# Patent

## Title
Lie-down massager

## Abstract

A lie-down massager includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed, a rider, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement, massage bumps that move vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. The lifter includes a gear-operated link lifting mechanism, in which a low link is pivoted by a shaft, and a high link converts the pivoting of the low link to vertical movement of the massage bumps. Two sets of links are used and the two sets are associated via spur gear engagement.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a massaging device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved lie-down massager capable of efficiently treating bodily malfunctions such as back pain and gastrointestinal weakness by applying a therapeutic massaging treatment along the back and neck of a patient lying down on the massager whose massaging bumps move horizontally and vertically along the patient's spinal cord and neck while the vertical movement of the massaging bumps are actuated by a gear-operated link lifting mechanism.
Conventional bed or mat type massaging devices employ a spring mechanism for vertically moving massaging bumps. As disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,732, a spring mechanism allows the massaging bumps to gently move up and down. However, when it comes to therapeutic effects, the spring mechanism proves too soft to push up the massaging bumps when stronger pressure is required, because tension of springs applies equally to patients lying on the massaging device regardless of patient's requirements.
A demand is to adopt a reliable mechanism demonstrating a steady and robust therapeutic effects while stabilizing the vertical movement of the massaging bumps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is contrived to overcome the conventional disadvantages. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a lie-down massager that improves therapeutic effects by adopting a gear-operated link lifting mechanism for a vertical movement of massaging bumps.
Another object is to stabilize the vertical movement of the massaging bumps, thereby enabling patients to receive a steady and robust massaging of the massaging bumps applied to and along their backs and necks.
A further object is to improve product reliability and customer satisfaction by mechanically stabilizing the vertical movement of the massaging bumps.
To achieve these and other objects, the lie-down massager according to the present invention includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed centrally and lengthwise, a rider provided below the elongated top panel of the base frame, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the base frame, a lifter having a top plate and a bottom plate, a first link assembly, and a lifter motor, a plurality of lifter guides extending downward from the top plate, a plurality of lifter guide bushes extending upward from the bottom plate to releasably receive the lifter guides, and a plurality of massage bumps attached on the top plate of the lifter and moving vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame, and a pad covering the massage bumps and the elongated top opening of the base frame.
In the lifter, the top plate has a top upper surface portion and a top lower surface portion. The bottom plate has a bottom upper surface portion and a bottom lower surface portion. The first link assembly has a gear shaft rotatably attached to the bottom plate, a link gear fixed to the gear shaft, a low link fixed to the gear shaft, a high link connecting between the low link and the top plate. The lifter motor rotates the link gear either clockwise or counterclockwise direction, so that the rotation of the link gear lifts or lowers the top plate.
The lifter further has a second link assembly. The second link assembly has a gear shaft rotatably attached to the bottom plate, a link gear fixed to the gear shaft, a low link fixed to the gear shaft, a high link connecting between the low link and the top plate. The link gear of the first link assembly and the link gear of the second link assembly engage with each other, and the first link assembly and the second link assembly are positioned symmetrical with each other, so that when the lifter motor rotates the link gear of the first link assembly, the first link assembly and the second assembly together lift or lower the top plate.
The link gears of the first and second link assemblies are spur gears. The lifter motor has a driving spur gear that engages with the link gear of the first link assembly.
The bottom plate of the lifter has two bearing walls that extend upward from the bottom upper surface portion, and the gear shafts of the link assemblies are rotatably supported between the two bearing walls.
The low link of the first and second link assemblies has a low top end and a low bottom end that is fixed to the gear shaft. The high link of the first and second link assemblies has a high top end and a high bottom end that is rotatably attached to the low top end. Each of the first and second link assemblies further has a link shaft that is rotatably attached between two guide flanges extending downward from the top lower surface portion of the top plate. The high top ends of the high links are rotatably attached to the link shafts.
The massage bumps are partitioned to first and second pairs, and the first pair bumps are aligned parallel to the second pair bumps. The massage bump includes a heater that is a heating lamp generating heat and infrared rays.
First and second bump holders are provided for propping and maintaining the first and second pair bumps above the top portion of the lifter. The first and second bump holders are tapered toward each lower end thereof. Also a first engagement member to rockingly engage the lower ends of the bump holders to the top portion of the lifter, and a second engagement member to rollingly engage the massage bumps thereto are provided. The massage bumps are roller balls that are formed of jade.
Alternatively, the massage bumps are provided as round projections that are fixed to the top upper surface portion of the lifter.
The guide member includes one or more roller gear engaged to and powered by a roller gear motor, and one or more side rack gears parallel to each other and provided lengthwise in the base frame. The roller gear motor is fixed to the rider, and the roller gears are rollably connected to the rider and rotatably mounted on the side rack gears.
