Patent Publication Number: US-2021161753-A1

Title: Reciprocating massage table

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of back massagers and in particular to a back massaging table having individual articulating massaging heads providing orbital-motion kneading on a bed of individually corresponding springs so as to knead the user&#39;s back while the bed is simultaneously translated back and forth along the user&#39;s back. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the prior art applicant is aware of various back massage devices, including chairs and beds that vibrate. However, in applicant&#39;s view there exists the need for a massage table that simultaneously combines orbital kneading motions of kneading heads mounted on resiliently articulating, vertically spring supported massaging heads in a two-dimensional array of massaging heads mounted on a bed, with reciprocating motion of the bed longitudinally along and underneath the body of a user lying prone on the massage table. 
     In the prior art, applicant is also aware of granted Chinese utility model number CN 205083949U, which was granted on Mar. 16, 2016, for a Massage Table, and granted Chinese utility model, number CN 2297122Y, which was granted on Nov. 18, 1998, for a Massage Vibration Bed. 
     SUMMARY 
     The reciprocating massage table according to the present specification may include a base frame, and a reciprocating frame slidably mounted on the base frame for horizontal sliding there over. A plurality of independent, articulating massage heads are resiliently mounted in spaced apart two dimensional array across the reciprocating frame so as to extend upwardly therefrom. A reciprocating actuator is coupled between the base frame and the reciprocating frame to cycle the reciprocating frame back and forth over the base frame. Each massage head may include a massage head actuator driving at least one orbitally reciprocating kneading head. 
     The reciprocating actuator may cycle the reciprocating frame along a substantially linear slide path. 
     The massage heads may each be mounted on springs interleaved between the massage heads and the reciprocating frame. For example, one spring may be mounted under each massage head. Advantageously the massage heads are free to articulate on the springs, for example by a pivotable mounting of the massage heads on supports extending journaled up through the springs. 
     In advantageous embodiments, the orbital reciprocating of each massage head is accomplished by crank-reciprocated orbital motion of the kneading head by a crank actuated by the massage head actuator. For example, each massage head may include a pair of crank-reciprocated orbital kneading heads, which may be a mirror image pair on opposite sides of the massage head actuator, wherein the massage head actuator operates to rotate a pair of the cranks so as to drive the orbital motion of the pairs of crank-reciprocated kneading heads. 
     Further advantageously, the pair of cranks may be a pair of crank wheels, wherein the crank wheels drive orbital oscillation of the kneading heads to replicate a substantially circular kneading motion in at least a substantially horizontal plane, and in some embodiments in both horizontal and vertical planes simultaneously, when the massage head is also substantially horizontal. Thus, when a user is lying prone, facing upwards, on top of the two dimensional array of massage heads so that the back of the user is supported by the array of massage heads, and the corresponding springs provide resilient conforming tilting and height adjustment of the massage heads supporting the back of the user, and wherein the reciprocating actuator moves the reciprocating frame and array of massage heads back and forth along the back of the user while simultaneously, the kneading heads provide kneading of the user&#39;s back by the orbital motion of the kneading heads under and pressing against the back of the user, whereby the back of the user is provided with at least a deep muscle massage and a release of the corresponding fascia. 
     In aspects of the disclosure, first and second kneading heads are rigidly mounted to the slide, adjacent the crank. In some embodiments the first kneading head upstands a greater vertical distance, orthogonal to the base of the massage head, than the second kneading head. The first and second kneading heads may be dome shaped and positioned so that corresponding vertices of the domes are oriented upwardly. 
     In one embodiment the slide is a slide bar mounted in a corresponding pivoting cradle mounted to the base of the massage head. In another embodiment the slide is a conformal cap, having a concave lower surface, slidably and snugly mounted on a dome, not to be confused with the dome-shaped kneading heads, rigidly mounted on the base of the massage head, wherein the crank is mounted on the dome and coupled to the slide for eccentric sliding rotation of the slide over the dome. 
