags (airbag 51 for the front of the forearm and airbag 52 for the back of the forearm) for treating the arm. The air supply control device 70 supplies air to the first airbag and the third airbag simultaneously.

[0103] 15 to 17 directly show the operation of the first solenoid valve 84, the second solenoid valve 85, and the third solenoid valve 86, but the amount of air supplied to each airbag is proportional to the length of the air supply period, which is the duration of time that each solenoid valve 84, 85, and 86 remains open. During each air supply period, which will be described later, in the early stages, the corresponding airbag gradually expands and the internal pressure increases, and at the end of the period, air is released from the corresponding airbag and the airbag gradually contracts. For this reason, if the internal pressure of each airbag is graphed, it will have a mountain-like or trapezoidal shape with part of the air supply period missing.

[0104] The first operation mode will be described with reference to Fig. 15. In the first operation mode, the period during which the first solenoid valve 84 is turned on to supply air to the finger surface airbag 31, the finger back airbag 32, the forearm surface airbag 51, and the forearm back airbag 52 is defined as an air supply period T10, the period during which the second solenoid valve 85 is turned on to supply air to the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 is defined as an air supply period T20, and the period during which the third solenoid valve 86 is turned on to supply air to the forearm surface airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56 is defined as an air supply period T30.

[0105] As shown in Fig. 15, the air supply period T20 starts before the air supply period T10 starts. That is, before the air supply period T10 starts, the air supply period T20 starts. The air supply period T20 starts. The air supply period T1 ...

[0106] More specifically, the air supply period T10 starts when more than half (about two-thirds) of the air supply period T20 has elapsed, at which point the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 are almost fully inflated.

[0107] Next, in the middle of the air supply period T10, the air supply period T20 ends, and at almost the same time, the air supply period T30 starts. That is, while the airbags 31 for the front of the fingers and 32 for the back of the fingers maintain their inflation, the airbags 41 for the back of the hand and 42 for the palm switch from inflation to deflation, and the airbags 55 for the front of the forearm and 56 for the back of the forearm start to inflate. In other words, while the air supply to the first airbags (the airbags 31 for the front of the fingers and 32 for the back of the fingers) continues, the air supply to one of the two second airbags (the airbags 41 for the back of the hand and 42 for the palm) ends and the air supply to the other airbags (the airbags 55 for the front of the forearm and 56 for the back of the forearm) starts almost simultaneously.

[0108] At the end of the air supply period T20, air remains in the airbags 41 and 42, and the remaining air is gradually released. At the same time, the airbags 55 and 56 gradually inflate. Therefore, the pair of the airbags 41 and 42, and the pair of the airbags 55 and 56, alternate between contracting and inflating, with at least one of them maintaining an inflated state with an internal pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined level. Then, in the middle of the air supply period T30, the airbags 55 and 56 are inflated to almost their maximum.

[0109] The air supply period T30 ends slightly before the air supply period T10 ends. The air supply period T20 starts almost simultaneously with the end of the air supply period T10. That is, at the same time that the airbags 31 for the front of the fingers and 32 for the back of the fingers change from inflation to deflation, the airbags 55 for the front of the forearm and 56 for the back of the forearm also change from inflation to deflation, and the airbags 41 for the back of the hand and 42 for the palm start to inflate.

[0110] In the first operation mode, the above operation cycle is repeated. At the start of the air supply period T10 during which the finger front airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 are inflated, the back airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 are inflated in advance by the air supply period T20, which starts earlier than the air supply period T10.

[0111] Next, in the middle of the air supply period T10, the air supply period T20 ends and the air supply period T30 starts at the same time, and the airbags 55 for the front and 56 for the back of the forearm are inflated in place of the airbag 41 for the back of the hand and the airbag 42 for the palm. At this time, by setting the air supply period T30 immediately after the air supply period T20, the inflated states of the airbag 41 for the back of the hand and the airbag 42 for the palm are shifted to the inflated states of the airbag 55 for the front and the airbag 56 for the back of the forearm.

