Acupressure aids

Abstract

The present invention aims to increase the effects of acupressure, which involves applying pressure to specific points called acupoints throughout the body, thereby influencing biological functions through pressure reflexes and promoting the body's natural healing abilities, while also reducing the burden on the practitioner. [Solution] The present invention is an auxiliary tool for acupressure, comprising a base portion, an arm portion, and a clamping portion, wherein the base portion is provided with a through hole for inserting a finger, the arm portion is provided with a flared shape extending from the base portion, and each end of the arm portion is provided with a clamping portion that slides against the arm portion by an elastic member, and when the base portion is pressed, the two clamping portions slide against the arm portion, thereby clamping the space between the clamping portions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shiatsu device, and more particularly to an auxiliary device for shiatsu that can pull the skin before and after or left and right of the shiatsu point closer, enabling effective shiatsu.

Background Art

[0002] There are a variety of tsubo-pressing goods. Among them, those with a shiatsu ball at the tip, those that stimulate the tsubo by pressing a rotating roller, etc., have a wide range of types from simple structures to electric ones. Currently, there are two major trends in shiatsu devices: electric (home electric massagers) and non-electric (shiatsu substitutes). In the past, simple tsubo-pressing rods were the mainstream, but now, there have been various evolutions according to lifestyle, such as massage guns that utilize the latest vibration technology and cushion types that blend into the interior.

[0003] Looking at the non-electric type, it is a simple and popular one that applies pressure with one's own body weight or the strength of the hand. Tsubo-pressing rods made of wood, plastic, or natural stone, and rollers can easily stimulate pinpoint areas. On the other hand, shiatsu is a manual therapy originated in Japan. It is a treatment that uses the thumb and palm to apply vertical and continuous pressure to the tsubo points on the body, which is a safe treatment performed by experts with a national qualification (acupressure / massage shiatsu therapist) that is effective in promoting blood and lymph circulation, regulating the autonomic nerves, and relieving muscle stiffness. It is a unique Japanese manual therapy that uses only the thumb, four fingers, and the palm to press the shiatsu points called tsubo points defined throughout the body, and by the pressure reflex, it acts on the body functions to promote the function of the natural healing power originally possessed by the human body.

[0004] The inventor of this invention, a licensed massage therapist, discovered that the effect of acupressure is enhanced when the skin in front of, behind, or to the left and right of a pressure point is pinched with the fingers and pulled in a wave-like motion. Therefore, the inventor developed a device that performs a skin-grabbing motion in response to the finger motion of the pressure point, thus completing the present invention.

[0005] Various technologies have been proposed for devices related to acupressure, and for example, a technology titled "Acupressure Assistive Device" has been published and is now publicly known (see Patent Document 1). Specifically, the objective is to "provide a shiatsu aid that reduces the force applied to the fingers, lessens fatigue associated with shiatsu, allows for adjustment of the pressing force similar to direct shiatsu with the fingers, and enables smooth and appropriate pressing stimulation to the target area." The solution is to "form a shiatsu aid 1 with a shiatsu cone part 2 having a hollow section into which the thumb can be inserted and a grip part 3 protruding from the shiatsu cone part 2. By inserting the thumb inside the shiatsu cone part 2, gripping the grip part 3 with the hand, pressing the tip of the shiatsu cone part 2 against the target area, and pressing the grip part 3 to press the target area, the force applied to the fingers is greatly reduced, making it less tiring and allowing even inexperienced users to easily perform shiatsu. In addition, the thumb can be pointed towards the target area and pressed in a posture almost the same as direct shiatsu with the thumb, making it easy to adjust the pressing force and perform appropriate shiatsu movements." However, while the invention described in Patent Document 1 has similarities to the present invention, such as the problem to be solved and the part having a hollow section into which the thumb can be inserted, it does not take into consideration the bringing together of the skin at the point of acupressure, and therefore the method of solving the problem differs from that of the present invention.

[0006] Furthermore, there is a technology whose invention is titled "Acupressure Aid" (see Patent Document 2). Specifically, the problem is to "provide a scalp massager that enhances the acupressure effect, improves convenience for daily use by providing excellent wearability, and enables effective massage of the entire body, including the scalp," and the solution is to "equip a substrate 15 made of a flexible elastic material, multiple pressing protrusions protruding from the pressing tip 14, and ring connecting parts 12 that serve as insertion guides for each strap part 13, and by passing each finger through the connecting ring, it is possible to realize an acupressure aid with excellent wearability." However, the invention described in Patent Document 2 is mainly considered for performing scalp massage with all fingers, and its problem and solution differ from the present invention, which targets acupressure with the thumb.

