Patent Publication Number: US-2012041350-A1

Title: Massage equipment and air-bag used for the massage equipment

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a massage apparatus and, more particularly, to a massage apparatus including an air-bag configured to freely expand/shrink, and the air-bag used for the massage apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Japan patent application laid-open No. 2004-208880A published on Jul. 29, 2004 discloses a massage apparatus. This massage apparatus has a base body, a frame to which the base body is fixed, and so on, and a concave portion for fitting in a human leg is formed at the base body. This concave portion is formed in a grooved-shape from the top edge to the bottom edge of the base body, and side walls of the concave portion are provided with bag-shaped air-bags. This massage apparatus can provide massage to a user&#39;s leg which is put in the concave portion by supplying and exhausting air to expand and shrink the air-bag. 
     When air is filled inside the above air-bag, the whole surface of the air-bag expands. Thus, in order to provide a cover for covering the air-bag, it is necessary that the cover is made from a stretchable cloth or from a cloth with a looseness considering the expansion of the air-bag surface. Therefore, the cover can not be made from a hardly deformed material, such as leather which can give a sense of quality. Therefore, the aesthetic characteristic has been limited. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide massage apparatus which allows freely selecting the materials of the cover of the air-bag. 
     A massage apparatus ( 1 ) of the present invention comprises a main frame ( 10 ) and an air-bag ( 70 ) for massage attached to the main frame ( 10 ). The air-bag ( 70 ) comprises an air-bag front section ( 71 ) and an air-bag main body ( 72 ) fixed to the dorsal side of the air-bag front section ( 71 ). The air-bag ( 70 ) is arranged that the dorsal side of the air-bag main body ( 72 ) is disposed toward the main frame ( 10 ) so that the front side of the air-bag front section ( 71 ) makes up a contact side with a human body. A dorsal surface of the air-bag main body ( 72 ) is configured to be able to expand and shrink, and the airbag front section ( 71 ) is configured so as to remain flat even when the air-bag main body ( 72 ) is expanded or shrunken. 
     In one embodiment, the main frame ( 10 ) comprises a base ( 11 ) having a recess ( 5 ) for accommodating a human leg and a movable member ( 12 ) to which the air-bag ( 70 ) is attached. The movable member ( 12 ) is supported by the base ( 11 ) so as to be able to switch its position between a closed state in which the movable member ( 12 ) covers to close an opening of the recess ( 5 ) of the base ( 11 ) in order that the air-bag front section ( 71 ) of the air-bag ( 70 ) attached to the movable member ( 12 ) forms a substantially-flat footrest surface and an opened state in which the air-bag front section ( 71 ) locates lateral to the human leg. 
     In one embodiment, the air-bag ( 70 ) comprises a nozzle ( 73 ) for air supply and exhaust projecting from peripheral part of the air-bag main body ( 72 ) and a flange ( 74 ) extending from circumference of the air-bag front section ( 71 ). A part of the flange ( 74 ) extends along the nozzle ( 73 ). 
     In another embodiment, the air-bag ( 70 ) comprises a first air-bag ( 701 ) and a second air-bag ( 702 ). The first air-bag ( 701 ) comprises a nozzle ( 731 ) for air supply and exhaust projecting from peripheral part of the air-bag main body ( 721 ). The second air-bag ( 702 ) comprises a flange ( 742 ) extending from circumference of the air-bag front section ( 712 ). A part of the flange ( 742 ) of the second air-bag ( 702 ) extends along the nozzle ( 731 ) of the first air-bag ( 701 ). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the dorsal surface of the air-bag main body ( 72 ) comprises a plurality of peak parts ( 75 ) configured to be distant from the air-bag front section ( 71 ) when the air-bag ( 70 ) is shrunken and a plurality of valley parts ( 76 ) configured to be close to the air-bag front section ( 71 ) when the air-bag ( 70 ) is shrunken, said peak parts ( 75 ) and said valley parts ( 76 ) being arranged alternately. The air-bag ( 70 ) is configured so that bottoms of the valley parts ( 76 ) in the dorsal surface of the air-bag main body ( 72 ) are in contact with the air-bag front section ( 71 ) side when the air-bag ( 70 ) is shrunken. 
     In one embodiment, the front side of the air-hag front section ( 71 ) of the air-bag ( 70 ) is covered by an exterior member ( 8 ) having non-stretch properties. The exterior member ( 8 ) is fastened to the air-bag ( 70 ) at the air-bag front section ( 71 ) or at periphery of the air-bag front section ( 71 ). 
