Patent Publication Number: US-2019183725-A1

Title: Vibrational rehabilitation device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a rehabilitation device, and more particularly, to a vibrational rehabilitation device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For the elderly or stroke patients, how to move the fingers, toes and the other body parts is very important, especially in their early stages. Limbs rehabilitation enables the elderly or patients to restore their reactions as soon as possible, so that the other parts of the body can act flexibly. 
     General rehabilitation activities, for example, can be used to train standing stances and body stability through a standing table; throwing sandbags is to train body balance and shifting the center of gravity; the hand-ladder activity and the stacking of the blocks can be used to increase the degree of joint motion and prevent shoulder joint dislocation and train simple finger movements; the turning and shifting of OT chess can be used to train finger movements; picking beans and wearing beads can train hand-eye coordination and the sensitivity of the fingers. In addition, the guidance of transposing skills, the training of washing up and bathing skills and the use of tools and the like are all important items. 
     However, the aforesaid rehabilitation exercises may be inadequate because of the fact that the nerves at various parts of the body are not adequately stimulated. In some of the literature, it has been documented that stimulating the body can enhance the response to limb movements, which helps the elderly or patients to restore as soon as possible, avoids muscle relaxation, atrophy and degeneration, helps patients loose bones and joints, and reduces limb stiffness. 
     Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a vibrational rehabilitation device. Through a pair of drive assemblies staggered left and right, the user holds the grip members of the drive assemblies to make the drive assemblies rotate and generate regular vibrations, so that the rehabilitation exercise has a strong stimulation, there improving the rehabilitation effect. 
     In order to achieve the aforesaid object, the vibrational rehabilitation device of the present invention comprises two drive assemblies staggered left and right, an eccentric assembly, and two half housings to accommodate the drive assemblies. 
     The drive assemblies each include a driving wheel assembly and a driven wheel assembly. The driving wheel assembly has a driving wheel and a driving shaft. The driving shaft is mounted to a center of the driving wheel. A grip member is provided at one side of the driving shaft opposite the driving wheel. The driven wheel assembly includes a first driven wheel and a second driven wheel. The first driven wheel is connected with the driving wheel and driven by the driving wheel. The second driven wheel is coaxially disposed with the first driven wheel. 
     The eccentric assembly includes two transmission wheels at two sides thereof and an eccentric block sandwiched between the two transmission wheels. 
     The housings each have a mounting space therein. The drive assemblies and the eccentric assembly are mounted in the housings. The driving shaft extends out of a corresponding one of the housings. The grip member is located at an outer side of the corresponding housing. 
     Through the above structure, the drive assemblies are staggered left and right. When the user holds the grip members at the outer sides of the two half housings to exert a force to rotate the driving shafts, the drive assemblies drive the eccentric assembly to rotate. The eccentric block in the mounting space can generate uneven vibrations, so that the user&#39;s hand can feel strong vibrations to stimulate the hand. The strong vibrations can stimulate the user&#39;s brain, thereby increasing the rehabilitation effect. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the housings each have a through hole. The through hole is mounted with a bearing. The driving shaft is inserted through the bearing to extend out of the corresponding housing. The grip member is connected to the driving shaft. Thereby, the bearing can eliminate the radial load generated by the driving shaft. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the eccentric block of the eccentric assembly is assembled to the driven wheel, so that the rotation of the driven wheel can increase the vibrations. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a vibrational rehabilitation device is provided. The vibrational rehabilitation device comprises a central support frame, two drive assemblies staggered left and right, and an eccentric assembly. The central support frame is provided with two bearings. Driving shafts of the drive assemblies are inserted through the bearings, respectively. The drive assemblies each include a driving wheel, a first driven wheel, and a second driven wheel. The driving wheel is connected to the first driven wheel. The first driven wheel and the second driven wheel are connected through a connecting shaft. A crank and a pedal are provided at an outer side of each of the driving shafts of the drive assemblies. By rotating the pedal and the crank, the driving shafts are rotated. The eccentric assembly is connected to the second driven wheel. Through this embodiment, the pedals are rotated and applied with a force by the user&#39;s hands or feet so that the cranks indirectly drive the drive assemblies to rotate through the driving shafts and the force is transmitted to the eccentric assembly for the overall structure to generate vibrations. Thereby, this embodiment can assist in fully exercising and stimulating the limbs for the elderly who are weak in hands and feet or for patients to be rehabilitated. In the aforesaid structure, the eccentric assembly includes a connecting wheel. An eccentric block is provided on the connecting wheel for generating regular swings when rotated. In addition, the outer diameter of the connecting wheel is less than that of the driven wheel connected to the connecting wheel, so that the connecting wheel is rotated faster and faster and the vibration frequency is higher. 
     In the aforesaid embodiment, the driving shaft of the driving wheel is provided with a motor. The motor drives the drive assemblies to rotate the eccentric assembly. For a user who just beings to rehabilitate, the vibrational rehabilitation device of the present invention not only increases his/her confidence but also helps the limbs to do rehabilitation exercises. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the present invention when in use; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the eccentric block of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing the operation of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an implementation of the present invention mounted with pedals and cranks; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an implementation of the present invention mounted with a motor; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an implementation of the present invention mounted with a linkage mechanism. 
