Lower limb massager

Abstract

To provide a lower limb massage machine which includes mechanisms for enabling a movement of treatment members when massaging treatment regions of lower limbs, enables treatment elements arranged in the treatment members to be strongly pushed-in with respect to the treatment regions, and can provide an effective massage effect.SOLUTION: A lower limb massage machine 1 includes vertical massage mechanisms 4 for massaging calves C and shins S which are treatment regions by a vertical movement. The vertical massage mechanism 4 includes: an outside treatment member 7 formed to cover an outer side of the shin S so as to press the outer side of the shin S; a rear-side treatment member 8 arranged on an inner side of the outside treatment member 7 so as to be positioned on a rear side of the calf C thereby to press a rear side of the calf C; and a press mechanism 10 for varying a position of at least one of the outside treatment member 7 and the rear-side treatment member 8, so as to massage the treatment regions by pressing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lower leg massager suitable for massaging the lower legs. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, massage machines for lower legs that can massage the lower legs (particularly the area from below the knee to the calf and foot) have been commercially available. For example, the massage machine for lower legs disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a vertical massage mechanism that massages the treatment area from below the knee to the calf and ankle, a horizontal massage mechanism that massages the treatment area from the ankle to the foot, and a sole massage mechanism that massages the treatment area of ​​the sole and arch of the foot. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5912548 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] By using the lower limb massager disclosed in Patent Document 1, a high massage effect can be obtained. However, in recent years, there have been requests from users for lower limb massage machines to provide the same massage sensation as when they are receiving treatment from a masseuse, for example, to relieve swelling in the calves (promoting blood flow and lymph flow to help recover from fatigue), or to receive a massage that feels more like acupressure on the feet and soles.In other words, there has been a demand for lower limb massage machines to provide an even greater massage effect on the treatment areas of the lower limbs, such as the calves, feet, and soles.

[0005] Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive research into the shape, arrangement, and movement of the massaging members in a lower limb massage machine in order to enhance the massage effect. In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a lower limb massage machine that is equipped with a mechanism that enables the movement of the treatment member that performs the massage when massaging the treatment area of ​​the lower limb, thereby allowing the treatment element attached to the treatment member to be pressed firmly against the treatment area, thereby achieving a more effective massage effect on the treatment area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical means. The lower limb massage machine of the present invention is equipped with a vertical massage mechanism that moves up and down to provide a massage action to the treatment areas, namely the calves and shins, and is characterized in that the vertical massage mechanism has an outer treatment member that is formed to cover the outside of the shin and presses the outside of the shin, a rear treatment member that is arranged inside the outer treatment member so as to be at the rear of the calf and presses the rear of the calf, and a pressing mechanism that performs a pressure massage on the treatment areas by changing the position of either the outer treatment member or the rear treatment member.

[0007] Preferably, the pressing mechanism has a first pressing mechanism, and the first pressing mechanism is adapted to change the position of the outer treatment member in the left-right direction, thereby pressing the outer side of the shin. Preferably, the first pressing mechanism has a first airbag that repeatedly inflates and deflates, and by inflating the first airbag, the outer treatment member moves inward to massage the outside of the shin.

[0008] Preferably, the pressing mechanism has a second pressing mechanism, and the second pressing mechanism presses the rear side of the calf by varying the position of the rear treatment member in the front-to-rear direction. Preferably, the second pressing mechanism has a second airbag that repeatedly expands and contracts, and by expanding the second airbag, the rear treatment member is moved forward to massage the rear of the calf.

[0009] Preferably, a horizontal massage mechanism is provided for applying a massage action to the foot, and the horizontal massage mechanism includes a protrusion disposed below the foot and pressing against the sole of the foot. The pressing mechanism may have a third pressing mechanism, and the third pressing mechanism may press the sole of the foot by lifting the sole massaging member upward. Preferably, the third pressing mechanism has a third airbag that repeatedly expands and contracts, and by expanding the third airbag, the sole treatment member is moved upward and pressed against the sole of the foot to massage it.

[0010] Preferably, the horizontal massage mechanism has a foot slip-out prevention mechanism that prevents the foot from slipping out upward when the vertical massage mechanism moves upward. Preferably, the foot slip-out prevention mechanism has a fourth airbag that repeatedly inflates and contracts, and is configured to press down on the foot by inflating the fourth airbag, thereby preventing the foot from slipping out upward when the vertical massage mechanism moves upward by driving the up-and-down movement mechanism.

[0011] Preferably, the vehicle includes a control unit that controls the vertical massage mechanism, and the control unit controls driving the vertical massage mechanism so as to be able to switch between supplying compressed air to the first airbag and the second airbag. Preferably, the control unit performs control to inflate the first airbag and then the second airbag.

[0012] Preferably, the control unit inflates the second airbag before the first airbag, and adjusts the contact position of the rear treatment member in the front-rear direction. Preferably, a pressure detection unit is provided that detects the pressure of at least one of the first airbag and the second airbag, and the control unit grasps the respective pressures using the pressure detection unit and adjusts the pressure of the first airbag and the second airbag.

[0013] Preferably, the vertical massage mechanism has an inner treatment member that is positioned opposite the outer treatment member and presses against the inside of the calf, and the inner treatment member is configured to move toward the outer treatment member by the pressing mechanism to massage the inside of the calf. More preferably, the lower leg massage machine of the present invention comprises a pressing mechanism that is provided in a vertical massage mechanism that moves up and down to apply a massage action to the treatment parts, namely the calves and shins, and that applies a massage action to the treatment parts, the pressing mechanism having a first pressing mechanism that presses the outside of the shins, the first pressing mechanism having an outer treatment member that presses the outside of the shins, and a first airbag that inflates to move the outer treatment member inward, the outer treatment member being in contact with the side of the shins. The device has a treatment element and an arm member that supports the outer treatment element at its tip, and the arm member branches in the front-to-rear direction from a middle part of the arm member and has a front piece that extends forward and a rear piece that extends rearward, and a swing shaft that pivots the arm member so that it can swing freely in the left-right direction is provided at the middle part, and a spring member is attached to the swing shaft that urges the outer treatment element outward in the left-right direction, and the first airbag is deployed at the tip part of the rear piece and, when inflated, pushes the rear piece outward in the left-right direction. More preferably, the pressing mechanism has a second pressing mechanism, which has a rear treatment member that is arranged inside the outer treatment member so as to be at the rear of the calf and presses against the rear of the calf, and the second pressing mechanism presses against the rear of the calf by varying the position of the rear treatment member in the front-to-rear direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, when massaging the treatment area of ​​the lower limb, a mechanism is provided that allows the treatment member that performs the massage to move, so that the treatment element attached to the treatment member can be pressed firmly against the treatment area, thereby achieving a more effective massage effect on the treatment area. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic overview of a lower leg massage machine according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a lower leg massage machine according to the present invention, as seen from the front. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a lower leg massage machine according to the present invention, as seen from behind. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view of a lower leg massage machine according to the present invention. [Figure 5] 10 is an enlarged view of the outer treatment element, the outer treatment member, and the first right airbag. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the vertical massage mechanism. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the rear treatment member and the second airbag. [Figure 8]This is an enlarged view of the sole protrusion and third airbag. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a lower leg massager 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an example of the present invention, and the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this specific example. In addition, in the drawings, some components are omitted and drawn using virtual lines, etc., for ease of understanding. The directions of the lower leg massage machine 1 of the present invention, such as front-back and left-right directions, are as shown in the drawings. These directions correspond to the directions seen by a user who is seated on a chair or the like with their lower leg L inserted into the lower leg massage machine 1. In the following description, the directions shown in the drawings will be the directions when describing the lower leg massage machine 1 of the present invention.