[0112] In other words, when inflating the airbags 31 for the front of the fingers and 32 for the back of the fingers at positions to be treated, either the airbag 41 for the back of the hand and the airbag 42 for the palm at positions to be treated for the hand (palm, back of the hand) or the airbag 55 for the front of the forearm and the airbag 56 for the back of the forearm at positions to be treated for the arm (forearm) are always inflated to an internal pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined level.

[0113] The inflation of the airbags 41 for the back of the hand and 42 for the palm, and the airbags 55 for the front of the forearm and 56 for the back of the forearm exert a pressing force toward the hand and arm on the inside (treatment space 15 side), which has the effect of suppressing the displacement of the massage device 10. Since the cylinder 11 of the massage device 10 is configured to wrap the arm from the outside, the massage device 10 is likely to be stable in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, but the position may be displaced in the Z-axis direction through which the cylinder 11 penetrates. In particular, the treatment area covered by the finger airbag unit 30, which is composed of the airbags 31 for the front of the fingers and the airbags 32 for the back of the fingers, is narrower than the treatment area covered by the hand airbag unit 40 and the arm airbag unit 50. Therefore, if the airbag unit 30 for the fingers is inflated alone, the pressing force acts locally and unevenly in the Z-axis direction, and the massage device 10 may become unstable in the Z-axis direction.

[0114] Here, by inflating the airbags 31 for the front of the fingers and 32 for the back of the fingers, the airbags 41 for the back of the hand and 42 for the palm, as well as the airbags 55 for the front of the forearm and the airbags 56 for the back of the forearm, in conjunction with the inflation of the airbags 31 for the front of the fingers and 32 for the back of the fingers, a holding force is obtained over a wide range in the Z-axis direction, and the effect of stabilizing the position in the Z-axis direction is obtained.

[0115] During the air supply period T10 in which the airbags for the front of the fingers 31 and the airbags for the back of the fingers 32 are inflated, the pair of the airbags for the back of the hand 41 and the airbags for the palm 42 and the pair of the airbags for the front of the forearm 55 and the airbags for the back of the forearm 56 are inflated to almost the maximum during the air supply periods T20 and T30, respectively, and can provide a high holding force toward the inside (the treatment space 15 side). In addition, since the end of the air supply period T20 and the start of the air supply period T30 are performed immediately after each other, the contraction of the airbags for the back of the hand 41 and the airbags for the palm 42 and the inflation of the airbags for the front of the forearm 55 and the airbags for the back of the forearm 56 are performed overlapping in time, and either the pair of the airbags for the back of the hand 41 and the airbags for the palm 42 or the pair of the airbags for the front of the forearm 55 and the airbags for the back of the forearm 56 is kept in an inflated state to prevent misalignment. Therefore, during the air supply period T10, the prevention of misalignment can always be achieved by inflating the pair of airbags 41 for the back of the hand and 42 for the palm, or the pair of airbags 55 for the front of the forearm and 56 for the back of the forearm.

[0116] During the air supply period T10, air is supplied to and inflated by the first solenoid valve 84, which is connected in common via the tube 77, simultaneously with the airbags 31 for the front of the fingers and 32 for the back of the fingers. The airbags 51 for the front of the forearm and 52 for the back of the forearm are pressed inward (towards the treatment space 15) to provide a holding force. In other words, in addition to the second airbag (airbag 55 for the front of the forearm and 56 for the back of the forearm), there is a third airbag (airbag 51 for the front of the forearm and 52 for the back of the forearm) for treating the arm, and the first airbag (airbag 31 for the front of the fingers and 32 for the back of the fingers) and the third airbag (airbag 51 for the front of the forearm and 52 for the back of the forearm) are controlled to be supplied with air simultaneously.

[0117] As a result, during the air supply period T10, in addition to the inflation of the above-mentioned back of the hand airbag 41 and palm airbag 42, and the inflation of the front forearm airbag 55 and the back of the forearm airbag 56, the inflation of the front forearm airbag 51 and the back of the forearm airbag 52 can also provide the effect of preventing misalignment.