     In this case, the air-bag front section ( 71 ) may comprises a flange ( 74 ) extending from the circumference thereof, and the exterior member ( 8 ) may be fastened to the flange ( 74 ) directly or through a reinforcing member ( 79 ). 
     In one embodiment, the air-bag main body ( 72 ) is fixed to the air-bag front section ( 71 ), thereby an enclosed space is formed inside the air-bag ( 70 ). 
     In another embodiment, the air-bag main body ( 72 ) is formed in a bag-shape having an enclosed space therein, and the air-bag ( 70 ) is constructed by fixing the air-bag main body ( 72 ) to the air-bag front section ( 71 ). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in further details. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a figure showing the massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a state in which an open-close plate is opened, 
         FIG. 3  is a figure showing the massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a state in which the open-close plate is closed, 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a massage chair to which the massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is connected, 
         FIG. 5  is a figure showing an air-bag assembly used in the massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 5A  is an exploded perspective view, and  FIG. 5B  is a sectional view, 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an air-bag used in the massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention seeing from the dorsal side, 
         FIG. 7  is a figure showing a pair of air-bags used in the massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 7A  is a perspective view seeing from the front side, and  FIG. 7B  is perspective view seeing from the dorsal side, 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another air-bag used in the massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and 
         FIG. 9A  is a sectional view of the air-bag used in the massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 9B  is a sectional view of a conventional air-bag. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  show a massage apparatus for legs  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention. This massage apparatus for legs  1  includes a main frame  10  and air-bag assemblies  7 . For example, the massage apparatus  1  is attached to the front side of a seat  90  of a massage chair  9  via a link mechanism  91 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The massage apparatus  1  is configured so that it can turn, by the link mechanism  91 , between a state in which it is located on approximately the same plane with the seat  90  as shown in  FIG. 4  and a state in which it droops from the front end of the seat  90 . 
     The main frame  10  includes a base  11  and a pair of open-close plates  12 ,  12 , wherein said open-close plate  12  is a movable member. The base  11  includes a rectangular-shaped basal plate  2 , a pair of elevating mechanisms  3 ,  3 , and a center wall  4 . The basal plate  2  is formed widely from front to back and from right to left, and is arranged so that it is elongated in the right-left direction. The pair of elevating mechanisms  3 ,  3  is located on the top surface of the basal plate  2 . The center wall  4  is located on the top surface of the basal plate  2 . The air-bag assembly  7  is configured for massage. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the air-bag assemblies  7  are located on surfaces of the open-close plates  12 ,  12 , and the right and the left side surfaces of the center wall  4 , respectively. The air-bag assembly  7  is configured to expand and shrink by air supply or air exhaust by use of an air-pump (not shown in figure) and a supply-exhaust valve (not shown in figure). 
     The central wall  4  is formed in a rectangular-shape elongated in the front-back direction, and projects upwardly from the middle of the basal plate  2 . Each one of the paired elevating mechanisms  3 ,  3  is formed in a rectangular-shape elongated in the front-back direction. The paired elevating mechanisms  3 ,  3  project upwardly from both the right and the left end of the top surface of the basal plate  2 , and face to the right and the left side of the center wall  4 . Between the pair of elevating mechanisms  3 ,  3  and the central wall  4 , a pair of recess  5 ,  5  arranged in almost parallel is formed in the front-back direction. Human&#39;s leg can be placed in each one of the paired recesses  5 ,  5 . 
     The elevating mechanism  3  includes an inner base  30  fixed to the basal plate  2  and an outside cover  31  surrounding the inner base  30  from the outside. The inner base  30  has a rectangular front plate  301 , a rectangular rear plate  302 , and a rectangular side plate  303  connecting the front plate  301  and the rear plate  302 . Rails  300  extending in the vertical direction are formed on the outer surface (front surface) of the front plate  301  and the outer surface (rear surface) of the rear plate  302 . The outside cover  31  is composed of a rectangular front cover plate  311  covering the front surface of the inner base  30 , a rectangular rear cover plate  312  covering the rear surface of the inner base  30 , a rectangular side cover plate  313  covering the outside surface of the side plate  303  of the inner base  30 , and a top cover plate  314  covering the top surface of the inner base  30 . Rails  310  which can be coupled with the rails  300  of the inner base  30  are formed on the inside surface (rear surface) of the front cover plate  311  and the inside surface (front surface) of the rear cover plate  312 . The outside cover  31  is configured to be slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the inner base  30  by virtue of the rails  300 ,  310 . 