[0007] Furthermore, there is a technology whose invention is titled "Acupressure Thumb Support Device" (see Patent Document 3). Specifically, it addresses the problem that "there is a pressing need for an auxiliary device that can prevent the thumb from becoming hyperextended or hyperabducted when applying strong pressure during massage or acupressure treatment, thereby preventing damage to the thumb joint, muscles, or ligaments, and enabling massage or acupressure treatment to be performed over a long period of time." The solution is to "provide an acupressure thumb support device that can be worn on the thumb during massage or acupressure treatment, preventing the thumb from becoming hyperextended or hyperabducted due to pressure, thereby preventing pain and joint damage caused by relaxation of the joints and muscles, and enabling massage or acupressure treatment to be performed over a long period of time." However, the invention described in Patent Document 3 aims to solve the burden on the acupressure practitioner, which is different from the problem that the present invention aims to solve. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-308667 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-52486 [Patent Document 3] Special table number 2010-516379 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The present invention aims to increase the effects of acupressure, which involves applying pressure to specific points called acupoints throughout the body, thereby influencing biological functions through pressure reflexes and promoting the body's natural healing abilities, while also reducing the burden on the practitioner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention relates to an acupressure aid, comprising a base, an arm, and a clamping portion, wherein the base is provided with a through hole for inserting a finger, the arm is provided with a flared shape extending from the base, and each end of the arm is provided with a clamping portion that slides against the arm by an elastic member, and when the base is pressed, the two clamping portions slide against the arm, thereby clamping the space between the clamping portions.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention can also adopt a configuration in which an artificial finger is provided in the through hole of the base portion.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention may also employ a configuration in which the clamping portion is formed of a silicone material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The acupressure aid according to the present invention makes it easy to apply acupressure by pulling the skin and muscles in front of, behind, or to the left and right of the acupressure point in a wave-like motion. This provides assistance to the force applied to the fingertips, resulting in the excellent effect of reducing fatigue during long treatment sessions.

[0014] In the acupressure aid according to the present invention, when a configuration is adopted in which a prosthetic finger is provided in the opening of the base, the burden on the fingertip is eliminated, and the burden on the practitioner is reduced, which is an excellent effect.

[0015] In the acupressure aid according to the present invention, when silicone is used as the material for the clamping part, it exhibits an excellent effect of exhibiting an appropriate frictional force in response to the clamping force generated by an elastic member such as a spring, thereby moderately reducing the discomfort to the person receiving the treatment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a basic configuration diagram illustrating the basic structure of the acupressure aid according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the acupressure aid according to the present invention when a prosthetic finger is used. [Figure 3] This is a diagram illustrating the usage state of the acupressure aid according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] The acupressure aid according to the present invention is an acupressure device 1 comprising a base portion 10, an arm portion 20, and a clamping portion 30. The base portion 10 is provided with a through hole 11 for inserting a finger, the arm portion 20 is provided in a flared manner from the base portion 10, and each end of the arm portion 20 is provided with a clamping portion 30 that slides on the arm portion 20 by an elastic member 40. When the base portion 10 is pressed, the two clamping portions 30 slide on the arm portion 20, thereby clamping the area between the clamping portions 30. The following description will be based on the drawings. Note that the overall shape and dimensions of the acupressure aid according to the present invention are not limited to the description below, and can be changed within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, that is, within the range of shapes and dimensions that produce the same effect.

[0018] Figure 1 is a basic configuration diagram illustrating the basic structure of the acupressure aid according to the present invention. Figure 1(a) shows the overall configuration of the present invention, and Figure 1(b) shows the operating mechanism. A detailed explanation of each component used will be given below.

[0019] The finger pressure assisting tool 1 is composed of a base part 10 that serves as the starting point of operation, a pair of arm parts 20 that serve as guides, and a clamping part 30 that clamps an object.

[0020] The base part 10 has a through hole 11 in the center and is structured to allow a finger to be inserted and held. Also, as described in claim 2, a prosthetic finger 12 can be provided in the through hole 11. Thereby, even for a user who cannot insert their own finger, the pressure from the entire palm or other parts can be transmitted to the base part 10 through the prosthetic finger 12.

[0021] The through hole 11 is a through hole provided in the center of the base part 10, and a finger for finger pressure is inserted into it for treatment.

[0022] The prosthetic finger 12 is a protrusion shaped like a thumb for pressing at the part of the through hole 11 provided in the center of the base part 10.

[0023] The arm parts 20 are arranged in a substantially V shape that widens towards the tip from the base part 10. This widening shape towards the tip determines the trajectory of the clamping operation by sliding.

[0024] The clamping part 30 has an elastic member 40 such as a spring provided on the arm parts 20, and the clamping part 30 is always biased in a certain direction (for example, towards the base part 10 side) or functions as a sliding load. It is desirable that the clamping part 30 is covered with a silicon material 31 to prevent damage to the object and to have a non-slip structure.

[0025] Since the silicone material 31 is the part that comes into contact with the skin of the person being treated H, it is necessary that it has appropriate hardness and frictional force. Therefore, the hardness of the silicone material 31 used in the gripping part 30 is an important parameter when holding an object, and the recommended hardness is type A20 to 50 (according to JIS K6253). As an effect, a hardness of around 20 provides a feel similar to the pad of a human finger, enhancing the massage effect. A hardness of 50 or higher is suitable when the purpose is to grasp precision parts. Therefore, it is desirable that the silicone material 31 used in the gripping part 30 of the acupressure aid 1 according to the present invention be of about A10 to 50.