[0118] The second operation mode will be described with reference to Fig. 16. In the second operation mode, the first solenoid valve 84 is turned on to supply air to the finger front airbag 31, the finger back airbag 32, the forearm front airbag 51, and the forearm back airbag 52, and air supply periods T40, T41, and T42 are set. The air supply period T41 is longer than the air supply periods T40 and T42. In addition, the second solenoid valve 85 is turned on to supply air to the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42, and air supply periods T50, T51, and T52 are set. In addition, the third solenoid valve 86 is turned on to supply air to the forearm front airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56, and air supply periods T60, T61, and T62 are set.

[0119] As shown in Fig. 16, the air supply period T60 starts before the air supply period T40 starts. That is, the airbags 55 and 56 for the front and back of the forearm start to inflate before the airbags 31 and 32 for the front and back of the forearm start to inflate. At the time when the airbags 31 and 32 for the front and back of the forearm start to inflate (the air supply period T40 starts), the airbags 55 and 56 for the front and back of the forearm are inflated to a predetermined internal pressure or more. In other words, the first airbags (the airbags 31 and 32 for the front and back of the forearm) are inflated by air while the second airbags (the airbags 55 and 56 for the front and back of the forearm) are inflated by air.

[0120] More specifically, the air supply period T40 starts when more than half of the air supply period T60 has elapsed, and at this point the front forearm airbag 55 and the back forearm airbag 56 are almost fully inflated.

[0121] At the same time that the air supply period T40 ends, the air supply period T60 also ends. In other words, at the same time that the finger surface airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 change from inflation to deflation, the forearm surface airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56 also change from inflation to deflation.

[0122] The air supply period T60 overlaps with the entire air supply period T40, and the start of the air supply period T60 is earlier than the start of the air supply period T40. Therefore, when the air bag for the front of the forearm 31 and the air bag for the back of the forearm 32 are inflated during the air supply period T40, the air bag for the front of the forearm 55 and the air bag for the back of the forearm 56 are always inflated. As a result, a treatment is performed in which the fingers are pressed (the air bag for the front of the forearm 31 and the air bag for the back of the forearm 32 press the fingers) while applying a holding force (the force of the air bag for the front of the forearm 55 and the air bag for the back of the forearm 56 pressing inward) at the forearm, and this has the effect of preventing the positional deviation of the massage device 10 (particularly, the positional deviation in the Z-axis direction).

[0123] Almost simultaneously with the end of air supply period T40, air supply period T50 begins. In other words, the airbags 41 and 42 for the back of the hand begin to inflate at the same time that the airbags 31 and 32 for the finger surface and sole of the finger change from inflation to deflation.

[0124] In addition, in the middle of the air supply period T50, an air supply period T61 is started. That is, after a time lag from the start of inflation of the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42, the front forearm airbag 55 and the back of the forearm airbag 56 are also inflated.

[0125] The air supply period T50 and the air supply period T61 end almost at the same time. Immediately after the end of the air supply, the air supply period T41 starts. That is, immediately after the air supply to the pair of the airbag for the back of the hand 41 and the airbag for the palm 42 is stopped and the air supply to the pair of the airbag for the front of the forearm 55 and the airbag for the back of the forearm 56 is stopped, the airbag for the front of the finger 31 and the airbag for the back of the finger 32 starts to be inflated by air supply. In other words, immediately after the air supply to the second airbags (the airbag for the back of the hand 41 and the airbag for the palm 42, the airbag for the front of the forearm 55 and the airbag for the back of the forearm 56) is stopped, the first airbag (the airbag for the front of the finger 31 and the airbag for the back of the finger 32) is supplied with air and inflated. In other words, immediately before air supply to the first airbags (airbag 31 for the front of the fingers and airbag 32 for the back of the fingers) begins, air supply to the second airbags (airbag 41 for the back of the hand and airbag 42 for the palm, airbag 55 for the front of the forearm and airbag 56 for the back of the forearm) is terminated.