     Yet further advantageously, for each massage head a sliding telescopically mounted guide post is slidably mounted at a base end thereof to the reciprocating frame and pivotablly mounted at an opposite upper end thereof to the massage head. This provides for substantially vertical sliding of the guide post relative to the reciprocating frame. Thus, with the spring rigidly mounted at its upper and lower ends to the base of the massage head and the reciprocating frame respectively, the guide post cooperates with its corresponding spring to stabilize the spring during resilient tilting, collapse, or extension of the spring. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of the massage table according to one embodiment of the present disclosure showing a rear corner of the cushioning cover sheets raised slightly. 
         FIG. 1 a    is a plan view of the massage table of  FIG. 1 , showing an outline of a user lying prone on the table. 
         FIG. 1 b    is a side elevation view of the massage table of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1 c    is a rear elevation view of the massage table of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1 d    is a plan view of the massage table of  FIG. 1 , showing line  4 - 4  as being the location of the cross-section of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 2  is the front perspective view of the massage table of  FIG. 1  with the covering sheets removed to expose the two-dimensional array of massaging heads resiliently mounted on the reciprocating frame. 
         FIG. 2 a    is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the massage table with the covering sheets removed, and showing the reciprocating frame slidably mounted on the base frame for longitudinal back and forth sliding motion. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective bottom view of the massage table of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1   d.    
         FIG. 4 a    is, in side elevation view, a further embodiment of the massage table showing a slightly altered lifting frame and loading platform. 
         FIG. 4 b    is, in end elevation view, the massage table of  FIG. 4   a.    
         FIG. 4 c    is, in plan view, the massage table of  FIG. 4   a.    
         FIG. 4 d    is, in side elevation view, the reciprocating frame of  FIG. 4 a    with its bed of massage heads spring-mounted thereon in the spaced array seen in  FIG. 4   c.    
         FIG. 4 e    is an end view of the reciprocating frame and bed of spring-mounted massage heads of  FIG. 4   d.    
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 4  showing the longitudinal drive mechanism for sliding the reciprocating frame along the base frame. 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of one embodiment of a massage head on its spring and support post. 
         FIG. 6 a    is a perspective view of the massage head of  FIG. 6  compressing its spring vertically downwards. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of the massage head of  FIG. 6  showing the orbital motion of its kneading heads. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7  showing the resilient tilting of the massage head on its spring, and the telescopic vertical sliding of the support post supporting the massage head on its spring. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is, in perspective view, a further embodiment of a massage head. 
         FIG. 11  is, in plan view, the massage head of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As seen in the accompanying drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals depict corresponding parts in each view, as seen in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the reciprocating massage table  10  according to this specification includes a base frame  12  supported on legs  14 . As seen in  FIGS. 4 and 4   a , reciprocating frame  16  is slidably mounted on the base frame  12 , for example by means of wheels  16   a , for horizontal sliding on wheels  16   a  of reciprocating frame  16  over base frame  12  in direction A. Other forms of low friction sliders would also work as would be known to one skilled in the art. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a lifting frame  12   a  and loading platform  12   b  are mounted to base frame  12 . Lifting frame  12   a  and loading platform  12   b  assist a user in mounting and dismounting from massage table  10 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of independent massage heads  18  are resiliently mounted in spaced apart two dimensional array to and across the length and width of reciprocating frame  16 . Massage heads  18  extend upwardly resiliently supported on springs  28  at a uniform elevation when uncompressed, above reciprocating frame  16 . When the springs are uncompressed such as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 4   a , base plates  24  lie in a common, horizontal plane. As seen in  FIGS. 3-5 , a reciprocating actuator  20  is coupled between the base frame  12  and the reciprocating frame  16  to cycle the reciprocating frame  16  back and forth longitudinally in direction A over the base frame  12 . In the depicted embodiment, which is not intended to be limiting, the reciprocating actuator  20  cycles the reciprocating frame  16  in direction A along a substantially linear slide path corresponding to the length of the stroke of the actuator. The reciprocating actuator  20  may be a linear actuator such as the screw drive  20   a  illustrated, or may be hydraulic or pneumatic actuators or other actuators which would be known to one skilled in the art. