Patent Publication Number: US-2021177697-A1

Title: Sliding type massage apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2019-0165443, filed on Dec. 12, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a sliding type massage apparatus. 
     2. Discussion of Related Technology 
     Generally, it is possible to receive thermal treatment at a comfortable lying posture and the spine, calves, thighs and feet may be massaged using massage apparatuses. When a massage apparatus is foldable, the massage apparatus may be easily carried and an installation area thereof may be reduced to be simply arranged. 
     Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0236271 (registered on Jun. 18, 2001) discloses the relate technology. 
     The disclosure of this section is to provide background information relating to the invention. Applicant does not admit that any information contained in this section constitutes prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to providing a sliding type massage apparatus configured so that an auxiliary portion supporting a lower body of a user slidably moves from a body portion supporting an upper body of the user and thus the auxiliary portion maintains horizontality while moving. 
     However, aspects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described aspects and other aspects may also be present. 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a sliding type massage apparatus including a body portion configured to support an upper body of a user and an auxiliary portion connected to the body portion to be slidable in a longitudinal direction to support a lower body of the user. Here, the body portion includes first support members which are rotatable to support a bottom surface of the auxiliary portion when the auxiliary portion slides. 
     The body portion may include a first plate configured to directly support the upper body of the user and side frames configured to support both sides of the first plate, and the first support members may be provided on inner surfaces of the side frames. 
     The auxiliary portion may include a second plate configured to directly support the lower body of the user and a support leg configured to support the second plate to maintain horizontality in use. Also, first guide members supported by the first support members and extending in a sliding direction of the auxiliary portion may be provided on a bottom surface of the second plate. 
     Second guide members extending in the sliding direction of the auxiliary portion may be provided on the inner surfaces of the side frames. Also, second support members, which are rotatable to move along the second guide members while the auxiliary portion slides, may be provided on the auxiliary portion. 
     First support bars formed to extend toward the auxiliary portion may be provided on the inner surfaces of the side frames to allow the first support members to support the bottom surface of the auxiliary portion. 
     Second support bars formed to extend toward the side frames may be provided on the bottom surface of the second plate to allow the second support members to be inserted into and disposed in the second guide members. 
     The second guide members may each include a parallel movement section formed to allow the auxiliary portion to move while being parallel to the ground. 
     The second guide members may each include an opening-prevention section extending downward from one side of the parallel movement section and a closing-prevention section extending downward from the other side of the parallel movement section. Also, the first support may be members provided on the other side of the parallel movement section 
     When the auxiliary portion is disposed above the body portion, the second plate may be disposed above the first plate by as much as a first height. Here, the closing-prevention section may be formed to extend downward by as much as the first height. 
     When the auxiliary portion is disposed above the body portion, the support leg may be spaced upward from the ground by the first height. 
     Rotatable third support members may be provided on a bottom end of the support leg to support the auxiliary portion when the auxiliary portion slides. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows perspective views of a sliding type massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) OF  FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a state in which an auxiliary portion is withdrawn and (b) OF  FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a state in which the auxiliary portion is inserted; 
         FIG. 2  shows perspective views illustrating a state in which a side frame included in the sliding type massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention and the auxiliary portion are coupled to each other, in which (a) OF  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a state in which the auxiliary portion is inserted, and (b) OF  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a state in which the auxiliary portion is withdrawn; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the side frame included in the sliding type massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention and the auxiliary portion are coupled to each other; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed side view illustrating a second guide member of the side frame included in the sliding type massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows cross-sectional views of a sliding type massage apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) OF  FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a state in which an auxiliary portion is inserted and (b) OF  FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a state in which the auxiliary portion is withdrawn; and 
         FIG. 6  shows cross-sectional views of a sliding type massage apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) OF  FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a state in which an auxiliary portion is inserted and (b) OF  FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a state in which the auxiliary portion is withdrawn. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail to be implemented by one of ordinary skill in the art with reference to the drawings. The present invention may be implemented in a variety of shapes and will not be limited to the embodiments described herein. To clearly describe the present invention, a description of irrelevant parts will be omitted. Throughout the specification, like or similar components will be referred to as like reference numerals. 
     Throughout the specification, the terms “comprise,” “have,” or the like are used herein to specify the presence of implemented features, numbers, stages, operations, elements, components or combinations thereof but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, stages, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof. Also, when it is stated that one part of a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is disposed “above” another part, not only one part may be “directly above” the other part but also another part may be present therebetween. On the other hand, when it is stated that one part of a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is disposed “below” another part, not only one part may be “directly below” the other part but also another part may be present therebetween. 