[0026] The elastic member 40 incorporates an elastic component, such as a spring, around the outer circumference or inside the arm portion 20, applying a constant force that pushes the clamping portion 30 back toward the base portion 10. When the fingers are released, the clamping is released by this elastic force, making it suitable for continuous massage movements and quick work. To calculate the appropriate spring constant for acupressure work, since the acupressure aid according to the present invention is operated by finger strength, if we set the value based on the average finger muscle strength (pinch force) of an adult, the average pinch force (gripping force) of an adult is approximately 30N to 60N, but considering prolonged use, it is ideal to keep the force required for operation to around 5N to 20N. Furthermore, regarding the recommended range of the spring constant, assuming a sliding distance (stroke) of 20mm (0.02m), the range of the spring constant k derived from Hooke's Law F=kx is as follows. Within the range of k = 0.25 N / mm to 1.0 N / mm, smooth operation with light force is possible while ensuring reliable restoring.

[0027] Next, we will explain the correlation between clamping force and sliding angle. The angle at which the arm portion 20 flares out determines how much of the input force F is converted into clamping force. The inclination angle of the arm portion 20 is set to 10° to 30°, the angle that one arm portion 20 makes with respect to the central axis of the base portion 10. The reason for limiting this value is that if it is less than 10°, the stroke required to move the clamping portion 30 becomes too long, resulting in poor operability. Conversely, if it exceeds 30°, frictional resistance increases, hindering smooth sliding.

[0028] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the acupressure aid according to the present invention when a prosthetic finger is used. As shown in Figure 2, the configuration shows a protrusion, which mimics the practitioner's finger, provided between the arm portion 20 that is arranged in a widening shape from the base portion 10 downwards, and which presses on the acupressure point P in place of the practitioner's finger.

[0029] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the usage state of the acupressure aid according to the present invention. Figure 3(a) shows the acupressure aid 1 according to the present invention set on the acupressure point P of the person being treated H. Figure 3(b) shows the state in which the distance of the clamping part 30 is shortened by pressing down on the base part 10 from that state, causing the skin in front of, behind, or to the left and right of the acupressure point P to be pulled in in a wave-like manner. Figure 3(c) shows the state in which the practitioner's finger Y or prosthetic finger 12 is pressed and acupressure applied to the vicinity of the center of the skin that has been pulled in in a wave-like manner. Figure 3(d) shows the state in which the pressed pressure and clamping force have been released, respectively.

[0030] Finger Y is the finger used by the practitioner to apply pressure to specific acupressure points P located throughout the body, known as pressure points, for the purpose of preventing and treating illnesses in the person being treated H. This pressure reflex acts on the body's functions and promotes the body's natural healing power. It is primarily the thumb.

[0031] The person receiving treatment, H, is the person receiving acupressure treatment.

[0032] Acupressure point P refers to what is commonly known as acupoint. In Oriental medicine, acupoints (formal name: acupoints) are specific points on the meridians, which are pathways through which vital energy "qi" and "blood" flows. There are 361 acupoints throughout the body, and stimulating them is said to promote blood circulation, regulate the autonomic nervous system, and activate internal organ function, thus alleviating discomfort such as stiff shoulders and headaches, and preventing illness (preventing illness). Acupoints are often found in areas where blood vessels and nerves are densely concentrated, and are points where abnormalities in the body manifest on the skin surface as "pain" or "stiffness." In addition to the formal acupoints (361 points), there are also highly effective special points (extra points) and reaction points that cause pain (Ashi points). These also resolve stagnation of qi and blood and restore balance to the entire body. [Industrial applicability]

[0033] This invention is beneficial to businesses that provide massage and acupressure treatments, as it is expected to increase the effectiveness of the treatments and reduce the burden on the practitioner's fingertips, and is therefore considered to have high industrial applicability. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 1. Acupressure aid 10 Base 11 Through holes 12. Prosthetic finger 20 Arm 30 Clamping part 31 Silicone material 40 Elastic members Y finger H Patient P Acupressure Points

Claims

1. A pressure acupressure aid (1), comprising a base (10), a pair of arm parts (20), and a pair of clamping parts (30), The base portion (10) is provided with a through hole (11) for inserting a finger. The pair of arms (20) are provided in a flared manner from the base (10), Each of the pair of arm portions (20) is provided with a pair of clamping portions (30) that slide along the pair of arm portions (20) while being biased toward the base portion (10) by an elastic member (40). Acupressure aid (1) characterized in that when the pair of clamping parts (30) are in contact with the skin of the person receiving treatment (H) and the base part (10) is pressed toward the skin, the pair of clamping parts (30) maintain their position or are displaced toward each other by frictional force with the skin, and slide relative to each other toward the base part (10) along the pair of arm parts (20), thereby pulling and clamping the skin between the pair of clamping parts (30).

2. The through hole (11) of the base portion (10) is provided with a prosthetic finger (12) that protrudes between the pair of arm portions (20) in the direction of the action of pulling the skin towards the skin. The acupressure aid (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, upon pressing the base portion (10), the pair of clamping portions (30) pull the skin closer, and then the tip of the artificial finger (12) presses near the center of the pulled-in skin.

3. The acupressure aid (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pair of clamping portions (30) are formed of a silicone material (31).

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