[0126] At the start of the air supply period T41, a large amount of air remains in the pair of airbags 41 and 42 for the back of the hand and the pair of airbags 55 and 56 for the front and back of the forearm, which are in a state immediately after the air supply is stopped, and this remaining air maintains the inflation at a predetermined internal pressure or higher. In other words, the airbags 31 and 32 for the front and back of the finger are started to inflate in the pair of airbags 41 and 42 for the back of the hand and the pair of airbags 55 and 56 for the front and back of the forearm, which are inflated to some extent by the remaining air. This provides an effect of preventing the massage device 10 from shifting in position (particularly in the Z-axis direction).

[0127] In the middle of the air supply period T41, the air supply period T51 is started. In other words, while the inflation of the first airbags (the airbag for the front of the finger 31 and the airbag for the back of the finger 32) continues in the air supply period T41, air is supplied to the second airbags (the airbag for the back of the hand 41 and the airbag for the palm 42) to inflate them.

[0128] After the previous air supply period T50 and air supply period T61 end, the remaining air gradually escapes from the pair of airbags for the back of the hand 41 and palm 42 and the pair of airbags for the front of the forearm 55 and back of the forearm 56. However, by supplying air to the airbags for the back of the hand 41 and palm 42 again in air supply period T51, the airbags for the back of the hand 41 and palm 42 can be inflated before the remaining air runs out, maintaining the effect of preventing displacement of the massage device 10 (particularly displacement in the Z-axis direction).

[0129] During the air supply period T42, the same control as that for the air supply period T40 described above is used to prevent the massage device 10 from shifting in position (particularly in the Z-axis direction). That is, the air supply period T62 is started prior to the air supply period T42 to inflate the airbags 55 for the front and 56 for the back of the forearm. As a result, at the stage of inflating the airbags 31 for the front and 32 for the back of the forearm during the air supply period T42, the airbags 55 for the front and 56 for the back of the forearm that have been inflated by air supplying earlier provide a holding force.

[0130] Almost simultaneously with the end of the air supply period T42, the air supply period T62 ends and the air supply period T52 starts.

[0131] As described above, in the second operation mode, in the air supply periods T40, T42 in which the finger surface airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 are inflated, the forearm surface airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56 are inflated to almost their maximum during the air supply periods T60, T62 which start earlier than the air supply periods T40, T42 in which the finger surface airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 are inflated, thereby providing the massage device 10 with a holding force to prevent it from shifting out of position.

[0132] During the air supply period T41 (particularly the first half of the air supply period T41) in which the airbags 31 for the front of the fingers and 32 for the back of the fingers are inflated, the airbags 41 for the back of the hand and 42 for the palm, which had been inflated until immediately before (air supply periods T50 and T61), are inflated by the remaining air, and the airbags 55 for the front of the forearm and 56 for the back of the forearm are inflated by the remaining air, to provide the massage device 10 with a holding force to prevent it from shifting out of position.

[0133] Furthermore, by starting the air supply period T51 in the middle of the air supply period T41 and supplying air to the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 to inflate them, the massage device 10 can be continuously provided with a holding force to prevent it from shifting position even in the latter half of the air supply period T41.

[0134] During the air supply periods T40, T41, and T42, air is supplied to the airbags 51 and 52 (third airbags) for the front and back of the forearm simultaneously with the airbags 31 and 32 (first airbags) for the front and back of the forearm by the operation of the first solenoid valve 84, which is connected in common via the tube 77. The airbags 51 and 52 for the front and back of the forearm are pressed inward (toward the treatment space 15) to provide a holding force. Therefore, during the air supply periods T40, T41, and T42, in addition to the inflation of the airbags 41 and 42 (second airbags) for the back of the hand and the airbags 41 and 52 (second airbags) for the front and back of the forearm, the airbags 51 and 52 for the front and back of the forearm can also be inflated to prevent displacement of the airbags.