Alternatively, the guide member includes rider guide rollers provided on each side of the rider, and a pair of pulleys linked by a rope and respectively mounted in a front end portion and a rear end portion of the base frame. The rider guide rollers are rollably engaged to the base frame to guide a horizontally reciprocal movement of the rider. A predetermined portion of the rope is fixedly attached to the rider so that the pulley rotation enables the rider to generate a horizontally reciprocal movement of the rider. The pulleys are relatively twisted by 90 degrees against each other.
The lie-down massager further includes a pair of roller coasters parallel to each other, and coaster guide rollers formed outwardly extending from each side of the lifter. The roller coasters are attached to the base frame, and each of the roller coasters has a substantially waved top surface. The coaster guide rollers enable the coasting member to make a roller coasting movement on and along the waved top surfaces of the roller coasters. Each of the waved top surfaces of the roller coasters substantially forms a curvature of a human spinal cord.
The bottom plate of the lifter further includes a plurality of elongated guides extending downward from the bottom portion, and the rider further has a plurality of guide bushes upwardly formed on the rider to releasably receive the elongated guides so as to stabilize the roller coasting movement of the lifter along the roller coasters. The elongated guides are shaped in pins.
Advantages of the present inventions include that: (1) the gear-operated link lifting mechanism minimizes parts required for the vertical movement of the massaging, while improving stability in the vertical reciprocation of the lifter carrying the massaging bumps; (2) the gear-operated link lifting mechanism provides smooth and quite operation of the lifter; and (3) the coasting member working with the roller coasters to realize an additional lifting by utilizing the horizontally reciprocal movement of the rider enables the massaging bumps to continue a smooth, steady and robust massaging on the patient, thereby substantially improving massaging effect and subsequently maximizing customer satisfaction.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the full understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a view showing a lie-down massager with a patient lying thereon according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the lie-down massager without the patient in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing an overall mechanism of the lie-down massager according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing the mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a partial exploded perspective view showing the rider and the lifter;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lifter showing the operation of the gear-operated link mechanism;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but viewed from the opposite direction;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the lifter;
FIG. 10 is a front elevation view showing that the lifter is in its lowest position;
FIG. 11 is a front elevation view showing that the lifter is in its highest position; and
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lifter with different massage bumps attached thereon.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a brief massaging mechanism of a lie-down massager 10 according to the present invention with a patient lying thereon for a bodily massage, and FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the massager 10 excluding the patient. As shown therein, the lie-down massager 10 includes a base frame 12 in a bed type or a mat type. The base frame 12 includes an elongated top panel 14, and an elongated opening 16 is formed centrally and lengthwise through the elongated top panel 14. The massager 10 includes a rider 18 and a lifter 20. The rider 18 is provided below the elongated top panel 14 of the base frame 12.
In order to implement the horizontal reciprocation of the rider 18, there is provided a guide member 26 movably engaged between the base frame 12 and the rider 18 so as to enable the rider 18 to make a horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the base frame 12. Here, it is recommended that the guide member 26 be either a rope-pulley application or a rack gear application.
As shown in FIG. 2 together with FIG. 3, the guide member 26 according to the rope-pulley application includes a rope 28, a pair of pulleys 30 and a pulley motor 32 that controls one of the pulleys 30. The pulleys 30 are linked by the rope 28 and respectively mounted in a front end portion 34 and a rear end portion 36 of the base frame 12. In a preferred version, the pulley motor 32 is provided adjacent to the pulley 30 provided in the rear end portion 36 of the base frame 12. In this construction, a predetermined portion 29 of the rope 28 is fixedly attached to the rider 18 so that the pulley rotation enables the rider 18 to generate a horizontally reciprocal movement of the rider 18. Preferably, the pulleys 30 are relatively twisted by 90 degrees against each other to facilitate the horizontal reciprocation of the rider 18 while improving controllability of the rider reciprocation.
Meanwhile, FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 respectively illustrate the rack gear application for the horizontal reciprocation of the rider 18. As shown therein, the guide member 26 employing the rack gear application includes a pair of side rack gears 40 parallel to each other and lengthwisely provided in the base frame 12, a roller gear 42 perpendicular to the side rack gears 40, and a roller gear motor 44 fixed to the rider to power the roller gear 42. The roller gear 42 is rollably connected to a rider 46 and rotatably mounted on the side rack gears 40.
To accelerate massaging effect, the massager 10 includes one or more pairs of roller coasters 50 parallel to each other. The roller coasters 50 are attached to the base frame 12 and above the rider guide rollers 52 formed on each side of the rider 18 (refer to FIG. 3). The rider guide rollers 52 are rollably engaged to the base frame 12 to guide a horizontally reciprocal movement of the rider 18. That is, the roller coasters 50 are formed on each side of the base frame 12. Here, the roller coasters 50 each have a substantially waved top surface 54. It is preferred that the waved top surfaces 54 of the roller coasters 50 each substantially form a curvature of a human spinal cord.