[0017] In this specification, the part of a person's lower leg L from below the knee to above the ankle K (calf K) will be referred to primarily as the back side (back side) as the "calf C." Furthermore, the part of the part from below the knee to above the ankle K (calf K) will be referred to primarily as the front side (front side) as the "shin S." Furthermore, the part from the ankle K to the toes will be referred to as the "foot F." Other parts of the lower leg L will be described as appropriate.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the lower leg massager 1 of this embodiment has a case body 2 that is substantially square when viewed from the front and boot-shaped when viewed from the side. The case body 2 has a pair of treatment recesses 3 on the left and right formed on its front surface, into which the lower limbs L can be fitted. That is, the treatment recesses 3 are arranged side by side, spaced apart from each other on the left and right. The left lower limb L is fitted into the treatment recess 3 on the left side, and the right lower limb L is fitted into the treatment recess 3 on the right side.

[0019] The treatment recess 3 has an upper treatment recess 3a formed in approximately the upper half and open toward the front and upward, and a lower treatment recess 3b formed in approximately the lower half and open toward the top and front. The upper treatment recess 3a and the lower treatment recess 3b are configured to be connected vertically. The calf C can be fitted into the upper treatment recess 3a, and at the same time, the foot F can be fitted into the lower treatment recess 3b.

[0020] The upper treatment recess 3a and the lower treatment recess 3b are provided with cushioning materials (not shown) such as sponge or urethane. The openings (surfaces) of the upper treatment recess 3a and the lower treatment recess 3b are lined with stretchy and moderately breathable lining materials (not shown) such as cloth or leather. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the lower leg massage machine 1 of the present invention has a vertical massage mechanism 4 that applies pressure massage to the left and right calves C from the rear (back side) and applies pressure massage to the left and right shins S from the outside, a horizontal massage mechanism 5 that applies kneading massage to the left and right feet F from both the left and right sides and applies pressure massage to the soles U from below, and an up-and-down movement mechanism 6 that moves the vertical massage mechanism 4 up and down.

[0021] The vertical massage mechanism 4 is provided inside the left and right upper treatment recesses 3a, and uses a first pressing mechanism 11 (first airbag 11a) described below to move the outer treatment member 7 to massage the treatment area (outside of the shin S), and a second pressing mechanism 12 (second airbag 12a) to move the rear treatment member 8 to massage the treatment area (rear side of the calf C).

[0022] The horizontal massage mechanism 5 is provided inside the left and right lower treatment recesses 3b, and performs a kneading massage on the treatment area (foot F) by swinging the horizontal massage members 36, 37 described later in the left and right direction, pushes up the sole protrusions 39, 40 with the third pressing mechanism 41 (third airbag 41a) described later to massage the treatment area (front and rear of the sole U), and massages the treatment area (arch T) with the sole massage roller 45.

[0023] The vertical movement mechanism 6 moves the vertical massage mechanism 4 in the up and down direction, thereby massaging the outside of the shin S and the back of the calf C from above and below. First, the vertical massage mechanism 4 will be described in detail. The vertical massage mechanism 4 of this embodiment has an outer treatment member 7 (first roller 13) that is formed to cover the outside of the shin S and presses the outside of the shin S, a rear treatment member 8 (second roller 19) that is arranged inside the outer treatment member 7 so as to be on the rear side of the calf C and presses the rear side of the calf C, and an inner treatment member 9 (third roller 26) that is arranged in a position opposite the outer treatment member 7 and presses the inside of the calf C.

[0024] Furthermore, the vertical massage mechanism 4 of this embodiment has a pressing mechanism 10 that applies a pressure massage to the treatment area (shin S, calf C, etc.) by changing the position of any one of the outer treatment member 7, rear treatment member 8, and inner treatment member 9. The pressing mechanism 10 has a first pressing mechanism 11 that presses the outer treatment member 7 more firmly against the side of the shin (shin) S, and a second pressing mechanism 12 that presses the rear treatment member 8 more firmly against the rear side (back side) of the calf C.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2 to 6, the outer treatment member 7 presses against and massages the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscles on the outside of the tibia of the shin S (muscles that extend from the posterior calf C around the outside and are on the side of the shin S). The outer treatment member 7 has an outer treatment element 13 (first roller 13) that presses against the side of the shin S to massage it, and an arm member 14 that rotatably supports the first roller 13 at its tip.

[0026] The arm member 14 is curved inward in the left-right direction from the middle to the front (tip side). A support shaft 15 that protrudes forward is provided at the front of the arm member 14. A first roller 13 is rotatably attached to the support shaft 15. In this embodiment, the first roller 13 is a disk-shaped roller, and two first rollers 13 are provided at an interval.

[0027] The first roller 13 is disposed diagonally forward and laterally outward in a plan view so as to avoid the tibia of the shin S and to come into contact with the tibialis anterior muscle, peroneus longus muscle, etc. With this arrangement, the first roller 13 presses against the side of the shin S (tibialis anterior muscle, peroneus longus muscle, etc.) to massage it in a manner similar to finger pressure. The first roller 13 may be made of a material having elasticity, such as soft or hard resin or rubber.

[0028] The arm member 14 is bifurcated from the middle to the rear. The bifurcated part is the base end, from which plate pieces 14a and 14b branch out to the left and right (inside and outside). (front piece) The base end of the shaft 16 has a hole that penetrates vertically. This swing shaft 16 is inserted into a hole 31c provided in a vertical movement slider 31 (details will be described later) that constitutes the up-down movement mechanism 6. In other words, the arm member 14 is connected to the vertical movement slider 31 so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction.

[0029] Additionally, a coil spring 17 is attached below the inner plate piece 14a so as to circle the outside of the swing shaft 16. This coil spring 17 moves the outer treatment member 7 outward in the left-right direction, and maintains the outer treatment member 7 in an open state (separated state) from the rear treatment member 8. In other words, by providing the coil spring 17, a large space is secured between the outer treatment member 7 (first roller 13) and the rear treatment member 8 (second roller 19), allowing the calf C and shin S to be inserted.

[0030] The coil spring 17 has a coil body around which wire is wound and legs that protrude radially outward from the coil body. The coil body is arranged so as to wrap around the outer periphery of the swing shaft 16. The legs protrude from the upper and lower ends of the coil body. The upper leg is engaged with the base end of the arm member 14. The lower leg is engaged with the vertically moving slider 31. This engaged state keeps the outer treatment member 7 open (separated state) relative to the rear treatment member 8. This separated state is the standard state.