         FIG. 9 a    is the left side view of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 9 b    is the right side view of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , a vibrational rehabilitation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises two drive assemblies  10  staggered left and right, an eccentric assembly  20 , and two half housings  30  to accommodate the drive assemblies  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , the drive assemblies  10  are staggered left and right. Each drive assembly  10  includes a driving wheel assembly  11  and a driven wheel assembly  13 . The driving wheel assembly  11  has a driving wheel  111  and a driving shaft  112 . The driving shaft  112  is mounted to the center of the driving wheel  111 . A grip member  15  is provided at one side of the driving shaft  112  opposite the driving wheel  111 . The driven wheel assembly  13  includes a first driven wheel  131  and a second driven wheel  132 . The first driven wheel  131  is connected with the driving wheel  111  and driven by the driving wheel  111 . The second driven wheel  132  is coaxially disposed with the first driven wheel  131 . In the present invention, the driving wheel assembly  11  and the driven wheel assembly  13  may adopt a gear meshing transmission, a pulley drive, or a chain and a sprocket transmission. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 4 , the eccentric assembly  20  includes two transmission wheels  21  at two sides thereof and an eccentric block  22  sandwiched between the two transmission wheels  21 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the eccentric block  22  has a semicircular shape. When rotating, the whole structure can generate regular swings. Under the swing of the eccentric block  22 , the overall structure can generate vibrations. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the housing  30  may made of a plastic or lightweight material. In the first embodiment, the housing  30  has a swirl shape. The housing  30  has a mounting space  31  therein. The drive assemblies  10  and the eccentric assembly  20  are mounted in the housings  30 . The driving shaft  112  extends out of the housing  30 . The grip member  15  is located at an outer side of the corresponding housing  30 . The housing  30  has a through hole  32 . The through hole  32  is mounted with a bearing  40 . The driving shaft  112  is inserted through the bearing  40  to extend out of the housing  30 . Thereby, the bearing  40  can eliminate the radial load generated by the driving shaft  112 . 
     Through the above structure, the present invention is used in the following manner. The drive assemblies  10  are staggered left and right. When the user holds the grip members  15  at the outer sides of the two half housings  30  to exert a force to rotate the driving shafts  112 , the drive assemblies  10  drive the eccentric assembly  20  to rotate. The eccentric block  22  in the mounting space  31  can generate uneven vibrations, so that the user&#39;s hand can feel strong vibrations to stimulate the hand. The strong vibrations can stimulate the user&#39;s brain, thereby increasing the rehabilitation effect. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6 , which is a variation of the first embodiment. The eccentric block  22  of the eccentric assembly  20  is assembled to the driven wheel, so that the rotation of the driven wheel can increase the vibrations. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention, which is based on the concept of the first embodiment. A drive assembly  50  is fixed to a central support seat  70 . The central support seat  70  may be a horizontal housing or a vertical housing. The structure of this embodiment is described hereinafter. This embodiment comprises a central support frame, two drive assemblies  50  staggered left and right, and an eccentric assembly  60 . The central support frame is provided with two bearings  80 . Driving shafts  54  of the drive assemblies  50  are inserted through the bearings  80 , respectively. Each drive assembly  50  includes a driving wheel  51 , a first driven wheel  52 , and a second driven wheel  53 . The driving wheel  51  is connected to the first driven wheel  52 . The first driven wheel  52  and the second driven wheel  53  are connected through a connecting shaft  55 . A crank  72  and a pedal  71  are provided at an outer side of the driving shaft  54  of each drive assembly  50 . By rotating the pedal  71  and the crank  72 , the driving shaft  54  is rotated. The eccentric assembly  60  is connected to the second driven wheel  53 . 
     Through the second embodiment, the pedals  71  are rotated and applied with a force by the user&#39;s hands or feet so that the cranks  72  indirectly drive the drive assemblies  50  to rotate through the driving shafts  54 , and the force is transmitted to the eccentric assembly  60  for the overall structure to generate vibrations. Thereby, the present embodiment can assist in fully exercising and stimulating the limbs for the elderly who are weak in hands and feet or for patients to be rehabilitated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the eccentric assembly  60  includes a connecting wheel  61 . An eccentric block  62  is provided on the connecting wheel  61  for generating regular swings when rotated. In addition, the outer diameter of the connecting wheel  61  is less than that of the driven wheel connected to the connecting wheel  61 , so that the connecting wheel  61  is driven by the second driven wheel  53  to rotate. The speed is faster and faster, and the vibration frequency is higher. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8 , which is a variation of the second embodiment. The driving shaft  54  of the driving wheel  51  is provided with a motor  90 . The motor  90  drives the drive assemblies  50  to rotate the eccentric assembly  60 . For a user who just beings to rehabilitate, the vibrational rehabilitation device of the present invention not only increases his/her confidence but also helps the limbs to do rehabilitation exercises. In addition, the right pedal  71  and the crank  72  are coupled with the connecting wheel  61 . 
       FIG. 9, 9   a ,  9   b , in which  FIG. 9  is a top view of another implementation of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the drive assembly  50  is disposed on a central support frame (not shown). A pivot seat A is provided above the central support frame. The pedal  71  and the crank  72  drive the driving wheel  51  to further drive the pivot seat A. The pivot seat A is connected with a link shaft B. The link shaft B can drive the connecting wheel  61 , and the connecting wheel  61  is used to drive the eccentric assembly  60 , so that the overall structure also generates vibrations. The pivot seat A and the link shaft B are coupled through a buckle ring. 
     In addition to be used for the elderly or those who need rehabilitation, the present invention can also be used in a gym or at home. Because of its small size and convenient storage, the present invention is suitable for use in a small house. Through the vibration, the prevent invention can provide a better exercise effect for some body parts, such as thighs, arms, and so on. 
     Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.