In order to utilize the roller coasters 50, there are provided two coaster guide rollers 90 formed outwardly extending from each side of the lifter 20. The coaster guide rollers 90 enable the lifter 20 to make a roller coasting movement on and along the waved top surfaces 54 of the roller coasters 50.
As shown in FIGS. 7–12, the lifter 20 has a top plate 120 and a bottom plate 122, a first link assembly 160, and a lifter motor 128. The top plate 120 has a top upper surface portion 130 and a top lower surface portion 132 (refer to FIG. 10). The bottom plate 122 has a bottom upper surface portion 134 and a bottom lower surface portion 136. The first link assembly 160 includes a gear shaft 162 rotatably attached to the bottom plate 122, a link gear 164 fixed to the gear shaft 162, a low link 166 fixed to the gear shaft 162, a high link 168 connecting between the low link 166 and the top plate 120. The lifter motor 128 rotates the link gear 164 either clockwise or counterclockwise direction, so that the rotation of the link gear 164 lifts or lowers the top plate 120 via the low link 166 and the high link 168.
Four lifter guides 170 extend downward from the top lower surface portion 132 of the top plate 120 at the four corners of the top plate 120. Four lifter guide bushes 172 extend upward from the bottom upper surface portion 134 of the bottom plate 122 to releasably receive the lifter guides 170.
The lifter may further include a second link assembly 174 for balanced and more stabilized lifting and lowering operations. The second link assembly 174 includes a gear shaft 176 rotatably attached to the bottom plate 122, a link gear 178 fixed to the gear shaft 176, a low link 180 fixed to the gear shaft 176, a high link 182 connecting between the low link 180 and the top plate 120. The link gear 164 of the first link assembly 160 and the link gear 178 of the second link assembly 174 engage with each other so that when one rotates clockwise, the other rotates counterclockwise, and vice versa. The first link assembly 160 and the second link assembly 174 are positioned symmetrical with each other, as shown well in FIG. 10. Therefore, when the lifter motor 128 rotates the link gear 164 of the first link assembly 160, the first link assembly 160 and the second assembly 174 together lift or lower the top plate 120.
The link gears 164, 178 of the first and second link assemblies 160, 174 are spur gears having identical dimensions. The lifter motor 128 includes a driving spur gear 184 that engages with the link gear 164 of the first link assembly 160.
The bottom plate 122 of the lifter 20 includes two bearing walls 186, 188 that extend upward from the bottom upper surface portion 134 (refer to FIG. 9). The gear shafts 162, 176 of the first and second link assemblies 160, 174 are rotatably supported between the two bearing walls 186, 188.
Each of the low links 166, 180 of the first and second link assemblies 160, 174 includes a low top end 192 and a low bottom end 190 that is fixed to the gear shaft 162, 176. Each of the high links 168, 182 of the first and second link assemblies 160, 174 includes a high top end 194 and a high bottom end 196. The high bottom end 196 is rotatably attached to the low top end 192.
Each of the first and second link assemblies 160, 174 further includes a link shaft 198 that is rotatably attached between two guide flanges 200 extending downward from the top lower surface portion 132 of the top plate 120. The high top ends 194 of the high links 182 are rotatably attached to the link shafts 198.
Elongated guides 62 downwardly extend from the bottom lower surface portion 136 of the lifter 20, and guide bushes 64 are upwardly formed on the rider 18 to releasably receive the elongated guides 62 so as to stabilize the roller coasting movement of the lifter 20 along the roller coasters 50. Preferably, the elongated guides 62 are shaped in pins.
Two side coasting walls 156 extend downward from two opposing ends of the bottom plate 122, and the coaster guide rollers 90 are rotatably attached to the side coasting walls 156 (refer to FIG. 8).
In order to finally apply the gear-operated link lifting mechanism to a patient lying on the massager 10, there are provided massage bumps 100 attached to the top upper surface portion 130 of the lifter 20 and moving vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening 16 of the elongated top panel 14 of the base frame 12. Optionally, a pad 17 may be provided to cover the massage bumps 100 and the elongated top opening 16 of the base frame 12.
FIG. 11 shows that the top plate 120 is in its uppermost position, that is, the massage bumps 100 are in their topmost position. FIG. 10 shows that the top plate 120 is in its lowermost position, that is, the massage bumps 100 are in their lowermost position.
The massage bumps 100 are preferably partitioned to first and second pairs 102, 104 (refer to FIG. 7). Here, the first pair bumps 102 are aligned parallel to the second pair bumps 104. The massage bumps 100 each include a heater 106 which can be a heating lamp generating heat and infrared rays (refer to FIG. 11).
To further improve massaging effect, there are provided first and second bump holders 108, 110 propping and maintaining the first and second pair bumps 102, 104 above the top plate 120 of the lifter 20. For a better massaging result, the first and second bump holders 108, 110 are tapered toward each lower end 109 thereof, and a first engagement member 112 to rockingly engage the lower ends 109 of the bump holders 108, 110 to the top plate 120 of the lifter 20, and a second engagement member 116 to rollingly engage the massage bumps 100 thereto, are provided. The massage bumps 100 may be roller balls formed of precious stone such as jade. In FIG. 7, fixed massage bumps 202 are provided between the massage bumps 100.
FIG. 12 shows alternate massage bumps 98. The massage bumps 98 are round projections that are fixed to the top upper surface portion 130 of the lifter 20.
The spur gear engagement between the link gears 164, 178 and the sliding movement of the lifter guides 170 within the lifter guide bushes 172 provide smooth, fine and silent operation of lifting or lowering the top plate 120 and thus, the massage bumps 98, 100.
Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, other versions are possible by converting the aforementioned construction. Therefore, the scope of the invention shall not be limited by the specification specified above.