[0135] In summary, there are two methods, a first method and a second method, for preventing the position of the massage device 10 from shifting when inflating the first airbags (airbag 31 for the front of the fingers and airbag 32 for the back of the fingers) by inflating the second airbags (airbag 41 for the back of the hand and airbag 42 for the palm, airbag 55 for the front of the forearm and airbag 56 for the back of the forearm) arranged at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder body 11. The first method is used in the first operating mode (Fig. 15), and the first and second methods are used together in the second operating mode (Fig. 16).

[0136] In the first method, the second airbag is started to be supplied with air earlier than the first airbag, and the first airbag is inflated while the second airbag is inflated. In other words, the period during which the second airbag is supplied with air overlaps with the period during which the first airbag is supplied with air (particularly the start of the supply of air).

[0137] In the second method, the period during which air is supplied to the second airbag is shifted from the period during which air is supplied to the first airbag, and air is supplied to the first airbag immediately after air supply to the second airbag is stopped to inflate it (air is supplied to the second airbag until just before air supply to the first airbag), and inflation by the remaining air in the second airbag is utilized.

[0138] The third operation mode will be described with reference to Fig. 17. In the third operation mode, the first solenoid valve 84 is turned on to supply air to the finger front airbag 31, the finger back airbag 32, the forearm front airbag 51, and the forearm back airbag 52 during an air supply period T70-T75. The second solenoid valve 85 is turned on to supply air to the back airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 during an air supply period T80-T86. The third solenoid valve 86 is turned on to supply air to the forearm front airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56 during an air supply period T90, T91, and T92.

[0139] In the third operation mode, similarly to the second operation mode, the above-mentioned first and second methods are used in combination to prevent the massage device 10 from shifting out of position.

[0140] 17, the air supply period T80 starts before the air supply period T70 starts. That is, the airbag 41 for the back of the hand and the airbag 42 for the palm start to inflate before the airbag 31 for the front of the finger and the airbag 32 for the back of the finger start to inflate.

[0141] While both the air supply period T70 and the air supply period T80 are continuing, the air supply period T90 is started and the airbag for the front of the forearm 55 and the airbag for the back of the forearm 56 are inflated. The air supply period T80 ends in the middle of the air supply period T70, and the air supply to the airbag for the back of the hand 41 and the airbag for the palm 42 is temporarily interrupted. At this time, the air supply period T90 is continuing, and the airbag for the front of the forearm 55 and the airbag for the back of the forearm 56 are inflated to provide a holding force.

[0142] During the duration of the air supply period T70, an air supply period T81 is started, and the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm of the hand airbag 42 are again inflated. Then, at the end of the air supply period T70, air supply periods T81 and T90 continue.

[0143] At the stage when air supply to the finger surface airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 starts in the next air supply period T71, air supply periods T81 and T90 are continuing, and the pair of the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 and the pair of the forearm surface airbag 55 and the back of the forearm airbag 56 are all inflated.

[0144] In the middle of the air supply period T71, the air supply period T81 ends and the air supply to the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 is temporarily interrupted, but at this time the air supply period T90 continues and the holding force is obtained by the inflation of the forearm front airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56.

[0145] During the duration of the air supply period T71, an air supply period T82 is started, and the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm of the hand airbag 42 are again inflated. Then, at the end of the air supply period T71, air supply periods T82 and T90 continue.

[0146] At the stage when air supply to the finger surface airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 starts in the next air supply period T72, air supply periods T82 and T90 are continuing, and the pair of the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 and the pair of the forearm surface airbag 55 and the back of the forearm airbag 56 are all inflated.

[0147] In the middle of the air supply period T72, the air supply period T82 ends and the air supply to the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 is temporarily interrupted, but at this time the air supply period T90 continues and the holding force is obtained by the inflation of the forearm front airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56.

[0148] Furthermore, in the middle of the air supply period T72, an air supply period T83 is started, and the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 are inflated again. After the air supply period T83 starts, the air supply period T90 ends, but at this stage the air supply period T83 is still continuing, and the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 are inflated to provide holding force.