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 6-8 , each massage head  18  includes a massage head actuator  22 , which may include an electric motor or step motor (not shown), mounted on base plate  24 . The massage head actuator drives the motion of at least one, and preferably multiple, kneading heads  26 , for example the illustrated crank-reciprocated kneading heads  26  best seen in  FIG. 7  and in a further embodiment, in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     Advantageously the plurality of independent massage heads  18  are each mounted on the springs  28 . Springs  28  are stabilized and guided by guide posts  30  extending orthogonally between the massage heads  18  and the reciprocating frame  16 . In particular, in the depicted embodiment base plate  24  of  FIG. 8 , again without intending to be limiting, one spring  28  and corresponding guide post  30  is shown supporting the spring  28  and massage head  18  against both lateral or sideways, and front-to-back or longitudinal movement relative to frame  16 . There is no weight bearing by the guide post as the guide post is free to slide vertically such as the telescopic sliding in sleeve  16   c . Weight bearing is on the spring  28 , which is then transmitted to the reciprocating frame  16 , so that the reciprocating table, and the base frame thereunder, fully bears the weight of the user. Guide posts  30  are mounted under the base plate  24  of each massage head  18  to provide the resiliently vertical floating of the massage heads  18  above the reciprocating frame  16  when springs  28  are absorbing the weight of a user lying on the bed. The guide posts  30  are mounted vertically on reciprocating frame  16  with the base ends  30   b  of the guide posts  30  extending through and slidably mounted in sleeves  16   c  for vertical sliding in direction E of guide posts  30  relative to a horizontal support plate  16   b  on frame  16 . The upper ends of the guide posts provide for pivoting of the base plates about the upper ends of the guide posts, against the resilient return biasing force of the springs, rigidly mounted at their base ends onto the reciprocating frame. 
     In the illustrated example, guide posts  30  provide the alignment for the two dimensional array of massage heads  18 . The two dimensional array may include, without intending to be limiting, twelve rows of three massage heads  18  per row as depicted, for a total of thirty-six massage heads  18 . An array of springs  28  are thus provided in sufficient number and having sufficient compressive strength, bearing on reciprocating table  16  so that collectively the two dimensional array of springs  28  will support the weight of a user lying prone on the two dimensional massage heads  18 . Meanwhile, guide posts  30  hold lateral and longitudinal alignment of the base  24  and massage heads  18  attached thereto. Guide posts  30  slide up and down, and the springs  28  resiliently tilt (by pivoting on their guide post), collapse or expand correspondingly, to provide a body contoured, articulating alignment of the array of massage heads  18 , thereby giving comfort to the user. 
     Advantageously, ball joints  30   a  may be provided on the upper end of support posts  30  provide limited tilting articulation in direction B so that the massage heads  18  are tiltable relative to guide posts  30  against the return resilient biasing force of springs  28  which bias the massage heads  18  back to level. For example, ball joint  30   a  may permit a tilt angle of up to approximately 20 degrees relative to reciprocating table  16 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 6-8 , pairs of crank-reciprocated kneading heads  26  are operatively disposed on opposite sides of the massage head actuator  22 . As would be known to one skilled in the art, the massage head actuator  22  may be a DC step motor driving a mechanical linkage (not shown) so as to drive the cranks which provide the kneading motion for the kneading heads  26 . Without intending to be limiting, the cranks may be for example crank wheels  32 . 
     The pairs of crank-reciprocated kneading heads  26  may, in the example of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , reciprocate in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of base plate  24  so as to remain substantially level or horizontal when the base plates  24  of massage heads  18  are also substantially level or horizontal. Alternatively, such as seen in the embodiment of  FIGS. 10  and  11 , and as described below, the pairs of kneading heads  26  may reciprocate with a three dimensional orbital motion relative to the plane of the base plates  24 . In the depicted embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the kneading heads  26  are a mirror image pair of kneading heads disposed on opposite sides of the massage head actuator  22 . Thus as seen, the massage head actuator  22  may bisect the base  24  of the massage heads  18 . Each of the pair of kneading heads  26  may include forward and rear, or first and second, individual kneading heads  26   a  and  26   b  respectively. Thus the forward kneading head  26   a  may be closer to the head of the user  34  lying on the massage table  10 , and the rear kneading head  26   b  may be further away from the head of the user  34 . As seen in the drawings, the rear kneading heads  26   b  may protrude upwardly from the massage head  18  further than the forward kneading heads  26   a.    