[0031] Plate piece 14b branching outward from the base end of arm member 14 (posterior piece) is a flat plate member having a predetermined width and arranged upright in the vertical direction. When the first airbag 11a of the first pressing mechanism 11 inflates, the plate piece 14b is pushed outward in the left-right direction by the first airbag 11a. On the other hand, when the first airbag 11a is contracted, the plate piece 14b moves inward in the left-right direction due to the reaction force of the coil spring 17, and contacts the outer wall surface 3 of the vertically moving slider 31 with the first airbag 11a sandwiched therebetween. Contact 1b.

[0032] 5, the movement of plate piece 14b allows arm member 14 to swing freely in the left-right direction around swing shaft 16. In other words, arm member 14 swings like a seesaw around swing shaft 16 at the base end. 5, 6, etc., the first pressing mechanism 11 changes the position of the outer treatment member 7 in the left-right direction, so that the first roller 13 presses the outside of the shin S. The first pressing mechanism 11 can be said to be a pressing force increasing mechanism that increases the pressing force by moving closer to the outside of the shin C.

[0033] The first pressing mechanism 11 of this embodiment has a first airbag 11a that repeatedly inflates and deflates, and a coil spring 17 that generates a force that returns the arm member 14 to the outside. The first airbag 11a is attached to an outer wall surface 31b of a vertically moving slider 31 (details of which will be described later) that constitutes the vertical movement mechanism 6. This outer wall surface 31b is provided facing diagonally outward and rearward.

[0034] As shown by the dashed-dotted lines in FIGS. 2 to 5, the first airbag 11a inflates in a direction obliquely rearward and outward. The first airbag 11a is inflated by compressed air supplied by an air pump 18 provided in the center of the interior of the case body 2, in front of the vertical massage mechanism 4 and above the horizontal massage mechanism 5. The air pump 18 also exhausts air from the first airbag 11a to cause it to deflate.

[0035] When compressed air is supplied to the first airbag 11a by the air pump 18 and the first airbag 11a inflates in a direction diagonally outward and rearward, the outer treatment member 7 moves toward the inner treatment member 9. Specifically, due to the inflation of the first airbag 11a, the plate piece 14b (lift arm 14b) of the arm member 14 is pushed outward in the left-right direction. The arm member 14 swings left-right around the swing shaft 16, and the plate piece 14a moves inward in the left-right direction. The first roller 13 approaches the second roller 19.

[0036] That is, by activating the first airbag 11a (pressure enhancing mechanism), the outer treatment member 7 is brought into a clamping position close to the rear treatment member 8, tightly clamping the outside of the shin S, and the first roller 13 can press the outside of the shin S with even greater force. That is, when the first airbag 11a is inflated, the first roller 13 of the outer treatment member 7 falls inward. As a result, the first roller 13 restrains the outer side of the shin S, and performs a pressing massage.

[0037] The coil spring 17 returns the arm member 14 to the outside, maintaining the separation between the outer treatment member 7 and the rear treatment member 8. When the air pump 18 exhausts air from the first airbag 11a and the first airbag 11a contracts, the outer treatment member 7 moves away from the inner treatment member 9. Specifically, when the first airbag 11a contracts, the reaction force of the coil spring 17 acts, causing the plate piece 14b of the arm member 14 to move inward in the left-right direction. The arm member 14 swings left-right around the swing shaft 16, causing the plate piece 14a to move outward in the left-right direction. The first roller 13 moves away from the second roller 19.

[0038] That is, when the first airbag 11a is deflated, the first roller 13 of the outer treatment member 7 returns to the outside in the left-right direction due to the reaction force of the coil spring 17, and returns to its normal state. This releases the shin S from the first roller 13. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the rear treatment member 8 is disposed opposite the outer treatment member 7 with the calf C interposed therebetween, and presses against the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the calf C to perform a massage.

[0039] The rear treatment member 8 has a rear treatment element 19 (second roller 19) that massages the calf C by pressing against it from the rear, a guide arm member 20 that rotatably supports the second roller 19, and a support shaft 21 that rotatably supports the guide arm member 20. The second roller 19 is a cylindrical member with a through-hole formed in the center in the axial direction. A pivot shaft 22 is inserted into the through-hole. In other words, the second roller 19 is rotatable around the pivot shaft 22. The second roller 19 is disposed in a sideways position with the pivot shaft 22 horizontal and facing in the left-right direction.

[0040] The second roller 19 has a wide surface (outer circumferential surface) that comes into contact with the calf C so that it can be pressed against the calf C from behind. The second roller 19 can be made of an elastic material such as soft or hard resin or rubber. The guide arm members 20 are long members extending in the front-rear direction, and are arranged in pair on the left and right sides with the second roller 19 between them. The guide arm members 20 support both ends of a pivot shaft 22 that pivotally supports the second roller 19 so that it can rotate freely.

[0041] A hole into which the pivot shaft 22 is fitted is formed at the tip of the guide arm member 20. A through hole into which the support shaft 21 is inserted is formed at the base end of the guide arm member 20. The guide arm member 20 rotates together with the rotation of the support shaft 21. When the support shaft 21 rotates forward, the guide arm member 20 rotates forward. The support shaft 21 is disposed so as to span horizontally in the left-right direction below the vertical massage mechanism 4. The support shaft 21 is a long shaft, and is spaced apart (approximately the distance between the left and right lower limbs). The support shaft 21 supports the rear treatment members 8 (second rollers 19) arranged with a gap of L (the width of the calf C) between them. The support shaft 21 is located between the pair of rear treatment members 8 and supports the second pressing mechanism 12 at the longitudinal center of the shaft. The support shaft 21 is supported by a support member 31d provided in front of a vertical movement slider 31 (details of which will be described later) that constitutes the up-down movement mechanism 6.

[0042] That is, in the rear treatment member 8, the second roller 19 is rotatably supported by a pair of left and right guide arm members 20, and the guide arm members 20 are supported by a support shaft 21 and rotate around the axis thereof. With this configuration, the second roller 19 is movable in the front-rear direction. 7, the second pressing mechanism 12 changes the position of the rear treatment member 8 in the front-to-rear direction, so that the second roller 19 presses the rear side of the calf C. The second pressing mechanism 12 can be said to be a pressing force increasing mechanism that increases the pressing force by moving closer to the rear side (back side) of the calf C.

[0043] The second pressing mechanism 12 of this embodiment has a second airbag 12a that repeatedly inflates and deflates, an airbag holder 23 that fixes the second airbag 12a, a lift arm member 24 (push-out member 24) that moves forward when the second airbag 12a inflates, and a coil spring 25 that generates a force that returns the lift arm member 24 to the rear. The second airbag 12a is attached to an airbag holder 23. The second airbag 12a is inflated by compressed air supplied by an air pump 18 provided in the center of the interior of the case body 2. The air pump 18 also exhausts air from the second airbag 12a to deflate it.