## Claims

1. A lie-down massager, comprising:
a) a base frame having an elongated top panel, wherein an elongated top opening is formed centrally and lengthwise through the elongated top panel;
b) a rider provided below the elongated top panel of the base frame;
c) a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the base frame;
d) a lifter having a top plate and a bottom plate, a first link assembly, and a lifter motor, wherein the top plate has a top upper surface portion and a top lower surface portion, wherein the bottom plate has a bottom upper surface portion and a bottom lower surface portion, wherein the first link assembly comprises a gear shaft rotatably attached to the bottom plate, a link gear fixed to the gear shaft, a low link fixed to the gear shaft, a high link connecting between the low link and the top plate, wherein the lifter motor rotates the link gear of the first link assembly either clockwise or counterclockwise direction, whereby the rotation of the link gear lifts or lowers the top plate, wherein the lifter further comprises a second link assembly, the second link assembly comprises a gear shaft rotatably attached to the bottom plate, a link gear fixed to the gear shaft, a low link fixed to the gear shaft, a high link connecting between the low link and the top plate, wherein the link gear of the first assembly and the link gear of the second link assembly are positioned symmetrical with each other, whereby when the lifter motor rotates the link gear of the first assembly, the first link assembly and the second assembly lift or lower the top plate;
e) one or more lifter guides extend downward from the top lower surface portion of the top plate, and one or more lifter guide bushes extend upward from the bottom upper surface portion of the bottom plate to releasably receive the lifter guides;
f) massage bumps attached to the top upper surface portion of the lifter and moving vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame.