     The kneading heads  26  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  are mounted onto horizontal slide arms  36 , with the forward kneading head  26   a  at the forward end  36   a  of the slide arm  36  and the rear kneading head  26   b  at the rear end  36   b  of the slide arm  36 . Slide arms  36  are pivotally mounted, at forward or first ends  36   a , to the crank wheels  32 . The slide arms  36  are slidably mounted on corresponding pivotally mounted slide cradles  38  pivotally mounted on the base plate  24  of the massage head  18 . Thus, as the crank wheels  32  rotate in direction C when driven by the massage head actuator  22  the slide arms  36  correspondingly follow a circular path prescribed by the motion of the crank wheels  32  thereby oscillating the kneading heads  26  to replicate a substantially circular or orbital kneading motion as for example in direction D (shown as arrows herein but understood to represent cyclical orbital motion). 
     The kneading motion lies in a substantially horizontal or level plane when the massage head is also substantially horizontal or level, keeping in mind that the massage heads will tilt on their springs  28  and the ball joints  30   a  on support posts  30  when the user is lying on the massage table in order to conform the tilt of the massage heads  18  to the shape of the user&#39;s body, and in particular the contours of the user&#39;s back. Thus, when a user  34  is lying prone, facing upwards, on top of the two dimensional array of massage heads  18  so that the back of the user  34  is supported by the array of massage heads  18  (with sheets  40  and  42  between the user and the massage heads), the reciprocating actuator  20  moves the reciprocating frame  16  and array of massage heads  18  back and forth along the back of the user  34  and the massage heads  18  tilt to conform to the user&#39;s back as the reciprocating frame  16  is traversed longitudinally under the user  34 . This is complimented by the depression of springs  28  moving up and down vertically on guide posts  30 . 
     Simultaneously, as the reciprocating frame  16  is traversed under the user&#39;s back, the massage head actuators  22  oscillate the kneading heads  26  in their orbital kneading motion D under, and pressing upwardly against, the back of the user  34 . 
     As mentioned above, in a preferred embodiment a sheet or sheets  40  of flexible cushioning material, such as for example an elastomer or Nylon™ mat, and a Nylon™ meshed material, or for example a foam-rubber sheet, is or are overlaid on the massage heads  18  so as to provide a flexible resilient cushioning sheet  40  supported by Nylon™ sheet  42 , which is preferably rip-stop, between the kneading heads  26  and the back of the user  34 . As used herein, Nylon™ refers to the family of synthetic polymers based on aliphatic or semi-aromatic polyamides. Sheet  42  may in one embodiment be tensioned around shaft  46  by ratcheting tensioners  44  seen in  FIG. 9 . In another embodiment, not intended to be limiting, the rear end of sheet  42 , which may for example be between 30 and 36 inches wide, may be secured to the length of shaft  46 , and tensioned by means of tensioners located at the front end of sheet  42 . An example of tensioners that would work, as would be known to one skilled in the art, would be over-center latches pulling on a rod or shaft secured across the width of the front end of sheet  42 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 6-8 , and as stated above, each massage head  18  includes a pair of oppositely disposed sets of kneading heads  26 , wherein each set of kneading heads  26  includes the forward and rear kneading heads  26   a ,  26   b . Again, each set of kneading heads  26  is actuated by a corresponding crank, such the depicted crank wheels  32 , which are actuated by the massage head actuator  22 . Each set of kneading heads  26  includes first and second, or forward and rear, kneading heads  26   a ,  26   b . The first kneading head is mounted closely adjacent the corresponding crank wheel  32  on a first end  36   a  of the slide arm  36 . The second kneading head  26   b  is mounted on an opposite second end of the slide arm. The slide arm slides and rotates to provide the circular kneading motion for the kneading heads as the slide arm follows the circular cranking motion of the crank wheels  32 , relative to the base  24  of the massage head  18 . The slide arms  36  are mounted in corresponding pivoting slide cradles  38  which are pivotally mounted to the base  24  of the massage head  18 . 