[0149] After a short interval when the air supply period T72 ends, air supply to the finger surface airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 is started in the next air supply period T73. The air supply period T83 ends just before the start of the air supply period T73. Air supply to the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 is being performed in the air supply period T83 until just before the start of the air supply period T73 (air supply to the finger surface airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 is started just after air supply to the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 is stopped), so that the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 are kept inflated at a predetermined internal pressure or higher by the remaining air at the start of the air supply period T73. In addition, since the interval between the end of air supply period T90 and the start of air supply period T73 is short, the front forearm airbag 55 and the back forearm airbag 56 also maintain some degree of inflation due to remaining air at the start of air supply period T73.

[0150] In the middle of the air supply period T73, an air supply period T91 starts, and the forearm front airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56 are inflated again. In the second half of the air supply period T73, the air supply period T91 continues, and the forearm front airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56 are inflated to provide holding force.

[0151] Almost simultaneously with the end of the air supply period T73, the air supply period T84 starts, and the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42 are inflated. At this stage, the air supply period T91 continues, and the arm surface airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56 maintain their inflation.

[0152] In air supply period T74, air supply to the finger surface airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 begins. At the start of air supply period T74, air supply period T91 is continuing, and the airbag for the forearm surface 55 and the airbag for the forearm back 56 are inflated to provide holding force. Air supply period T84 ends just before the start of air supply period T74, and at the start of air supply period T74, the airbag for the back of the hand 41 and the airbag for the palm 42 are maintaining inflation at a predetermined internal pressure or higher due to the remaining air, providing holding force.

[0153] After the start of the air supply period T74, the air supply period T91 ends. For a while from this stage (middle of the air supply period T74), the remaining air in the pair of the airbags 55 and 56 for the front and back of the forearm and the pair of the airbags 41 and 42 for the back of the hand is used to obtain holding power. Then, shortly before the end of the air supply period T74, the air supply period T85 begins, and the airbags 41 and 42 for the back of the hand begin to inflate.

[0154] When the air supply period T74 ends, the air supply period T85 continues. Then, the air supply period T92 starts, and the forearm front airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56 start to inflate. The air supply period T85 ends while the air supply period T92 is still continuing.

[0155] In air supply period T75, air supply to the finger surface airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32 begins. At the start of air supply period T75, air supply period T92 is continuing, and holding force is obtained by the inflation of the forearm surface airbag 55 and the forearm back airbag 56. In addition, the time from the end of air supply period T85 to the start of air supply period T75 is short, and at the start of air supply period T75, there is remaining air in the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm airbag 42, and holding force is obtained.

[0156] The start of air supply period T92 is earlier than the start of air supply period T75, and the end of air supply period T92 is later than the end of air supply period T75. Therefore, during air supply period T75, the holding force due to the inflation of the front forearm airbag 55 and the back forearm airbag 56 is continuously obtained.

[0157] Almost simultaneously with the end of the air supply period T75, the air supply period T86 begins, and the back of the hand airbag 41 and the palm of the hand airbag 42 are inflated. After the air supply period T86 begins, the air supply period T92 ends. Then, the air supply period T86 ends, completing one cycle of the third operation mode.

[0158] As described above, in the third operating mode, for the air supply periods T70, T71, T72, T74 and T75, the first method is used in which at least one (second airbag) of the pair of airbags for the back of the hand 41 and the palm 42 and the pair of airbags for the front of the forearm 55 and the back of the forearm 56 is inflated in advance, and then inflation of the airbags for the front of the fingers 31 and the back of the fingers 32 (first airbags) is started.

[0159] For the air supply period T73, a second method is used in which air is supplied to and inflated by the airbags 31 for the finger surfaces and 32 for the backs of the fingers (first airbags) immediately after air supply to at least one of the pair of airbags 41 for the back of the hand and 42 for the palm and the pair of airbags 55 for the front of the forearm and 56 for the back of the forearm (second airbags) is stopped.

