Abstract:
Disclosed herein is spinal massager capable of performing oscillating or chiropractic operation along the vertebrae of a user who lies on the massager with the feet elevated above the head. The spinal massager allows a herniated spinal disc to be readily restored into a gap produced between the vertebrae, resulting in improved blood circulation and muscle relaxation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a spinal massager, and, more particularly, to a spinal massager which can perform oscillating or chiropractic operation along the vertebrae of a user, who lies thereon with the feet elevated above the head, to thereby allow a herniated spinal disc to be readily restored into a gap produced between the vertebrae, resulting in improved blood circulation and muscle relaxation. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Recently people are increasingly health conscious and set aside time to exercise, and thus, spend generous time and money to enhance their physical health. In response to this trend, people spend their holidays to eliminate mental and physical exhaustion and to relax their stress. In the case of officer workers, the mental and physical exhaustion tends to be caused by their poor working posture. Since men have an upright walking posture, they often suffer from disorder of the neck, waist, or back, i.e. diseases associated with spinal discs. The vertebral column is comprised of seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic vertebrae, five lumbar vertebrae, a sacrum, and three to six coccyges. Spinal discs are composed of cartilage present between vertebrae and serve as cushions for absorbing shock. Such a spinal disk, as a kind of a joint, consists of the nucleus pulposus approximately 80% of which is water and which is gelatinous, and the annulus fibrous that is a fibrous material which surrounds and protects the nucleus pulposus. As is well known, the vertebral column is an important organ through which central nerves pass, and the spinal disc attenuates the weight and impact of the body. Sturdy ligamentous tissues surround the spinal disc to enable the vertebrae to function properly through its roles of weight distribution or absorption. Surrounded by the sturdy ligamentous tissues, the disc is difficult to be thrust. 
   However, once any one of the vertebrae is crooked due to external stimulus resulting from poor posture or an accident, the spinal disc between the vertebrae is pressurized, thus being forced outside of the vertebrae. In this case, the slipped disc stimulates neighboring nerve roots, inducing pain, and ligaments and muscles are stiffened to prevent the vertebrae from being further crooked. This phenomenon is called a “disc-related diseases” or “herniated disc”. Among the diseases, the herniated lumbar disc results from when the disc located between the lumbar vertebrae is pushed to press neighboring nerves, producing pain. Medical treatments of the herniated lumbar disc include surgical operations to correct the crooked vertebrae, or physical therapy that is frequently performed to physically correct the crooked vertebrae. Here, physical therapy is performed to push the crooked vertebrae upward against a downward pressure. 
   To remedy and correct poor posture, an exercise machine using a handstand posture has been recently developed. The handstand exercise machine (hereinafter, referred to as “spinal massager”) will now be explained with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a conventional spinal massager  2  in a perspective view. The conventional spinal massager  2  basically comprises a lower structure  10  as a supporting stand of the spinal massager  2 , a saddle  22  mounted at an upper portion of the lower structure  10  to allow a user to be hung down in a handstand posture, and a feet holder  30 . 
   More specifically, the lower structure  10  includes a front support frame  12  and a rear support frame  18 , which generally have a trapezoidal cross section, and are made up of square bars. The rear support frame  18  is hinged to an upper end of the front support frame  12  to have a predetermined angle therebetween. 
   A horizontal support bar  14  is welded to a certain upper portion of the front support frame  12  to be connected between opposite lateral portions of the front support frame  12 . A length-adjustment vertical bar  24  is coupled to the center of the horizontal support bar  14 . Also, a pair of handles  16  is coupled, respectively, to upper ends of the opposite lateral portions of the front support frame  12  to assist the user to lie down or lift his/her upper body. An angle adjustor  20  is provided at the front support frame  12  near one of the handles  16 . Both the horizontal support bar  14  and the length-adjustment vertical bar  24  are attached to a lower surface of the saddle  22 . Also, the saddle  22  is provided at the lower surface thereof with a length-adjustment pin  28 . 
   The feet holder  30  includes a plurality of feet holding rods  32  provided at a distal end of the length-adjustment vertical bar  24  to catch the user&#39;s feet therebetween, a sole support  34  coupled at a distal end thereof, and an ankle-tightening adjustor rod  36  to adjust a distance between the feet holding rods  32  to appropriately tighten the user&#39;s ankle. 