[0044] When compressed air is supplied to the second airbag 12a by the air pump 18 and the second airbag 12a inflates forward, the rear treatment member 8 moves forward. Specifically, the inflation of the second airbag 12a pushes the lift arm member 24 forward. The lift arm member 24 swings forward around the support shaft 21. As the support shaft 21 rotates, the guide arm member 20 rotates, and the second roller 19 moves forward. The second roller 19 approaches the first roller 13. In other words, the rear treatment member 8 moves forward to massage the rear of the calf C.

[0045] The airbag holder 23 is a flat plate material and is provided at the center of the front of a vertically moving slider 31 (described in detail later) that constitutes the vertical movement mechanism 6. A second airbag 12a is attached to the front side of the airbag holder 23. As shown by the dashed lines in Figures 2, 4, 6, 7, etc., the second airbag 12a inflates forward.

[0046] The lift arm member 24 (air lift arm 24) is a flat plate material, and is disposed with its tip facing upward. A through-hole is formed at the base end of the lift arm member 24, with its axis horizontal and facing the left-right direction. The support shaft 21 is inserted into this through-hole. The lift arm member 24 rotates together with the rotation of the support shaft 21. When the support shaft 21 rotates forward, the lift arm member 24 also rotates forward. In other words, the lift arm member 24 swings forward and backward around the support shaft 21.

[0047] The coil spring 25 is provided at the base end of the lift arm member 24. The coil spring 25 has a coil body around which wire material is wound and legs that protrude radially outward from the coil body. The coil body is disposed so as to wrap around the outer periphery of the support shaft 21. The legs protrude from the left and right ends of the coil body. The left leg is engaged with the base end of the lift arm member 24. The right leg is engaged with the vertically moving slider 31. This engaged state holds the lift arm member 24 in a closed state (close state) relative to the airbag holder 23 (second airbag 12a). This spaced state is the standard state.

[0048] In other words, by activating the second airbag 12a (pressure enhancing mechanism), the rear treatment member 8 is brought into a clamping position close to the outer treatment member 7, tightly clamping the rear side of the calf C, and the second roller 19 can press the rear side of the calf C with even greater force. That is, when the second airbag 12a is inflated, the second roller 19 of the rear treatment member 8 falls forward. As a result, the second roller 19 restrains the rear side of the calf C, and the pressing force is reduced. Provide a massage.

[0049] The coil spring 25 returns the lift arm member 24 to the rear side, maintaining the proximity between the lift arm member 24 and the airbag holder 23. When the air pump 18 exhausts air from the second airbag 12a and the second airbag 12a contracts, the force of the coil spring 25 returns the second roller 19 of the rear treatment member 8 to the rear. Specifically, when the second airbag 12a contracts, the reaction force of the coil spring 25 acts, and the lift arm member 24 moves rearward around the support shaft 21. The lift arm member 24 approaches the airbag holder 23. The second roller 19 moves away from the first roller 13.

[0050] That is, when the second airbag 12a is deflated, the second roller 19 of the rear treatment member 8 returns to the rear side by the reaction force of the coil spring 25, and returns to its normal state. This releases the calf C from the second roller 19. The first roller 13 of the outer treatment member 7 and the second roller 19 of the rear treatment member 8 move up and down together as a unit due to the up and down movement of the vertical movement slider 31 of the up and down movement mechanism 6, and as the first airbag 11a expands and contracts, the first roller 13 repeatedly applies a pressure massage to the outside of the shin S (such as the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscles), effectively applying acupressure, while as the second airbag 12a expands and contracts, the second roller 19 repeatedly applies a pressure massage to the rear of the calf C (such as the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles), effectively applying acupressure.

[0051] The inner treatment member 9 is disposed opposite the outer treatment member 7 with the calf C sandwiched therebetween, and presses against the inside of the calf C to massage it. The inner treatment member 9 has an inner treatment element 26 (third roller 26) that presses against the inside of the calf C to massage it, and an arm member 27 that rotatably supports the third roller 26 at its tip.

[0052] The arm member 27 is a cylindrical rod member and is provided at the front center of the vertically moving slider 31. The arm member 27 is disposed so as to protrude forward and is disposed at a position adjacent to the airbag holder 23. A third roller 26 is rotatably attached to the front portion of the arm member 27. In this embodiment, the third roller 26 is a disc-shaped roller, and two third rollers are provided.

[0053] The third roller 26 is disposed on the inner side in the left-right direction (at the center of the case body 2) so as to come into contact with the inner side of the calf C. With this arrangement, the third roller 26 massages the gastrocnemius muscle (inner side of the foot) of the calf C by pressing in a manner similar to finger pressure. The third roller 26 may be made of a material having elasticity, such as soft or hard resin or rubber.

[0054] Now, the arrangement of the treatment elements is, from top to bottom when viewed from the front, the third roller 26, the first roller 13, and the second roller 19. Also, in plan view, the arrangement is, from front to back, the first roller 13, the third roller 26, and the second roller 19. Furthermore, as described above, since the third roller 26 is fixed to the vertical movement slider 31, the vertical movement mechanism 6 can move the third roller 26 in the same direction and at the same speed in conjunction with the vertical movement of the first roller 13 and the second roller 19.

[0055] In this way, by providing the first roller 13 (outer treatment member 7), first airbag 11a (first pressing mechanism 11), second roller 19 (rear treatment member 8), second airbag 12a (second pressing mechanism 12), third roller 26 (inner treatment member 9), etc., it is possible to increase the clamping pressure on the outer side of the shin S and the inner and posterior sides of the calf C, and to increase the number of pressing points and thereby increase the massage area. This allows for repeated pressure massages that effectively apply acupressure to the outer side of the shin S (tibialis anterior muscle, peroneus longus muscle, etc.) and the posterior side of the calf C (gastrocnemius muscle, soleus muscle, etc.), thereby further enhancing the effectiveness of the massage.

[0056] In addition, the vertical massage mechanism 4 of this embodiment has an up-and-down movement mechanism 6 that moves the outer treatment member 7 equipped with the first roller 13, the rear treatment member 8 equipped with the second roller 19, the inner treatment member 9 equipped with the third roller 26, etc. in the up-and-down direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vertical movement mechanism 6 includes a drive unit 28 that generates a driving force and a drive It has a screw shaft 29 that rotates by power, a slider piece 30 that moves on the screw shaft 29, a vertically moving slider 31 that moves up and down by the slider piece 30, and a pair of vertical rails 32 on the left and right.

[0057] The drive unit 28 has a drive motor 33 that generates a drive force and a gear case 34 that reduces the speed to a predetermined value. The drive motor 33 is disposed in front of the screw shaft 29 and at the bottom of the case body 2. The gear case 34 is disposed below the drive motor 33 and attached to the bottom of the case body 2. The output shaft of the drive motor 33 and the lower end of the screw shaft 29 are inserted into the gear case 34. A plurality of gears are stored inside the gear case 34, and are used to reduce the speed to a predetermined level.