     A telescopic mechanism  6  for connecting the basal plate  2  and the outside cover  31  is arranged inside the inner base  30 . The telescopic mechanism  6  is configured so that it can elongate and contract in the vertical direction, and the upper end part thereof is connected to the lower surface of the top cover plate  314  of the outer cover  31  and the lower end part thereof is connected to the top surface of the basal plate  2 . 
     The telescopic mechanism  6  has a plurality of paired plates, said paired plates being composed of a pair of rectangular flat plates  61 . This pair of flat plates  61  is pivotally connected by a shaft  62  at each longitudinal centers, and come to an X-shaped. Each ends of the flat plates  61  of the paired plates is pivotally connected to an end of a flat plate  61  of another paired plate by a shaft part  60 . Also, a threaded shaft  65  having a positive thread part and a reverse thread part is arranged at the shaft parts  60 ,  60  of the telescopic mechanism  6 . A pair of screw nuts (not shown in figure), each of which screws to engage with the positive thread part or the reverse thread part of the threaded shaft  65 , is comprised at the paired shaft parts  60 ,  60 . 
     When the threaded shaft  65  is rotated by a motor (not shown in figure), the paired screw nuts attached to the shaft parts  60 ,  60  move in the opposite direction to each other along the threaded shaft  65  elongated in the front-back direction. Thereby, distance between the shaft parts  60 ,  60  changes, and the telescopic mechanism  6  is elongated or contracted in the vertical direction. When the telescopic mechanism  6  is elongated or contracted, the outside cover  31  slides in the vertical direction with respect to the inner base  30 . As a result, the elevating mechanism  3  elongates or contracts, and thereby the height from the basal plate  2  of the elevating mechanism  3  changes. When the elevating mechanism  3  is shortened, the height from the basal plate  2  of the elevating mechanism  3  becomes about the same with the height from the basal plate  2  of the central wall  4 . The height from the basal plate  2  of the elevating mechanism  3  becomes higher than the height from basal plate  2  of the center wall  4  when the elevating mechanism  3  is extended. Note that, the telescopic mechanism  6  may be configured to connect between the inner base  30  and the outside cover  31 . 
     The pair of rectangular open-close plates  12 ,  12  is attached to the center wall  4  sides of the pair of outside covers  31 ,  31 . The top edges of the front and the rear side of the open-close plate  12  are connected by shafts  33  to the top edge of the front cover plate  311  and the top edge of the rear cover plate  312  of the outside cover  31 , respectively. The open-close plate  12  is configured to turn around the shaft  33  in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction seeing from the front. Longitudinal one ends of flat board-shaped links  35  are connected to the front and the rear side of the open-close plate  12  by shafts  34 , respectively. The link  35  is configured to turn around the shaft  34  with respect to the open-close plate  12 . Longitudinal the other end of the link  35  is pivotally connected to the front plate  301  or the rear plate  302  of the inner base  30  by a shaft (not shown in figure). By virtue of the presence of the links  35 , the open-close plate  12  turns in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction seeing from the front accompanying with the extension/contraction of the elevating mechanism  3 . When the elevating mechanism  3  is elongated and the height from the basal plate  2  becomes higher, the open-close plate  12  becomes along the surface of the elevating mechanism  3  of the center wall  4  side, as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the elevating mechanism  3  is contracted, the open-close plate  12  covers the opening of the recess  5 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In other words, the recess  5  is left open when the height of the elevating mechanism  3  is raised, and the recess  5  is closed by the open-close plate  12  when the height of the elevating mechanism  3  is lowered. 
     According to the above-mentioned massage apparatus  1 , if a human&#39;s leg is placed in the recess  5  when the elevating mechanism  3  is extended thereby the opening of the recess  5  is opened (opened state; refer to  FIG. 2 ), the air-bag assemblies  7  are positioned adjacent to the leg. If the air-bag assembly  7  is expanded and shrunken in this state, the air-bag assembly  7  presses and releases the leg in the recess  5  to provide massage. 
