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.

Description:
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&#39;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&#39;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.