[0058] The screw shaft 29 is a long shaft member that is disposed so that its axis faces the vertical direction. The slider piece 30 moves vertically on the screw shaft 29. The slider piece 30 is attached to the center of a vertically moving slider 31. The vertically moving slider 31 is a member that is long in the left-right direction and moves vertically in accordance with the up-and-down movement of the slider piece 30. An airbag holder 23 is provided in the center of the front of the vertically moving slider 31, with the second airbag 12a attached to the front side thereof.

[0059] The vertical movement slider 31 has both ends projecting forward, and holes 31c are provided at the tips of the projections. The swing shaft 16 that allows the arm member 14 to swing left and right is inserted into the holes 31c. A pair of vertical rails 32 are provided on the left and right sides with the screw shaft 29 sandwiched between them. The vertical rails 32 are attached to the front surface of the rear wall of the case body 2, and have a vertically long rail groove 32a provided on the front surface. The long rail groove 32a is designed to allow the slider portion 31a provided on the vertically moving slider 31 to run along it.

[0060] An outer treatment member 7 equipped with a first roller 13 and a first pressing mechanism 11 equipped with a first airbag 11a are provided at both ends of the vertically moving slider 31. In other words, the outer treatment member 7 and the first pressing mechanism 11 are provided in pairs on the left and right. Outer wall surfaces 31b facing diagonally outward and rearward are provided at both ends of the vertically moving slider 31. The first airbag 11a is attached to the outer wall surfaces 31b. Holes 31c into which the swing shaft 16 is inserted are also provided at both ends of the vertically moving slider 31. A support member 31d that supports the support shaft 21 is provided at the lower center of the front of the vertically moving slider 31.

[0061] A position detector 35 is provided on the rear side of the left vertical rail 32 to detect the vertical position of the vertical massage mechanism 4, which is moved up and down by the vertical movement mechanism 6. A limit switch is used as the position detector 35 in this embodiment. The lower leg massage machine 1 of this embodiment is provided with a horizontal massage mechanism 5 that applies a massage action to the foot F below the ankle K. The horizontal massage mechanism 5 will be described.

[0062] The horizontal massage mechanism 5 has horizontal massage members 36, 37 that perform a kneading massage on the foot F of one leg, and a kneading drive mechanism 38 that generates a driving force for these horizontal massage members 36, 37 to perform a kneading massage operation on the foot F. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the horizontal massage mechanism 5 of this embodiment further includes protruding sole treatment members 39, 40 (sole protrusions 39, 40) that are arranged below the foot F and press against the sole U of the foot F.

[0063] A sole treatment member 39 (sole protrusion 39) that massages the front side of the sole U is arranged in front of the sole massage roller 45 (described later) at a position corresponding to the front side (toe side) of the arch T of the sole U. The sole protrusion 39 is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the horizontal massage members 36, 37. The sole protrusion 39 is arranged on a foot support member (not shown) that supports the front part of the sole U (sole of the toes) of the foot F. The sole protrusion 39 has multiple protrusions that provide a pressure massage to the front part of the sole U.

[0064] In addition, a sole treatment member 40 (sole protrusion 40) that massages the rear side of the sole U is disposed behind the sole massage roller 45 (described later) at a position corresponding to the rear side (heel side) of the arch T of the sole U. The sole protrusion 40 is disposed between the horizontal massage members 36 and 37. The sole protrusions 40 are arranged so as to be sandwiched between the sole U and the foot support member (not shown) that supports the rear part (sole of the heel) of the sole U of the foot F. The sole protrusions 40 are provided with a plurality of protrusions that apply pressure to the rear part of the sole U to massage it.

[0065] The arrangement, protruding height, material, number, etc. of the sole protrusions 39, 40 can be selected appropriately depending on the positions of the acupressure points on the sole of the foot. The pressing mechanism 10 has a third pressing mechanism 41 that presses the sole protrusions 39, 40 even more firmly against the sole U. The third pressing mechanism 41 presses the sole U of the foot F by lifting the sole protrusions 39, 40 upward. The third pressing mechanism 41 can be said to be a pressing force increasing mechanism that increases the pressing force by bringing it closer to the sole U of the foot F.

[0066] The third pressing mechanism 41 of this embodiment has a third airbag 41a that repeatedly inflates and deflates. The third airbag 41a is disposed on a foot support member (not shown) that supports the front part (toe side) of the sole U of the foot F and below the sole protrusion 39. In other words, the third airbag 41a is disposed between the foot support member and the sole protrusion 39.

[0067] The third airbag 41a is disposed on a foot support member (not shown) that supports the rear portion (heel side) of the sole U of the foot F and below the sole protrusion 40. In other words, the third airbag 41a is disposed sandwiched between the foot support member and the sole protrusion 40. The third airbag 41a is inflated upward by compressed air supplied by the air pump 18 provided in the center of the interior of the case body 2. When the driving of the air pump 18 is stopped, the third airbag 41a is deflated by venting the air due to the weight of the feet F.

[0068] When compressed air is supplied to the front third air bag 41a by the air pump 18 and the third air bag 41a expands upward, the sole projections 40 move so as to be pushed upward, thereby performing a pressing massage on the front back surface U of the foot F. In addition, when compressed air is supplied to the rear third airbag 41a by the air pump 18 and the third airbag 41a expands upward, the sole protrusions 40 move in a manner that they are pushed upward, thereby performing a pressing massage on the rear back surface U of the foot F.

[0069] That is, when the third airbag 41a (pressure intensifying mechanism) is activated, the sole protrusions 39, 40 approach and come into contact with the underside U of the foot F, and by pressing the protrusions strongly against the sole U, the sole protrusions 39, 40 can apply even stronger pressure to the front and rear of the sole U. As a result, the sole protrusions 39, 40 perform a pressure massage on the sole U, similar to finger pressure.

[0070] 2, 3, etc., the kneading drive mechanism 38 has a drive motor 33 that generates a drive force and a gear case 42 that reduces the speed to a predetermined value. The drive motor 33 is a drive source that can rotate forward and backward, and is shared with the up-and-down movement mechanism 6. That is, in this embodiment, one drive motor 33 drives the horizontal massage mechanism 5 and the up-and-down movement mechanism 6. A gear case 42 is provided in front of the drive motor 33. The gear case 42 houses multiple gears and reduces the speed to a predetermined value. The drive motor 33 and the gear case 42 are connected via a transmission shaft 43.

[0071] A rotary drive shaft 44 passes through the gear case 42 and is rotatably supported. The rotary drive shaft 44 is disposed at the bottom of the case body 2 with its axis facing the left-right direction. The rotary drive shaft 44 is a long shaft member that passes through the horizontal massage members 36, 37 from left to right. The rotational speed of the rotary drive shaft 44 is reduced to a predetermined speed by the gear case 42, and the driving force of the drive motor 33 is transmitted to the rotary drive shaft 44.

[0072] A sole massage roller 42 is provided skewer-like through the rotary drive shaft 44. The sole massage roller 45 is disposed between the horizontal massage members 36 and 37. The sole massage roller 45 supports the arch T of the foot F in a surface-contact manner. The sole massage roller 45 has an outer circumferential surface that is concentric with or slightly eccentric to the rotary drive shaft 44. A plurality of protrusions are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the sole massage roller 45. The sole massage roller 45 rotates together with the rotary drive shaft 44, and therefore rotates in conjunction with the swinging of the horizontal massage members 36, 37.