2. The lie-down massager of claim 1 further comprising a pad covering the massage bumps and the elongated top opening of the base frame.

3. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the massage bumps are partitioned to first and second pairs, wherein the first pair bumps are aligned parallel to the second pair bumps.

4. The lie-down massager of claim 3 further comprising:
a) first and second bump holders propping and maintaining the first and second pair bumps above the top plate of the lifter, wherein the first and second bump holders are tapered toward each lower end thereof; and
b) a first engagement member to rockingly engage the lower ends of the bump holders to the top plate of the lifter.

5. The lie-down massager of claim 4 further comprising a second engagement member to rollingly engage the massage bumps thereto.

6. The lie-down massager of claim 4 wherein the massage bumps are roller balls.

7. The lie-down massager of claim 6 wherein the roller balls are formed of jade.

8. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein each of the massage bumps includes a heater.

9. The lie-down massager of claim 8 wherein the heater is a heating lamp generating heat and infrared rays.

10. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the guide member comprises:
a) one or more roller gear engaged to and powered by a roller gear motor, wherein the roller gear motor is fixed to the rider; and
b) one or more side rack gears parallel to each other and provided lengthwise in the base frame;

wherein the roller gears are rollably connected to the rider and rotatably mounted on the side rack gears.

11. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the guide member comprises:
a) rider guide rollers provided on each side of the rider, wherein the rider guide rollers are rollably engaged to the base frame to guide a horizontally reciprocal movement of the rider;
b) a pair of pulleys linked by a rope and respectively mounted in a front end portion and a rear end portion of the base frame, wherein a predetermined portion of the rope is fixedly attached to the rider so that the pulley rotation enables the rider to generate a horizontally reciprocal movement of the rider.

12. The lie-down massager of claim 11 wherein the pulleys are relatively twisted by 90 degrees against each other.

13. The lie-down massager of claim 1 further comprising:
a) a pair of roller coasters parallel to each other, wherein the roller coasters are attached to the base frame, wherein each of the roller coasters has a substantially waved top surface; and
b) coaster guide rollers formed outwardly extending from each side of the lifter, wherein the coaster guide rollers enable the lifter to make a roller coasting movement on and along the waved top surfaces of the roller coasters.

14. The lie-down massager of claim 13 wherein each of the waved top surfaces of the roller coasters substantially forms a curvature of a human spinal cord.

15. The lie-down massager of claim 13 wherein the lifter further comprises a plurality of elongated guides extending downward from the bottom lower surface portion of the bottom plate, and the rider further comprises a plurality of guide bushes upwardly formed on the rider to releasably receive the elongated guides so as to stabilize the roller coasting movement of the lifter along the roller coasters.

16. The lie-down massager of claim 15 wherein the elongated guides are shaped in pins.

17. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the link gears of the first and second link assemblies are spur gears, wherein the lifter motor comprises a driving spur gear that engages with the link gear of the first link assembly.

18. The lie-down massager of claim 17 wherein the bottom plate of the lifter comprises two bearing walls that extend upward from the bottom upper surface portion, wherein the gear shafts of the first and second link assemblies are rotatably supported between the two bearing walls.

19. The lie-down massager of claim 18 wherein each of the low links of the first and second link assemblies comprises a low top end and a low bottom end that is fixed to the gear shaft, wherein each of the high links of the first and second link assemblies comprises a high top end and a high bottom end that is rotatably attached to the low top end, wherein each of the first and second link assemblies further comprises a link shaft that is rotatably attached between two guide flanges extending downward from the top lower surface portion of the top plate, wherein the high top ends of the high links are rotatably attached to the link shafts.