     On the other hand, when the elevating mechanism  3  is contracted, the open-close plate  12  closes up the recess  5 . This time, a surface of the open-close plate  12  on which the air-bag assembly  7  is arranged forms an approximately flat footrest surface at the front side of the massage apparatus  1  (closed state; refer to  FIG. 3 ). Thereby, the massage apparatus  1  serves as a footrest board. In this state, a human can put one&#39;s leg on the surface of the massage apparatus  1  without being regulated by the recess  5 , and a relaxed state can be obtained. At this state, also, because the elevating mechanism  3  is contracted and the height from the basal plate  2  is lowered, the height of the massage apparatus  1  can be reduced. Therefore, the elevating mechanism  3  does not interfere when sitting down on the massage chair  9  or standing up from the massage chair  9  (refer to  FIG. 4 ). 
     Next, the air-bag assembly  7  is described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the air-bag assembly  7  is composed of a pair of air-bags  70 ,  70 , a reinforcing plate  79 , and an exterior member  8 . The paired air-bags  70 ,  70  are formed in the same shape and the same size. 
     The air-bag  70  is a hollow body, and as shown in  FIG. 6 , it includes a flat board-shaped air-bag front section  71  constructed of synthetic resin and a rectangular air-bag main body  72  constructed of synthetic resin. The front side of the air-bag front section  71  is formed in approximately flat planar-shape. The air-bag main body  72  is fixed to the dorsal side of the air-bag front section  71 . In the present configuration, the air-bag main body  72  is not a bag-shaped, but an enclosed space is formed inside the air-bag  70  by fixing the air-bag main body  72  to the air-bag front section  71 . Note that, it may use a bag-shaped air-bag main body  72  having an enclosed space therein. In such a configuration, this air-bag main body  72  may be fixed to the air-bag front section  71 . 
     A nozzle  73  for supply/exhaust of air protrudes from peripheral part of the air-bag main body  72 . Besides, a flange  74  integrally extends from circumference of the air-bag front section  71  toward outside. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a plurality of peak parts  75  and a plurality of valley parts  76  are formed at the dorsal surface of the air-bag main body  72 , wherein the plurality of peak parts  75  are configured to be distant from the air-bag front section  71  at the contraction of the air-bag  70 , and wherein the plurality of the valley parts  76  are configured to be close to the air-bag front section  71  at the contraction of the air-bag  70 . The peak parts  75  and the valley parts  76  are alternately formed in a concentric pattern. When pressurized air is filled inside the air-bag  70  via the nozzle  73 , the air-bag  70  expands in a manner that the central part of the dorsal surface of the air-bag main body  72  largely protrudes, as shown in a two-dotted chain line in  FIG. 5B . On the other hand, even when air is filled in the air-bag  70 , the air-bag front section  71  hardly expands and maintains an approximately flat state. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the flange  74  is provided with a connecting part  77  having a connection hole  770  and a connected part  78  having a connection hole  780 . The connecting part  77  and the connected part  78  are extended in the same direction with the projecting direction of the nozzle  73 . A pair of airbags  70 ,  70  is united by superimposing a connecting part  77  of one air-bag  70  on a connected part  78  of the other air-bag  70 , and passing a bolt through the connection hole  770  and the connection hole  780  to fix them. In the united pair of air-bags  70 ,  70 , the surface of the front side of the pair of air-bags  70 ,  70  is approximately rectangle-shaped as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     As mentioned above, the air-bag assembly  7  has two air-bags  70  formed in the same shape and the same size. In the following, these two air-bags are referred to as a first air-bag  701  and a second air-bag  702  as shown in  FIG. 7A ,  FIG. 7B . As shown in  FIG. 7B , a part of flange  741  extending from an air-bag front section  711  of the first air-bag  701  towards the second air-bag  702  is configure to extend along a nozzle  732  projecting from an air-bag main body  722  of the second air-bag  702 , and covers the nozzle  732  from the front side of the second air-bag  702 . Also, a part of flange  742  extending from an air-bag front section  712  of the second air-bag  702  towards the first air-bag  701  is configured to extend along a nozzle  731  projecting from an air-bag main body  721  of the first air-bag  701 , and covers the nozzle  731  from the front side of the first air-bag  701 . Thereby, irregularity by the nozzles  731 ,  732  does not appear in the air-bag front section  711 ,  712  side. By virtue of such a configuration, it can prevent the appearance of irregularity by the nozzles  731 ,  732  at the front side of the air-bags  701 ,  702  while the airbags  701 ,  702  can be produced easily. Note that, as shown in  FIG. 8 , it may be configured that a part of the flange  74  of the air-bag  70  extends along its own nozzle  73  and the flange  74  covers the nozzle  73  from the front side of the air-bag  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the reinforcing plate (reinforcing member)  79  covers the flanges  74 ,  74  of the pair of air-bags  70 ,  70  from the dorsal side. By virtue of the reinforcing plate  79 , deformation of the air-bags  70 ,  70  can be prevented. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , the exterior member  8  includes a non-stretchable cover portion  80  and a pad  81  having elasticity. The cover portion  80  covers up the air-bag front sections  71 ,  71  and the flanges  74 ,  74  from the front side of the pair of air-bags  70 ,  70 . The pad  81  is provided along the circumference of the cover portion  80 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , the pad  81  is fastened to the reinforcing plate  79  in a manner of tucking the circumferential part of the reinforcing plate  79 . 