[0073] The horizontal massage members 36, 37 are arranged facing each other and spaced apart in the left-right direction so that the foot F of one leg can be fitted therein. The inner horizontal massage member 36 is a plate-like member that is long in the front-rear direction and is formed in a shape that fits the inner shape of the foot F. The outer horizontal massage member 37 is a plate-like member that is long in the front-rear direction and is formed in a shape that fits the outer shape of the foot F. In other words, the horizontal massage members 36, 37 are configured as a pair and are provided to correspond to the foot F.

[0074] The horizontal massage members 36, 37 may be formed from elastic materials such as soft or hard resin or rubber, and it is preferable that the inner surfaces are provided with cushioning material or covering material to reduce the sensation of contact with the foot F. A conversion section 46 is provided at the base end (midway in the front-rear direction) of the horizontal massage members 36, 37. The conversion section 46 converts the rotational driving force of the rotational driving shaft 41 penetrating the base end of the horizontal massage members 36, 37 into a rocking motion and transmits it to the horizontal massage members 36, 37 as a kneading massage motion.

[0075] The conversion portion 46 comprises a rotary boss portion 47 attached so as to rotate integrally with the rotary drive shaft 44, an annular fitting portion 48 provided at the base end of the horizontal massage members 36, 37 and fitted onto the rotary boss portion 47, and a regulating portion 49 which regulates the annular fitting portion 48 from rotating together with the rotary boss portion 47. The rotary boss 47 is a disk-shaped member inclined relative to the rotary drive shaft 44, and a bearing is attached to its outer periphery. The inclination (cam surface) of the rotary boss 47 is in the opposite direction relative to the horizontal massage members 36, 37 (approximately V-shaped or inverted V-shaped due to swinging). The rotary boss 47 may be an inclined rotary boss or an eccentric rotary boss. The rotary boss may also be an inclined eccentric rotary boss.

[0076] The annular fitting portion 48 is provided at the base end (the midway portion in the front-rear direction corresponding to the arch T) of the horizontal massage members 36, 37. The annular fitting portion 48 externally fits the rotation boss portion 47 via a bearing in a relatively rotatable state. The restricting portion 49 has an engagement pin that protrudes downward from the annular fitting portion 48 and a restricting groove into which the engagement pin fits. The restricting groove is provided at the bottom of the case body 2, and the engagement pin slides left and right. The restricting portion 49 restricts the co-rotation of the annular fitting portion 48, allowing the horizontal massage members 36, 37 to swing back and forth and left and right within a predetermined swing range.

[0077] Due to the inclination of the rotation boss portions 47 in the opposite directions relative to each other, the horizontal massage members 36, 37 oscillate in a generally V-shape or an inverted V-shape when viewed from the front. That is, as the rotation drive shaft 41 rotates, the front sides of the horizontal massage members 36, 37 move away from each other, while the rear sides of the horizontal massage members 36, 37 move closer to each other. Subsequently, the front sides of the horizontal massage members 36, 37 move closer to each other, and the rear sides move away from each other. The horizontal massage members 36, 37 repeat this cyclical movement.

[0078] Now, when the first airbag 11a that pushes the first roller 13 and the second airbag 12a that pushes the second roller 19 are inflated and the vertical massage mechanism 4 is rolled upward (moved upward) by the up-and-down movement mechanism 6, the foot F is pulled upward, and it is possible that the foot F will slip out upward from the lower insertion recess 3b (main body of the lower leg massage machine 1).

[0079] To prevent this, it has been found that when the vertical massage mechanism 4 is moved up and down, it is desirable to provide a foot slip-out prevention mechanism 50 for fixing the foot F in place, separate from the first airbag 11a and the second airbag 12a. That is, the horizontal massage mechanism 5 of this embodiment has a foot slip-out prevention mechanism 50 that prevents the feet F from slipping out upward when the vertical massage mechanism 4 moves upward. This foot slip-out prevention mechanism 50 has a fourth airbag 50a that repeatedly inflates and deflates. The fourth airbag 50a (foot securing airbag 50a) is preferably provided in a position where it presses the vicinity of the ankle K (see FIG. 2).

[0080] The fourth airbag 50a is inflated to press down the feet F, thereby preventing the feet F from slipping out upward when the vertical massage mechanism 4 is moved upward by the driving of the up-and-down movement mechanism 6. Specifically, it is desirable that the fourth airbag 50a be configured to be able to inhale and exhaust air (for example, configured to be able to freely switch the supply of compressed air) separately from the first airbag 11a that presses the first roller 13 and the second airbag 12a that presses the second roller 19.

[0081] Alternatively, the vertical movement mechanism 6 that rolls (moves) up and down and the drive motor 33 that drives the horizontal massage mechanism 5 that massages the feet F may be arranged separately, and the horizontal massage member 5 that massages the feet F may be closed (with the upper side close to hold the feet F) and the vertical movement mechanism 6 may be independently moved and rolled (moved) up and down, and the control unit 51 described later may be equipped with a configuration that allows this.

[0082] The lower leg massage machine 1 also includes a control unit 51 that controls the vertical massage mechanism 4 and the horizontal massage mechanism 5. The control unit 51 controls driving so as to be able to switch between supplying compressed air to the third airbag 41a and supplying compressed air to the first airbag 11a and the second airbag 12a.

[0083] For example, if the second airbag 12a that presses the second roller 19 is inflated first, the calves C and shins S may come out of the upper insertion recess 3a to the front. In this case, the control unit 51 may perform control to inflate the first airbag 11a that presses the first roller 13, and then inflate the second airbag 12a that presses the second roller 19. In addition, the control unit 51 may inflate the second airbag 12a, which presses the second roller 19, before the first airbag 11a, which presses the first roller 13, to adjust the contact position in the front-to-back direction of the rear treatment member 8 equipped with the second roller 19 (the front-to-back position where the second roller 19 contacts the rear side of the calf C).

[0084] The lower leg massage machine 1 is also provided with a pressure detection unit (not shown) that detects the pressure of each of the first airbag 11a to the fourth airbag 50a. The control unit 51 may grasp the pressure of the first airbag 11a to the fourth airbag 50a using a pressure detection unit (pressure sensor) and adjust the pressure of the first airbag 11a to the fourth airbag 50a based on control items including, for example, setting the pressure strength and adjusting the pressure to ensure safety.

[0085] The lower leg massager 1 of the present invention is also suitable for the following configuration. Regarding the configuration of the lower leg massage machine 1, the first airbag 11a that presses the first roller 13 and the second airbag 12a that presses the second roller 19 may be driven by the same air pump 18 and solenoid valve. Also, the first airbag 11a and the second airbag 12a may each be provided with an individual air pump or the like and driven.