   With this configuration, in an initial state with the saddle  22  elevated above the feet holder  30 , as the user puts the back on the saddle  22  and forcibly pushes the saddle  22  down while gripping the handles  16 , the saddle  22  is able to be overturned, allowing the user to be hung down in a handstand posture. 
   As is well known, the handstand posture has several advantages in that it can remove weight applied to cartilage tissues by the user&#39;s weight and straightens the crooked vertebrae resulting from bad posture to thereby stretch the height of the user. Also, the handstand posture is effective to reduce abdominal fat to thereby achieve fine physical figure, and shows excellent effect to remedy cold hands and feet. In addition, the handstand posture can prevent or remedy various adult-onset diseases, such as arteriosclerosis and myocardial infarction, and can relieve fatigue and stress by stretching of muscles. 
   However, the conventional spinal massager  2  merely allows the user to be hung down in a handstand posture, and achieves only meager effect. That is, since it is difficult to overturn the saddle of the spinal massager, a relatively long time is required to restore any herniated disc into a space produced between vertebrae by virtue of the handstand posture. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a spinal massager which can perform oscillating or chiropractic operation along the vertebrae of a user, who lies thereon with the feet elevated above the head, to thereby allow a herniated spinal disc to be readily restored into a gap produced between the vertebrae, resulting in improved blood circulation and muscle relaxation. 
   In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a spinal massager comprising: a lower structure having rectangular frames; a saddle mounted at an upper portion of the lower structure to bear the user&#39;s back at an upper surface thereof; a length-adjustment vertical bar connected to the saddle to support the saddle; and a feet holder located at an end of the length-adjustment vertical bar to catch the user&#39;s feet, further comprising: a transfer drive unit to transfer a hitting head, mounted inside the saddle, along the vertebrae; a hitting drive unit mounted inside the saddle to be transferred by the transfer drive unit and adapted to drive the hitting head to hit the vertebrae; a key operating panel mounted on a side of the saddle to generate various key signals to induce hitting and transfer operations; a memory to store preset signals from key buttons of the key operating panel and motor drive data depending on the preset signals from the key buttons; and a controller to generate control signals to drive both the transfer drive unit and the hitting drive unit upon receiving the preset signals from the key buttons of the key operating panel, thereby allowing the hitting head to hit the vertebrae while being transferred along the vertebrae within the saddle under control of the controller, whereby the spinal massager massages the vertebrae of a user, who lies thereon with the feet elevated above the head, with a predetermined constant strength, thereby allowing a herniated spinal disc to be readily restored into a gap produced between the vertebrae. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional spinal massager; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the general configuration of a spinal massager according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a massage device of the spinal massager according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4   a  is a plan sectional view illustrating a transfer drive unit of the spinal massager according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4   b  is a side sectional view illustrating a hitting drive unit of the spinal massager according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a circuit block diagram of the spinal massager according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the general configuration of a spinal massager according to an embodiment of the present invention, which contains a massage device therein. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the spinal massager according to the embodiment of the present invention, designated as reference numeral  2 ′, is identical to the conventional spinal massager as stated above with reference to  FIG. 1  except that it comprises a massage device  100 . The massage device  100  is mounted inside the saddle  22 , and has a hitting head  102 . Considering operation of the massage device  100  in brief, in a state wherein the user is hung down in a handstand posture, the hitting head  102  is operated to hit the vertebrae with a predetermined constant strength while vertically moving along the vertebrae. Hitting the vertebra allows a herniated spinal disc to be more readily inserted and restored into a gap produced between the vertebrae by virtue of the handstand posture. 
   The spinal massager  2 ′ according to the embodiment of the present invention further comprises a key operating panel  200  provided at a lateral portion of the front support frame  12  to generate various key signals to drive the massage device  100 . 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the massage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4   a  is a plan sectional view illustrating a transfer drive unit of the spinal massager according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4   a , the massage device  100  basically includes a transfer drive unit  110  to longitudinally transfer the hitting head  102  inside the saddle  22 , and a hitting drive unit  150  mounted on a sliding block  116  of the transfer drive unit  110  to induce a hitting operation on the vertebrae. 