     The first or forward kneading head  26   a  upstands a first distance orthogonal to the base  24  of the massage head  18 , and the second or rear kneading head  26   b  upstands a second distance orthogonal to the base  24  of the massage head  18 . In the depicted embodiment, not intended to be limiting, the second distance is greater than the first distance. Further, and again not intended to be limiting, the first kneading head  26   a  has a first diameter and the second kneading head  26   b  has a second diameter, and the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. The first and second kneading heads  26   a ,  26   b  may be for example have a ball or domed or spherical or frusto-conical shape (collectively referred to herein as being domes) and are positioned on the slide arms so that the corresponding tips or vertices of the domes are oriented upwardly. Again, the rear or second domes may be larger than the forward or first domes. 
     The stroke of the reciprocating actuator  20  may for example be in the range of six to twelve inches, and again by way of example may preferably be in the range of substantially 10 inches, and in one embodiment 8.5 inches. In these examples the reciprocating actuator  20  may be adapted to actuate the timing of the actuator&#39;s stroke, in one direction, in the range of 15 to 60 seconds, and adapted to actuate different timing for each of the forward and back strokes. Thus if the reciprocating actuator  20  is a screw drive having a stroke of about 10 inches, then, if the reciprocating actuator actuates the length of its stroke in substantially 20 seconds in a first direction, for example forward, and substantially 20 seconds in an opposite second direction, the actuator&#39;s direct current step motor need only move the reciprocating frame at a constant rate of about 0.5 inches per second. 
     In a further embodiment of the massage heads  18 , and not intended to be limiting, massage heads  18 ′ are seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Massage heads  18 ′ illustrate an example of other forms of massage heads that may be mounted on base plates  24 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , two pairs of kneading heads  26 ′ are mounted on base plate  24  on opposite sides of actuator  22 . As described above, actuator  22  may be an electric motor such as a direct current step motor driving rotation of a pair crank wheels. Each pair of kneading heads is given an orbital motion by a corresponding crank wheel to provide part of the massage table&#39;s kneading function. As described above, the other part of the kneading function is provided by the reciprocating action of the reciprocating frame sliding back and forth over the base frame. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in this embodiment, instead of a slide arm  36  connecting the corresponding pair of kneading heads  26  and sliding along a slide cradle  38  in response to orbital actuation by the corresponding crank wheel  32 , crank wheel  32 ′ drives an orbital rotation of a slide cap  36 ′. Slide cap  36 ′ conformally sits on top of its corresponding hemispherical dome  48 . Dome  48  is rigidly mounted on base  50 . Base  50  is mounted on base plate  24 . Actuator  22  drives rotation of a drive shaft  52  coupled to the hub of crank wheel  32 ′. Drive shaft  52  extends up from base  50  and vertically through dome  48  so as to couple to the crank wheel  32 ′ mounted thereon. Crank wheel  32 ′ is eccentric and drives a correspondingly eccentric orbital motion in direction F of slide cap  36 ′ as it slides smoothly and snugly over the top of dome  48 . Because kneading heads  26 ′ are rigidly mounted onto slide cap  36 ′ by means of mounting bracket  54 , the orbital motion of slide cap  36 ′ sliding over dome  48  translates into simultaneous orbital motion of kneading heads  26 ′. In particular, the orbital motion of slide cap  36 ′ translates into simultaneous orbital rotation of kneading heads  26 ′, broken down into the components of their motion, in vertical orbits G seen illustrated by way of example in  FIG. 10 , simultaneously with horizontal orbits H seen illustrated by way of example in  FIG. 11 . Orbits H are referred to as being horizontal in the sense that the orbit component H of the orbital motion of the kneading heads is in a plane which is parallel to base plate  24 , and orbit component G of the orbital motion of the kneading heads is in a plane which is orthogonal to base plate  24 . It is understood that, although the component orbital motions G and H are only shown with respect to a single pair of kneading heads  26 ′ in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , that the orbital motion of the other pair of kneading heads  26 ′ would be comprised of the same vertical and horizontal components.