     In an example massage apparatus, when an on/off switch of a control unit or an on/off switch of a remote controller is turned on and then a standard or local selection switch of the control unit is turned on to input a standard or local massage control signal to a microcomputer, heat is generated by an electric heating wire built in a thermal mat to heat the back to a warm temperature and a control signal output from the microcomputer applies power to a driving motor to rotate the driving motor forward and backward at uniform cycles so that a reducer receiving a rotational driving force reduces a speed and then a driving pulley installed on an output shaft rotates clockwise or counterclockwise to pull a wire rightward or leftward to pull a support rightward or leftward repetitively. Accordingly, first and second oilless bearings move rightward or leftward along first and second guide rails and first and second rollers rotate clockwise or counterclockwise alternately so as to massage the spine, calves, and thighs. 
     In the example massage apparatus, it is possible to receive thermal treatment at a comfortable lying posture and the spine, calves, thighs and feet may be massaged. Also, since a particular part may be massaged and the massage apparatus is foldable, the massage apparatus may be easily carried and an installation area thereof may be reduced to be simply arranged. 
     In the example massage apparatus, however, it may be necessary to mount a coupling device such as a hinge or the like on two support substrates. Also, as described above, a user may feel uncomfortable manually unfolding the support substrates on the basis of the coupling device to unfold the folded support substrates. 
     Also, since it may be necessary to rotate the respective support substrates to fold or unfold, it may be impossible to secure a stable support structure of a massage module and the like which are built in each of the support substrates. 
       FIG. 1  shows perspective views of a sliding type massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) OF  FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a state in which an auxiliary portion is withdrawn and (b) OF  FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a state in which the auxiliary portion is inserted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sliding type massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a body portion  100  configured to support an upper body of a user and an auxiliary portion  200  connected to the body portion  100  to be slidable in a longitudinal direction to support a lower body of the user. 
     A massage module configured to perform a massage operation is mounted at one or more of the body portion  100  and the auxiliary portion  200 . 
     In this case, the massage module may use a roll-shaped inductor configured to move forward and backward or include an air-pocket type module. When necessary, the massage module may be configured to supply warmth so as to increase a massage effect. 
     Basically, the auxiliary portion  200  is accommodated while being disposed above the body portion  100 . To use the massage apparatus, the auxiliary portion  200  is slidably withdrawn from the body portion  100 . When use of the massage apparatus is finished or when the massage apparatus is not in use, the auxiliary portion  200  is inserted to be located above the body portion  100 . 
     As described above, since the auxiliary portion  200  configured to support the lower body of the user slidably moves from the body portion  100  configured to support the upper body of the user, storage or handling is easy so that user convenience may be increased. 
       FIG. 2  shows perspective views illustrating a state in which a side frame included in the sliding type massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention and the auxiliary portion are coupled to each other, in which (a) OF  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a state in which the auxiliary portion is inserted, and (b) OF  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a state in which the auxiliary portion is withdrawn. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the body portion  100  includes a first support member  130  which is rotatable to support a bottom surface of the auxiliary portion  200  when the auxiliary portion  200  slides. 
     In embodiments, to allow the auxiliary portion  200  to smoothly move while being disposed above the body portion  100 , it is important to configure the auxiliary portion  200  to maintain horizontality. As described above, the first support member  130  is configured to support the bottom surface of the auxiliary portion  200  so that the auxiliary portion  200  may maintain horizontality while moving. 
     When the bottom surface of the auxiliary portion  200  is supported by the first support member  130  and the auxiliary portion  200  maintains horizontality while moving as described above, operational reliability with respect to a process of withdrawing or inserting the auxiliary portion  200  may be secured. 
     Here, the body portion  100  may include a first plate  110  configured to directly support the upper body of the user and side frames  120  configured to support both sides of the first plate  110 . The first support member  130  may be provided on an inner surface of each of the side frames  120 . 
     In embodiments, since the first support member  130  is provided on the inner surface of the side frame  120 , the first support member  130  stably supports the bottom surface of the auxiliary portion  200  regardless of movement of the auxiliary portion  200  even when the auxiliary portion  200  is withdrawn or inserted so that the auxiliary portion  200  may move while maintaining horizontality. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the side frame included in the sliding type massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention and the auxiliary portion are coupled to each other. 
     The auxiliary portion  200  includes a second plate  210  configured to directly support the lower body of the user and a support leg  220  configured to support the second plate  210  to maintain horizontality when the massage apparatus is used. As shown in  FIG. 3 , on a bottom surface of the second plate  210 , first guide members  230  supported by the first support member  130  and extending in a sliding direction of the auxiliary portion  200  may be provided. 
     The first guide members  230  may be horizontally disposed on both sides of the bottom surface of the second plate  210  in the longitudinal direction. The first guide members  230  may be manufactured as a separate component having the shape of a pair of rails to be mounted on the bottom surface of the second plate  210 , may be integrally molded with the second plate  210 , or may be configured to be attachable or detachable as necessary. 