[0160] During the air supply period T70 to T75, air is supplied to the airbags 51 and 52 (third airbags) for the front and back of the forearm simultaneously with the airbags 31 and 32 (first airbags) for the front and back of the forearm by the operation of the first solenoid valve 84, which is connected in common via the tube 77. The airbags 51 and 52 for the front and back of the forearm are pressed inward (toward the treatment space 15) to provide a holding force. Therefore, during the air supply period T70 to T75, in addition to the airbags 41 and 42 (second airbags) for the back of the hand and the airbags 55 and 56 (second airbags) for the front and back of the forearm, the airbags 51 and 52 for the front and back of the forearm can be inflated to prevent displacement of the airbags.

[0161] In the above operation modes, the operation of the airbags other than the airbag for the front of the finger 31 and the airbag for the back of the finger 32 for inflation and deflation has been described from the viewpoint of preventing the massage device 10 from shifting out of position, focusing mainly on the relationship between the operation timing of the airbag for the front of the finger 31 and the airbag for the back of the finger 32. However, the airbags other than the airbag for the front of the finger 31 and the airbag for the back of the finger 32 are not dedicated equipment for preventing the massage device 10 from shifting out of position, and their basic role is to treat the hand (palm, back of the hand) and the arm (forearm). Therefore, the operation of the airbags other than the airbag for the front of the finger 31 and the airbag for the back of the finger 32 described above with reference to Figs. 15 to 17 includes the effect of treating the hand and the arm. The effect of preventing the massage device 10 from shifting out of position is obtained by setting the operation timing.

[0162] For example, the third operating mode shown in FIG. 17 includes many periods during which all three solenoid valves 84, 85, and 86 are on, and during these periods, strong mode treatment is performed in which pressure is applied to the entire area from the fingers to the forearm at the same time.

[0163] 15 to 17, the control is realized to effectively prevent the massage device 10 from shifting in position when the massage is performed on the finger by the operation of the finger front airbag 31 and the finger back airbag 32. In particular, it is possible to prevent the massage device 10 from shifting in position in the Z-axis direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the arm.

[0164] Since prevention of displacement is achieved by selecting the inflation timing of each airbag 41, 42, 51, 52, 55, and 56 for treating the hands and arms, there is no need to provide airbags or stoppers specifically for preventing displacement, which contributes to simplifying the configuration of the massage device 10 and making it smaller, lighter, and less expensive.

[0165] As described above, the massage device 10 includes the size adjustment fastener 20, the size adjustment belt 21, the finger hooks 23 and 24, etc., which are components that contribute to stability when worn. In addition, by using the air supply control device 70 to control the air supply to each airbag, the positional stability of the massage device 10 can be improved in terms of control as well.

[0166] It is possible to apply modified examples different from the massage device 10 described above. For example, the treatment space 15 at the tip side of the cylindrical body 11 may be configured to be closed, not open.

[0167] It is also possible to have an internal structure in which the inside of the cylinder 11 is not divided into an inner storage space 16 and an outer storage space 17, and there is no partition (middle fabric 13) between the outer fabric 12 and the inner fabric 14.

[0168] The positioning configurations provided on the reinforcing members 90, 91, 92, and 94 may be formed by recessing a portion of the outer edge, instead of through holes such as the positioning holes 90a, 91a, 92a, and 94a.

[0169] Although the above description is based on the illustrated embodiment, the technology of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and modified examples, and may be modified, substituted, or altered in various ways without departing from the spirit of the technical idea. Furthermore, if the technical idea can be realized in a different way due to the progress of technology or a different technology derived therefrom, the invention may be implemented using that method. Therefore, the claims cover all embodiments that may be included within the scope of the technical idea. [Explanation of symbols]