   The transfer drive unit  110  includes a rectangular box-shaped motor housing  112 , a transfer motor  136  mounted inside the motor housing  112  to generate a driving force required to transfer the sliding block  116 , and a supporting block  114  spaced apart from the motor housing  112  by a predetermined distance to face the motor housing  112 . In this case, facing surfaces of the motor housing  112  and the supporting block  114  have the same area as each other. Holes  122  and  124  are formed at the facing surfaces of the supporting block  114  and the motor housing  112 , respectively, so that a plurality of elongated guide rods  120  may be inserted into the holes  122  and  124 . A plurality of fastening bosses  126  is coupled to the other surface of the supporting block  114  opposite to the motor housing  112  so that each of the bosses  126  is coupled to an end of each guide rod  120 . In this way, the guide rods  120  are fixed to the supporting block  114 . 
   The sliding block  116  is located between the motor housing  112  and the supporting block  114  in a slidable manner. The sliding block  116  is formed, along a center longitudinal axis thereof, with a plurality of through-holes  118  to allow passage of the guide rods  120 . As a result, the guide rods  120  penetrate the sliding block  116  to guide a longitudinal sliding movement of the sliding block  116 . 
   A first gear  128  is coupled to a lateral surface of the supporting block  114  by interposing a bearing (not shown), and a second gear  130  is coupled to the motor housing  112  at a corresponding lateral surface of the motor housing  112 . Both the first and second gears  128  and  130  are coupled to each other by making use of a chain  132 . The sliding block  116  is also coupled to the chain  132  by means of a fastening hook  134 . Thereby, the sliding block  116  is synchronously movable along with the chain  132 . 
   Inside the motor housing  112  is further mounted a reduction gear  138 , which is coupled to a shaft of the transfer motor  136 . The reduction gear  138  serves to reduce a gear ratio to thereby double a driving force from the shaft of the transfer motor  136 . The reduction gear  138  has well known configuration, and thus, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. A longitudinal shaft of the reduction gear  138  is coupled to the second gear  130 . 
   Both the supporting block  114  and the motor housing  112  are provided, at predetermined positions of their lateral surfaces, with limit switches  140   a  and  140   b , respectively. If the sliding block  116  touches a respective one of the limit switches  140   a  and  140   b  as it slides between the motor housing  112  and the supporting block  114 , a rotating direction of the transfer motor  136  is reversed, causing the sliding block  116  to linearly move in an opposite direction. 
     FIG. 4   b  is a side sectional view illustrating a hitting drive unit of the spinal massager according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4   b , the hitting drive unit  150  is mounted on the sliding block  116  inside the saddle  22  to induce a hitting operation on the vertebrae while longitudinally moving inside the saddle  22 . The hitting drive unit  150  includes a hitting motor  152  affixed to one surface of the sliding block  116  by means of a bracket to generate a rotational driving force, a reduction gear  154  mounted on a shaft of the hitting motor  152 , and a supporting plate  156  coupled to the reduction gear  154  at an opposite side of the hitting motor  152 . A cam  160  is eccentrically coupled to a shaft of the reduction gear  154  that is penetrated through a hole (not shown) centrally formed at the supporting plate  156 . 
   A hitting plate  162  is located to be spaced apart from the cam  160  by a predetermined distance. The hitting plate  162  serves to convert a rotating movement into a linear movement as it repeatedly comes into close contact with the cam  160  or is released from the cam  160 . A hitting rod  164  is coupled to the center of the hitting plate  162 . Both the hitting rod  164  and the hitting plate  162  are movably coupled to opposite sides of a fixed member  166  mounted on the sliding block  116 . A head mount  168  is coupled around a distal end portion of the hitting rod  164  by means of a boss  170  so that the hitting head  102  is seated on a distal end of the hitting rod  164 . Also, a restoring spring  172  is inserted around the hitting rod  164  between the head mount  168  and the fixed member  166 . 
   Now, the operation of the hitting drive unit  150  configured as stated above will be explained. 