     In addition, the first support member  130  may be formed to have a roller or wheel shape to be slidable along the first guide member  230  and provided on the inner surface of each of the side frames  120  facing each other. 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 3 , second guide members  140  extending in the sliding direction of the auxiliary portion  200  are provided on the inner surfaces of the side frames  120  and the auxiliary portion  200  may include a second support member  240  rotatable to move along the second guide member  140  when the auxiliary portion  200  slides. 
     The second guide members  140  may be provided on the inner surfaces of the side frames  120  facing each other and may be horizontally disposed in the longitudinal direction. The second guide members  140  may be manufactured as a separate component having the shape of a pair of rails to be mounted on the inner surfaces of the side frames  120 , may be integrally molded with the side frames  120 , or may be configured to be attachable or detachable as necessary. 
     In addition, the above-described second support members  240  may be formed to have a roller or wheel shape to be slidable along the second guide member  140  and may be provided on both sides of the second plates  210  of the auxiliary portion  200 . 
     As described above, the auxiliary portion  200  moves while one side of the auxiliary portion  200  is supported by the support member  240  and the other side of the auxiliary portion  200  is supported by the first support member  130 . In embodiments, since the auxiliary portion  200  moves while both the one side and other side of the auxiliary portion  200  are supported, the auxiliary portion  200  is movable while maintaining horizontality. 
     Here, the first support member  130  and the second support member  240  may be provided at a height where the auxiliary portion  200  can maintain horizontality. 
     When the auxiliary portion  200  is located above the body portion  100 , a distance between the first support member  130  and the second support member  240  is the longest as shown in (a) OF  FIG. 2  . However, while the auxiliary portion  200  is withdrawn, the second support member  240  moves toward a rear end of the body portion  100  as shown in (b) OF  FIG. 2  such that the distance between the first support member  130  and the second support member  240  is reduced. Here, the auxiliary portion  200  is supported, at two points on the bottom surface, by the first support member  130  and the second support member  240  so that the auxiliary portion  200  may maintain horizontality. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , to allow the first support member  130  to support the bottom surface of the auxiliary portion  200 , a first support bar  150  formed to extend toward the auxiliary portion  200  may be provided on the inner surface of the side frame  120 . 
     The first support bar  150  may be manufactured as a separate component and may be mounted on the inner surface of the side frame  120  or may be integrally molded with the side frame  120 . 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a second support bar  250  formed to extend toward the side frame  120  may be provided on a bottom surface of the second plate  210  to allow the second support member  240  to be inserted into and disposed in the second guide member  140 . 
     The second support bar  250  may be manufactured as a separate component and mounted on the bottom surface of the second plate  210  or may be integrally molded with the second plate  210 . 
     In addition, since the first support bar  150  and the second support bar  250  are provided as described above, the first support member  130  and the second support member  240  may be disposed at different positions along a lateral direction so as to prevent interference between the first support member  130  and the second support member  240 . 
     Also, since the second support member  240  may continuously move along the second guide member  140  after passing the first support member  130  while the auxiliary portion  200  is withdrawn, the auxiliary portion  200  may smoothly move until the auxiliary portion  200  is completely withdrawn. 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed side view illustrating the second guide member of the side frame included in the sliding type massage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the second guide member  140  may include a parallel movement section  141  to allow the auxiliary portion  200  to move while being parallel to the ground. In embodiments, the second support member  240  moves along the second guide member  140  so that the auxiliary portion  200  may maintain horizontality. 
     The second guide member  140  may include an opening-prevention section  142  extending downward from one side of the parallel movement section  141  and a closing-preventing section  143  extending downward from the other side of the parallel movement section  141 . 
     Here, the opening-prevention section  142  and the closing-prevention section  143  may be formed to have different inclines and lengths. 
     In embodiments, in the case of the opening-prevention section  142 , the massage apparatus is not used basically. Accordingly, a great deal of support force for preventing opening is not necessary such that the opening-prevention section  142  may be formed to have a small incline as well as a small length. 
     On the other hand, in the case of the closing-prevention section  143 , the massage apparatus is used in earnest. Accordingly, a weight of the user is applied to the auxiliary portion  200 , and a great deal of support force for preventing closing is necessary, and thus the closing-prevention section  143  may be formed to have a great incline as well as a great length. 
     Here, the closing-prevention section  143  may be formed to have a relatively greater incline than that of the opening-prevention section  142  as well as a relatively great length. 