[0170] 10: Massage device 11: Cylindrical body 12: Outer fabric (periphery) 13: Middle fabric 14: Inner fabric (inner circumference) 15: Treatment space 16: Internal storage space 17:Outside storage space 18: Attachment storage section 20: Size adjustment zipper 21: Size adjustment belt 23: Finger rest part 24: Finger rest 25: Exterior pocket 27: Tube guide 30: Finger airbag unit (Finger airbag) 31: Airbag for finger surface (Airbag for finger) 32: Airbag for the back of the finger (Airbag for the finger) 34: Nozzle protrusion (protrusion for air supply) 35: Nozzle protrusion (protrusion for air supply) 40: Hand airbag unit (hand airbag) 41: Airbag for the back of the hand (airbag for the hand) 42: Palm airbag (hand airbag) 44: Nozzle protrusion (protrusion for air supply) 50: Arm airbag unit (arm airbag) 51: Forearm airbag (arm airbag) 52: Airbag for the back of the forearm (airbag for the arm) 54: Nozzle protrusion (protrusion for air supply) 55: Forearm airbag (arm airbag) 56: Airbag for the back of the forearm (airbag for the arm) 58: Nozzle protrusion (protrusion for air supply) 60: Attachment 61: Bass 62:Protrusion 70: Air supply control device 71: Housing (reinforcement member) 72: Air pump 73 :Battery 74: Solenoid valve unit 74a~74c: Nozzle protrusions 75: Retaining bracket 76: Inner cover 77~79: Tube 80: Operation section 81: Operation button 82: Power supply port 83: Control section 84: First solenoid valve 85: Second solenoid valve 86: Third solenoid valve 90~95: Reinforcement material 90a, 91a, 92a, 94a, 94b: Positioning holes T10: Air supply period T20: Air supply period T30: Air supply period T40~T42: Air supply period T50~T52: Air supply period T60~T62: Air supply period T70~T75: Air supply period T80~T86: Air supply period T90~T92: Air supply period

Claims

1. A cylindrical body in which an inner periphery constituting the inner surface and an outer periphery constituting the outer surface are both flexible, and an arm can be inserted into a treatment space inside the inner periphery from one end in the longitudinal direction; an airbag disposed between the inner periphery and the outer periphery and capable of inflating and deflating; an air supply control device disposed between the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion, for controlling the supply of air to the airbag to inflate and deflate the airbag; A reinforcing member that is disposed between the airbag and the outer circumferential portion, is deformable in association with the inflation and deflation of the airbag, and is harder and less stretchable than the outer circumferential portion; A massage device comprising:

2. A pair of the airbags are disposed opposite each other across the treatment space, The massage device according to claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing member between each of the pair of airbags and the outer periphery.

3. The airbag has an air supply protrusion protruding toward the outer circumferential portion, 2. The massage device according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is in the form of a plate that overlaps the airbag and has a hole or a notch that fits into the air supply protrusion to determine its position relative to the airbag.

4. The air supply control device has a housing that accommodates an air pump that is an air supply source, A pair of the airbags are disposed at positions facing each other across the treatment space, and the pair of the airbags are connected by a connecting portion to form an airbag unit, 2. The massage device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is positioned between one of the pair of airbags and the outer periphery to serve as the reinforcing member.

5. 5. The massage device according to claim 1, wherein an attachment for adjusting a treatment effect can be detachably attached to a storage portion provided between the airbag and the inner peripheral portion.

6. a size adjustment fastener is provided on the outer periphery along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body; the cylindrical body has a folded-in portion on the inside of a portion that is opened and closed by the size adjustment fastener, 6. The massage device according to claim 1, wherein the size of the cylindrical body is adjusted by changing the degree of opening of the size adjustment fastener to change the degree of expansion of the folded-in portion.

7. a size adjustment belt that is wound around the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body at a position that intersects with the size adjustment fastener on the outer periphery; The size adjustment belt is provided at a position closer to the one end than to a center of the cylindrical body in a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body, 7. The massage device according to claim 6, wherein the size of the cylindrical body is adjusted by changing the fixing position of the size adjustment belt.

8. A finger hook is provided on the inside of the inner periphery, on which a finger can be hooked with an arm inserted into the cylindrical body and which serves as a guide for the insertion position of the arm in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body, 8. The massage device according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the finger hooks are provided symmetrically in a width direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body.

9. The airbag includes a finger airbag, a hand airbag, and an arm airbag, which are divided in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body, 9. The massage device according to claim 1, wherein the air supply control device supplies air to the finger airbag, the hand airbag, and the arm airbag individually.

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