[0086] Furthermore, it is preferable that the third airbag 41a that presses into the sole protrusions 39, 40 is configured to be driven separately from the first airbag 11a and the second airbag 12a. In other words, it is preferable that the three airbags 11a, 12a, 41a are not connected to each other when driven. For example, an air pump may be provided for each of the three airbags 11a, 12a, and 41a. Alternatively, a holding solenoid valve may be provided on an air hose connecting the three airbags 11a, 12a, and 41a. Naturally, the control unit 51 may perform the above-described control using a configuration in which the same air pump and solenoid valve are used for driving the airbags.

[0087] The reason for this is that if the third airbag 41a for the sole projections 39, 40 is inflated while the first airbag 11a that presses the first roller 13 and the second airbag 12a that presses the second roller 19 are inflated, the air in the first airbag 11a and the second airbag 12a will temporarily flow into the third airbag 41a that presses the sole projections 39, 40, momentarily weakening the pressure on the shins S and calves C. This will prevent an effective massage.

[0088] Furthermore, the control unit 51 may supply compressed air from the air pump 18 to the first airbag 11a that pushes the first roller 13 and the second airbag 12a that pushes the second roller 19, and control the air pump 18 to exhaust the air, thereby performing a kneading massage action similar to acupressure on the shins S, calves C, etc. When the vertical movement mechanism 6 is driven to roll (move) the vertical massage mechanism 4 up and down, the pressure strength of the first roller 13 and the second roller 19 may be adjusted by controlling the intake air volume of the first airbag 11a and the second airbag 12a.

[0089] Furthermore, the vertical massage mechanism 4 may be rolled (moved) up and down while the first airbag 11a and the second airbag 12a are kept inflated. Also, the vertical massage mechanism 4 may be rolled up and down while performing a kneading massage action on the shins S, calves C, etc. [Operation mode] Next, the operation of the lower leg massage machine 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0090] When the power switch or the operation switch is in the OFF position, the outer treatment members 7 and the rear treatment members 8 of the vertical massage mechanism 4 are separated. The user fits the shin S or calf C into the upper treatment recess 3a and inserts it into the space surrounded by the outer treatment members 7, the rear treatment members 8, and the inner treatment members 9. The horizontal massage members 36, 37 of the horizontal massage mechanism 5 are separated from each other. The user fits the foot F into the lower treatment recess 3b and inserts it between the horizontal massage members 36, 37.

[0091] When the power switch is turned on and a desired massage course is selected with the operation switch, the vertical massage mechanism 4, horizontal massage mechanism 5, up-down movement mechanism 6, and pressing mechanism 10 are activated. In the vertical massage mechanism 4, compressed air is supplied from the air pump 18 to the first airbag 11a of the first pressing mechanism 11, causing the first airbag 11a to inflate. Also, compressed air is supplied from the air pump 18 to the second airbag 12a of the second pressing mechanism 12, causing the second airbag 12a to inflate.

[0092] When the first airbag 11a is inflated, the outer treatment members 7 move inward, and the first roller 13 approaches the second roller 19 of the rear treatment member 8. When the second airbag 12a is inflated, the rear treatment members 8 move inward, and the second roller 19 approaches the first roller 13. The first roller 13 massages the outside of the shin S (tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, etc.) by pressing with even greater force, while the second roller 19 massages the back of the calf C (gastrocnemius, soleus, etc.) by pressing with even greater force. At this time, the third roller 26 of the inner treatment member 9 supports the inside of the calf C and presses in to massage the inside of the calf C.

[0093] The first airbag 11a and the second airbag 12a may be repeatedly inflated and deflated by the air pump 18, or may remain inflated. Also, the airbags 11a and 12a may be alternately inflated and deflated. The vertical massage mechanism 4 is moved up and down by the vertical movement mechanism 6, so that the first roller 13 of the outer treatment member 7, the second roller 19 of the rear treatment member 8, and the third roller 26 of the inner treatment member 9 move up and down integrally with each other, and as the first airbag 11a expands and contracts, the first roller 13 repeatedly applies a pressure massage to the outside of the shin S with even stronger and more effective finger pressure, and as the second airbag 12a expands and contracts, the second roller 19 repeatedly applies a pressure massage to the back of the calf C with even stronger and more effective finger pressure, and the third roller 26 repeatedly applies a pressure massage to the inside of the calf C with effective finger pressure.

[0094] In the horizontal massage mechanism 5, the horizontal massage members 36, 37 are swung left and right and forward and backward by the kneading drive mechanism 38, so that a kneading massage is performed on the foot F. Furthermore, the rotation of the rotary drive shaft 44 rotates the sole massage roller 45, and a pressure massage is performed on the arch T of the sole U. A surge is performed. Furthermore, in the horizontal massage mechanism 5, compressed air is supplied from the air pump 18 to the third airbag 41a of the third pressing mechanism 41, causing the third airbag 41a to inflate. As the third airbag 41a inflates, the sole protrusions 39 are pressed firmly against the front portion of the sole U, thereby pressing more strongly and effectively against the front portion of the sole U, and the sole protrusions 40 are pressed firmly against the rear portion of the sole U, thereby pressing more strongly and effectively against the rear portion of the sole U. As a result, the sole protrusions 39, 40 perform a pressure massage on the sole U, similar to acupressure.

[0095] At this time, the fourth airbag 50a of the foot slip-out prevention mechanism 50 is inflated to prevent the feet F from slipping out upward from the lower treatment recess 3b. Inflating the third airbags 41a of the sole protrusions 39 located in front of the sole massage roller 45 lifts the front of the foot, thereby softening the stimulation from the sole massage roller 45. Similarly, inflating the third airbags 41a of the sole protrusions 40 located behind the sole massage roller 45 lifts the rear of the foot, thereby softening the stimulation from the sole massage roller 45. By simultaneously lifting the sole protrusions 39, 40, it is possible to soften the stimulation from the sole massage roller 45 to the entire sole. In other words, by adjusting the degree of inflation of the third airbags 41a of the sole protrusions 39, 40, it is possible to adjust the stimulation force from the sole massage roller 45 to the sole.

[0096] According to the lower limb massage machine 1 of the present invention, when massaging the treatment areas of the lower limbs (calf C, shin S, etc.), the device is equipped with a pressing mechanism 10 (first airbag 11a (first pressing mechanism 11), second airbag 12a (second pressing mechanism 12)) that enables the movement of the outer treatment member 7 and rear treatment member 8 that perform the massage, so that the first roller 13 (outer treatment element 13) provided on the outer treatment member 7 and the second roller 19 (inner treatment element 19) provided on the rear treatment member 8 can be pressed firmly against the treatment areas (calf C, shin S, etc.), thereby achieving a more effective massage effect on the treatment areas.

[0097] In addition, by disposing a third airbag 41a (third pressing mechanism 41) below the sole protrusions 39, 40 and inflating the third airbag 41a, the sole protrusions 39, 40 are pressed firmly against the sole U, thereby providing a more effective massage. Furthermore, a fourth airbag 50a (foot slip-out prevention mechanism 50) is provided above the ankle K, and by inflating the fourth airbag 50a, the foot F can be prevented from slipping out upward from the case body 2.

