Patent ID: 6551259
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: A61H

Abstract:
A reciprocally moving apparatus used in a massage machine comprising a base plate with two shaft blocks disposed at two ends thereof, respectively, with each shaft block has a seat hole, a driven shaft having two ends each installed at respective seat hole of a respective shaft block; a massage device having a bottom mount with a sleeve hole therein; wherein the driven shaft passes through the sleeve hole; characterized in that:a middle section of the driven shaft between the two shaft blocks includes a clockwise helical trench and a counterclockwise helical trench which are arranged along a surface of the driven shaft and are crossed over one another alternatively and ends of the two trenches are connected; thereby, a section of the driven shaft having the clockwise spiral-like trench and counter-clockwise spiral-like trench are formed as a rod section with two crossed helical trenches; a recess is formed in an upper side of a central area of the massage device for installing an active link block; furthermore, a mounting lock cover covers on the recess and a cotter hole is formed in a top center section of the mounting lock cover for being inserted by an axial pin at a top end of the active link block, enabling to hold the active link block within the recess; moreover, a guide plate with two tips at two upper edges is extended from a lower end of the active link block; the guide plate is inserted into one of the clockwise helical trench and the counter-clockwise helical trench; a motor for driving the driven shaft through at least one gear to couple the motor and the driven shaft; an engager is engaged to a motor shaft of a motor and one of gears engaged with the driven shaft, and the engager is acted as a clutch, when the engager is actuated, the power of the motor is transferred to the driven shaft and when the engager is not actuated, the power of the motor will not transfer to the driven shaft and thus the driven shaft is not driven; and a plurality of fixed axle rollers is installed at a lower side of the bottom mount which is received in the travel position within two recessed position-limiting channels disposed in a top surface of the base plate; this functions as a restrictive retaining structure that enables a reciprocal motion of the massage device to be effectively stabilized without drifting or swaying towards the left and right sides; wherein the driven shaft is indirectly rotated in a predetermined rotationally driven direction by a motor near the distal end of said driven shaft; the driven shaft and the motor are engaged through a plurality of gears; the rod is driven to rotate continuously along a predetermined direction; therefore, since the guide plate inserting in one of the clockwise helical trench and counter-clockwise helical trench is forced to move along the trench; the bottom mount of the massage device is carried continuously forward or continuously backward in an axial direction; moreover, since the two ends of the clockwise helical trench and the counterclockwise helical trench of the rod are arranged along the cylindrical rod and cross over one another, at the end of traveling path, the guide plate is directed towards an opposite direction at the end of the rod section; after automatically alternating the axial movement direction, the bottom mount is carried with the movement of the guide plate so as to move back and forth along the rod; the structure cause a simplified operation that does not require power actuating directional switch or other component; thereby, the driven shaft carries the massage device to move in an axial direction across the back of the user and along entire sections in a reciprocal travel massage action continuously and repeatedly; as a result, the massage device is be automatically operated effectively; and wherein a single direction driving mode is performed; in this mode, the transmission relationship of the gears between the motor and the driven shaft is suspended; the engager is not actuated and thus no power of the motor will be transferred to the driven shaft and thus the shaft is not driven; therefore, when a user selects to input a current with a reverse polarity, the motor drives the shaft in the reverse direction such that the driven shaft is not driven; in this moment the massage device is not carried and moved, it is stopped at the original position for the fixed-point massage operation.