     In addition, the above-described first support member  130  may be provided on the other side of the parallel movement section  141 . In embodiments, as described above, since the second plate  210  of the auxiliary portion  200  is supported by the first support member  130  and the second support member  240  at two points, the auxiliary portion  200  maintains horizontality during a slidable movement process. A horizontal state of the auxiliary portion  200  is maintained until the first support member  130  and the second support member  240  are disposed on the same axis in a lateral direction. Accordingly, when the first support member  130  is provided on the other side of the parallel movement section  141 , the horizontal state of the auxiliary portion  200  may be provided maximally so that the auxiliary portion  200  may smoothly move. When the second support member  240  of the auxiliary portion  200  passes over the first support member  130 , the second support member  240  moves down in the direction of gravity along the incline of the closing-prevention section  143  so that the user may move the auxiliary portion  200  with less force. 
     The first support member  130  may be provided on a boundary of the parallel movement section  141  and the closing-prevention section  143 . 
     As described above, even when the auxiliary portion  200  is withdrawn to the rear end of the body portion  100  to use the massage apparatus or recedes from the rear end of the body portion  100  after use, the second support member  240  is provided on the auxiliary portion  200  to allow the auxiliary portion  200  to be stably movable so that the user may insert or withdraw the auxiliary portion  200  with less force. 
       FIG. 5  shows cross-sectional views of a sliding type massage apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) OF  FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a state in which an auxiliary portion is inserted and (b) OF  FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a state in which the auxiliary portion is withdrawn. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the auxiliary portion  200  is disposed above the body portion  100 , the second plate  210  may be disposed above the first plate  110  by as much as a first height h 1  and the closing-prevention section  143  may be formed to extend downward by as much as the first height h 1 . 
     In embodiments, when the massage apparatus is not used, the auxiliary portion  200  is disposed above the body portion  100 . Here, it is necessary to dispose the second plate above the first plate  110  by as much as the first height h 1 . However, when the massage apparatus is used, it is necessary to dispose the auxiliary portion  200  at the same height as the body portion  100 . 
     Accordingly, as described above, when the closing-prevention section  143  extends downward by as much as the first height h 1 , the auxiliary portion  200  moves downward along the closing-prevention section  143  such that the body portion  100  and the auxiliary portion  200  may be disposed at the same height. 
     Here, when the auxiliary portion  200  is disposed above the body portion  100 , the support leg  220  may be spaced upward from the ground by the first height h 1 . 
     In embodiments, since the support leg  220  supporting the auxiliary portion  200  is spaced upward from the ground by the first height h 1 , in the state where the auxiliary part  200  is completely withdrawn, heights of the body portion  100  and the auxiliary portion  200  become equal to each other and the auxiliary portion  200  is allowed to maintain horizontality so that the user may receive a massage in a comfortable posture. 
     When the user applies a force in a direction of withdrawing the auxiliary portion  200  after the massage apparatus is used, the second support member  240  may move upward along the closing-prevention section  143 . When the second support member  240  passes the closing-prevention section  143  and enters the parallel movement section  141 , the auxiliary portion  200  may be supported by the first support member  130  and the second support member  240  at the same time so as to be inserted while maintaining horizontality. 
       FIG. 6  shows cross-sectional views of a sliding type massage apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) OF  FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a state in which an auxiliary portion is inserted and (b) OF  FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a state in which the auxiliary portion is withdrawn. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , rotatable third support members  260  are provided at the bottom end of the support leg  220  to support the auxiliary portion  200  when the auxiliary portion  200  slidably moves. Accordingly, since resistance caused by rubbing between the support leg  220  and the ground may be reduced so as to smoothly move the auxiliary portion  200 , the user may insert or withdraw the auxiliary portion  200  with less force. 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, in a sliding type massage apparatus, since an auxiliary portion supporting a lower body of a user is slidably movable from a body portion supporting an upper body of the user, it is possible to improve user convenience. 
     Also, since a bottom surface of the auxiliary portion is supported by a first support member while the auxiliary portion moves and thus the horizontality of the auxiliary portion is maintained, it is possible to secure operational reliability with respect to a process of withdrawing or introducing the auxiliary portion. 
     In addition, even when the auxiliary portion is withdrawn to a rear end of the body portion to use the massage apparatus or the auxiliary portion recedes from the rear end of the body portion after use, since a second support member is provided in the auxiliary portion so that the auxiliary portion is stably movable, a user may introduce or withdraw the auxiliary portion with less force. 
     Effects of embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above effects and should be understood as including all effects derivable from the detailed description of embodiments of the present invention or components of embodiments of the present invention disclosed in the claims. 
     Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the concept of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed herein and it should be understood that one of ordinary skill in the art who understands the concept of the present invention may easily provide other embodiments through addition, changes, elimination, and the like of components without departing from the scope of the same concept which will be included in the scope of the concept of the present invention.