[0098] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In particular, matters not explicitly stated in the embodiments disclosed herein, such as operating conditions, operation conditions, dimensions and weights of components, etc., do not deviate from the scope of ordinary practice by a person skilled in the art, and are matters that can be easily assumed by a person skilled in the art.

[0099] For example, the shape and length of the arm member 14 and the range of movement in the left-right direction of the outer treatment member 7, and the size and degree of inflation (pressing pressure) of the first airbag 11a of the first pressing mechanism 11, can be changed as appropriate in consideration of the treatment range. Furthermore, the forward advanceable range of the second roller 19 in the rear treatment member 8, and the size and inflation degree (pressing pressure) of the second airbag 12a in the second pressing mechanism 12, can be changed as appropriate in consideration of the treatment range.

[0100] Furthermore, with regard to the third pressing mechanism 41, the size and degree of expansion (pressing pressure) of the third airbag 41a can be changed as appropriate in consideration of the treatment range. Furthermore, with regard to the foot slip-out prevention mechanism 50, the deployment position of the fourth airbag 50a may be above the ankle K, or may be any position that can prevent the foot F from slipping out upward from the case body 2, and this can be changed as appropriate in consideration of the treatment range.

[0101] Although not described in this embodiment, the pressing mechanism 10 may be provided with a mechanism for applying pressure massage to the inside of the calf C by varying the position of the inner treatment member 9. For example, an airbag (pressing mechanism 10) is provided on the inner treatment member 9 side. The airbag The third roller 26 may be configured to expand to move the inner treatment member 9 toward the outer treatment member 7, so that the inner treatment member 9 (third roller 26) presses against the inside of the calf C to massage.

[0102] The length of the horizontal massage members 36, 37 provided in the lower leg massage machine 1, the inclination angle of the horizontal massage members 36, 37 relative to the rotation drive shaft 44, and the distance between the horizontal massage members 36, 37 on the left and right can be changed as appropriate taking into account the treatment range. Furthermore, the lower leg massage machine 1 of the present invention may be used in an upright position or in a lying position on the back, whichever is selected arbitrarily. [Explanation of symbols]

[0103] 1. Lower limb massager 2 Case body 3 Treatment recess 3a Upper treatment recess 3b Lower treatment recess 4 Vertical massage mechanism 5 Horizontal massage mechanism 6 Up and down movement mechanism 7 Outer treatment member 8 Rear treatment member 9 Inner treatment member 10 Pressing mechanism 11 First pressing mechanism 11a First airbag 12 Second pressing mechanism 12a Second airbag 13 Outer treatment element (first roller) 14 Arm member 16 Swing axis 17 Coil spring 18 Air Pump 19 Rear treatment element (second roller) 20 Guide arm member 21 Support shaft 23 Airbag holder 24 Lift arm member (extrusion member) 25 Coil spring 26 Inner treatment element (third roller) 27 Arm member 28 Drive unit 29 Screw shaft 30 Slider piece 31 Vertical slider 32 vertical rails 33 Drive motor 34 Gear case 35 Position detection unit 36 Horizontal massage member (inside) 37 Horizontal massage member (outside) 38 Kneading drive mechanism 39 Sole treatment member (sole protrusion, front side) 40 sole treatment member (sole protrusion, rear side) 41 Third pressing mechanism 41a Third airbag 45 Foot Massage Roller 46 Conversion unit 50 Foot slip prevention mechanism 50a 4th airbag 51 Control section L Lower limb C. Calf S Shin F Foot T Arch U sole of the foot

Claims

1. a pressing mechanism provided in a vertical massage mechanism that moves up and down to apply a massage action to the calves and shins, which are treatment areas; and The vertical massage mechanism includes a vertically moving slider; The pressing mechanism includes a first pressing mechanism that presses against the outer side of the shin, the first pressing mechanism has an outer treatment member that presses the outside of the shin, and a first airbag that moves the outer treatment member inward by inflating; The outer treatment member has an outer treatment head that contacts the side of the shin, and an arm member that supports the outer treatment head at a tip end, the arm member is branched in the front-rear direction from a midpoint of the arm member, and includes a front piece extending forward and a rear piece extending rearward, a middle portion of the arm member is connected to the vertical movement slider by a swing shaft that pivotally supports the arm member so that it can swing freely in the left-right direction relative to the vertical movement slider, A spring member is attached to the swing shaft to bias the outer treatment member outward in the left-right direction, The first airbag is disposed at the tip end of the rear piece and pushes the rear piece outward in the left-right direction when inflated. A lower limb massager characterized by:

2. the pressing mechanism has a second pressing mechanism, A rear treatment member is provided inside the outer treatment member so as to be on the rear side of the calf and presses the rear side of the calf, The second pressing mechanism changes the position of the rear treatment member in the front-rear direction to press the rear side of the calf.

2. The lower leg massage machine according to claim 1.

3. the second pressing mechanism has a second airbag that repeatedly inflates and deflates, By inflating the second airbag, the rear treatment member is moved forward to massage the rear side of the calf.

3. The lower limb massager according to claim 2.

4. A horizontal massage mechanism is provided to provide a massage action to the feet, the horizontal massage mechanism is disposed below the foot portion and has a protruding sole treatment member that presses against the sole of the foot portion; the pressing mechanism includes a third pressing mechanism, The third pressing mechanism presses the sole of the foot by lifting the sole treatment member upward.

3. The lower leg massage machine according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the third pressing mechanism has a third airbag that repeatedly inflates and deflates, By inflating the third airbag, the sole treatment member is moved upward to press against the sole of the foot to perform a massage.

5. The lower limb massage machine according to claim 4.

6. The horizontal massage mechanism has a foot slip-out prevention mechanism that prevents the foot from slipping out upward when the vertical massage mechanism moves upward.

5. The lower limb massage machine according to claim 4.

7. the foot slippage prevention mechanism has a fourth airbag that repeatedly inflates and deflates, The fourth airbag is inflated to press down the feet, thereby preventing the feet from slipping out upward when the vertical massage mechanism is driven to move upward by the up-down movement mechanism.

7. The lower limb massage machine according to claim 6.

8. a control unit for controlling the vertical massage mechanism; The control unit controls driving so as to switch between supplying compressed air to the first airbag and supplying compressed air to the second airbag.

4. The lower limb massage machine according to claim 3.

9. The control unit performs control to inflate the first airbag and then the second airbag.

9. The lower leg massage machine according to claim 8.

10. The control unit inflates the second airbag before the first airbag, and adjusts the contact position of the rear treatment member in the front-rear direction.

10. The lower limb massager according to claim 9.

11. a pressure detection unit that detects the pressure of at least one of the first airbag and the second airbag, The control unit detects the pressures of the first airbag and the second airbag using the pressure detection unit and adjusts the pressures of the first airbag and the second airbag.

9. The lower leg massage machine according to claim 8.

12. The vertical massage mechanism has an inner treatment member that is disposed at a position opposite to the outer treatment member and presses the inside of the calf, The inner treatment member is configured to move toward the outer treatment member by the pressing mechanism to massage the inside of the calf.

2. The lower leg massage machine according to claim 1.

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