     As for the above air-bag assembly  7 , the dorsal side of the air-bag main body  72  is located at the main frame  10  side so that the front side of the air-bag front section  71  becomes a contact side with a human body. That is, in a state in which the open-close plate  12  is opened as shown in  FIG. 2 , the exterior member  8  of the air-bag assembly  7  comes in contact with a human leg to provide massage. On the other hand, in a state in which the open-close plate  12  is closed as shown in  FIG. 3 , the exterior member  8  of the air-bag assembly  7  forms an approximately flat footrest surface. 
     By the way, in case that the cover portion  80  of the exterior member  8  is thin, there is a possibility that the human leg put on the footrest surface feels irregularity of the air-bag  70 . In the present configuration, however, irregularity by the peak parts  75  and the valley parts  76  which must be provided in order for making the air-bag  70  freely expand/shrink and irregularity by the nozzle  73  are covered over by the air-bag front section  71  and the flange  74 . Therefore, these irregularities do not appear at the front side of the air-bag  70 . That is, even if in this case, the possibilities that a human&#39;s leg put on the air-bag assembly  7  feels the above irregularity is made small. 
     Herein, the air-bag front section  71  is not a complete rigid body. Therefore, there is a possibility that a deflection occurs at the air-bag front section  71  when filling air or receiving the weight of a human leg. The deflection in case of expansion may not become a problem because it is expanded for applying a pressure to a human body. However, it is less preferred that a dent is arisen at the shrunken state because it is desired to be kept in a flat state at this time. For this purpose, in the present configuration, it is configured that bottoms of the valley parts  76  of the air-bag main body  72  contact with the air-bag front section  71  when the air-bag  70  is shrunken as shown in  FIG. 9A . By virtue of such a configuration, the air-bag front section  71  is to be supported by the valley parts  76  in the dorsal surface of the air-bag main body  72 . Therefore, a deflection of the air-bag front section  71  can be inhibited. Note that, according to a conventional air-bag  70 , bottoms of valley parts  76  are configured to be apart from an air-bag front section  71  as shown in  FIG. 9B , and the valley parts  76  do not inhibit a deflection of the air-bag front section  71 . 
     This air-bag assembly  7  is attached to the open-close plate  12  by connecting one side edge of the air-bag main body  72  to one side edge of the open-close plate  12 . Herein, the exterior member  8  is not directly connected to the open-close plate  12 . Therefore, the shape of the exterior member  8  is not affected even when distance between the open-close plate  12  and the air-bag  70  changes by the expansion of the air-bag  70 . Thus, materials of the cover portion  80  of the exterior member  8  can be selected freely. In the present configuration, the cover portion  80  is made from leather which has non-elasticity and can provide a sense of quality. Also, a cover (not shown in figure) made of an elastic cloth or a cloth having a looseness is arranged between the flange  74  and a side of the open-close plate  12 . When the air-bag  70  expands, a gap occurs between the open-close plate  12  and the flange  74 . However, this gap is covered over by the above-mentioned cover. Herein, configuration of the installation of the air-bag assembly  7  to the central wall  4  is similar with the installation to the open-close plate  12 , too. 
     Note that, the configuration of the main frame  10  is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the elevating mechanism  3  may be configured not to extend and contract. Besides, the elevating mechanism  3  may be configured not to include the open-close plate  12  thereby configured that the recess  5  always appears. Also, the massage apparatus  1  is not limited to a thing for legs. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of this invention, namely claims.