   If a driving key signal from an external source is applied to the hitting drive unit  150  located at a surface of the sliding block  116 , the hitting motor  152  of the hitting drive unit  150  is driven. Upon driving of the hitting motor  152 , the reduction gear  154  operates to increase a driving force of the hitting motor  152  while reducing revolutions per minute of the motor  152 . Thereby, the increased driving force is used to rotate the cam  160  eccentrically coupled to the reduction gear  154 . As a result of eccentric coupling, the cam  160  acts to raise or lower the hitting plate  162  located thereon by a predetermined period as it is rotated. That is, when a larger diameter portion of the cam  160  comes into close contact with the hitting plate  162 , the cam  160  acts to raise the hitting plate  162 . Conversely, the cam  160  acts to lower the hitting plate  162  when a smaller diameter portion of the cam  160  comes into close contact with the hitting plate  162 . In this case, the hitting rod  164  continuously repeats rising and lowing operations while coming into close contact with the cam  160  under operation of the restoring spring  172 . The rising and lowering of the hitting rod  164  allows the hitting head  102  located at the end of the hitting rod  164  to continuously hit the vertebrae. This facilitates insertion of any herniated spinal disc between the vertebrae, enabling rapid disc restoration. 
     FIG. 5  is a circuit block diagram of the spinal massager according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the spinal massager  2 ′ according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the key operating panel  200  to generate various key signals to drive the massage device  100 . The key operating panel  200  has a power input button  202 , a manual/automatic mode selecting button  204 , a transfer speed setting button  206 , a hitting speed setting button  208 , and a time setting button  209 . When the manual/automatic mode selecting button  204  is set to automatic mode, it generates a signal to allow transfer and hitting operations of the massage device  100  to be automatically performed for a predetermined time even if it is not operated frequently. The transfer speed setting button  206  is a button to set a transfer speed of the sliding block  116  provided thereon with the hitting drive unit  150 . The hitting speed setting button  208  is a button to set the number of hitting operations of the hitting head  102  per a second, and the time setting button  209  is a button to set a chiropractic operation time. Also, a buzzer  210  is provided to generate a warning sound informing the advent of the preset chiropractic operation time that is set by the time setting button  209 . A buzzer drive unit  212  is provided to drive the buzzer  210 . In addition, there are provided the transfer motor  136  to transfer the sliding block  116 , the transfer drive unit  110  to drive the transfer motor  136 , the hitting motor  152  to generate a driving force required to drive the hitting head  102 , and the hitting drive unit  150  to drive the hitting motor  152 . In order to display an operational state of the massage device  100 , a light emitting diode (LED)  218  and an LED drive unit  220  thereof are additionally provided. 
   Meanwhile, a memory  222  is provided to store preset signals from the key buttons  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208  and  209  as well as motor drive data, i.e. pulse data, depending on the preset signals. Also, a controller  224  is provided to transmit the preset signals from the key buttons  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208  and  209  to the memory  222  and to extract pulse signals from the memory  222  to thereby send control signals to the transfer motor  136  and the hitting motor  152 . The controller  224  also serves to drive the buzzer  210  if a timer  224   a  provided therein generates an ending signal. 
   With this configuration, if a drive mode of the massage device  100  is set via the key operating panel  200  and a driving key signal is generated, first, the hitting motor  152  is driven. Upon driving of the hitting motor  152 , the reduction gear  154  operates to increase a driving force of the hitting motor  152  while reducing revolutions per minute of the hitting motor  152 . Thereby, the increased driving force is used to rotate the cam  160  eccentrically coupled to the reduction gear  154 . As a result of eccentric coupling, the cam  160  acts to raise or lower the hitting plate  162  located thereon by a predetermined period as it is rotated. Simultaneously, the hitting rod  164 , coupled to the hitting plate  162 , is raised or lowered, allowing the hitting head  102  located at the end of the hitting rod  164  to hit the vertebrae. During the hitting operation induced by the hitting drive unit  150 , the transfer drive unit  110  is operated based on a predetermined transfer speed. The operation of the transfer drive unit  110  is initiated from the transfer motor  136 . If the transfer motor  136  is driven, a driving force of the transfer motor  136  is transmitted to the second gear  130  by way of the reduction gear  138 . Thereby, the second gear  130  is rotated to thereby move the chain  132  coupled around the second gear  130 , causing a sliding movement of the sliding block  116  that is also coupled to the chain  132 . Thereby, as the sliding block  116  alternately touches a respective one of the limit switches  140   a  and  140   b  when it is moved between the motor housing  112  and the supporting block  114 , a rotating direction of the transfer motor  136  is reversed, allowing the sliding block  116  to linearly move in an opposite direction. 
   As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a spinal massager which can perform oscillating or chiropractic operation along the vertebrae of a user to thereby allow a herniated spinal disc to be readily restored into a gap produced between the vertebrae, resulting in improved blood circulation and muscle relaxation. 
   Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.