Patent Publication Number: US-6669291-B1

Title: Massaging device for a chair with resilient straps

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a massaging device for a chair with multiple resilient straps, and the massaging device is detachably mounted on the chair in any desired position. Multiple massaging devices are mounted on the resilient straps of the chair to enlarge the massaging area. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With reference to FIGS. 4 to  6 , a conventional massaging device ( 2 ) for a chair comprises a gearbox ( 46 ), a guide sprocket (not shown), a track ( 42 ) and a vibration device ( 62 ). The track ( 42 ) comprises a groove ( 422 ), a top (not numbered), a bottom (not numbered) and a back (not numbered). The gearbox ( 46 ) is securely mounted on the top of the track ( 42 ), and the guide sprocket is securely mounted at the bottom of the track ( 42 ) in a guide sprocket housing ( 48 ). The back of the track ( 42 ) is securely mounted on a back panel (not numbered), and the back panel is securely mounted inside a chair back (not numbered). The gearbox ( 46 ) comprises a gear assembly (not numbered) and a chain ( 41 ). The chain ( 41 ) is driven by the gear assembly between the gear box ( 46 ) and the guide sprocket. 
     A vibrator housing ( 60 ) comprises a vibration device ( 62 ), and multiple massaging wheels ( 66 ). The massaging wheels ( 66 ) are rotatably mounted on the vibrator housing ( 60 ). The vibrator housing ( 60 ) is moveably mounted in the groove ( 422 ) and is driven along the groove ( 422 ) of the track ( 42 ) by the chain ( 41 ). The vibration device ( 62 ) mounted in the vibrator house ( 60 ) comprises a motor (not shown), a protruding motor shaft (not shown) with an offset flywheel (not shown) mounted on the protruding motor shaft. 
     When power is supplied to the massaging device ( 2 ) inside the chair back and the vibration device ( 60 ) is activated, the offset flywheel on the protruding motor shaft rotates and vibrates the massaging wheels ( 66 ). The gear assembly drives the chain ( 41 ) and the attached massaging wheels ( 66 ) back and forth between the gear box ( 40 ) and the guide sprocket housing ( 48 ). Therefore, the massaging wheels ( 66 ) vibrate and move between the gear box ( 46 ) and guide sprocket housing ( 48 ). 
     One of the disadvantages of the conventional massaging device is that the massaging device is difficult and expensive to repair when the massaging device is mounted in a chair back. Moreover, the heat generated by the massaging device builds up in the chair back within a short period of time after the massaging device is activated. Sitting in the chair with a conventional massaging device becomes uncomfortable due to the build up of heat in the chair back especially during the summer. Third, the massaging wheels ( 66 ) move along the groove ( 422 ) in the track ( 42 ), which cover a limited small portion of chair back area. In short, the conventional message device for a chair has several disadvantages including the chair warming up quickly and the massaging area being small. 
     To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an improved massaging device for a chair with resilient straps to mitigate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a massaging device that can be mounted and operated on a chair without building up heat in the chair. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide massaging devices that can be selectively mounted on a chair with resilient straps to adjust the massaging area to a desired shape, size or position. 
     To accomplish the foregoing objectives, the present invention comprises a massaging housing, a vibration device and a massaging face. The vibration device is securely mounted in the massaging housing, and resilient straps of the chair are securely clamped between the massaging face and the massaging housing. Multiple massaging devices are used to enlarge massaging area. 
     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a massaging device for a chair with resilient straps. 
     FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the massaging device in partial section along line  2 — 2  in Fig. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an operational front plan view of massaging devices in FIG. 1 mounted on a chair; 
     FIG. 4 perspective view of a conventional massaging device in accordance with the prior art; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective interior view of a gearbox for the conventional massaging device in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the conventional massaging device in FIG. 5 mounted in a chair. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a massaging device for a chair with resilient straps ( 43 ) comprises a massaging housing ( 10 ), a vibration device ( 30 ) and a massaging face ( 20 ). The vibration device ( 30 ) comprises a motor ( 31 ) with a protruding motor shaft ( 311 ) and an offset flywheel ( 33 ). The offset flywheel ( 33 ) is securely mounted on the protruding motor shaft ( 311 ). 
     With reference to FIG. 1 and 2, the massaging housing ( 10 ) comprises a rear case ( 11 ) and a front case ( 13 ). The rear case ( 11 ) comprises an inner surface (not numbered) and an outer surface (not numbered). Multiple hollow stubs ( 113 ) are formed on the inner surface of the rear case ( 11 ). The front case ( 13 ) comprises an inner surface (not numbered) and an outer surface (not numbered). Multiple through holes ( 133 ) extend through the front case ( 13 ). The massaging housing ( 10 ) provides means to securely mount the motor ( 31 ) of the vibration device ( 30 ) inside the massaging housing ( 10 ), and the means comprises multiple fins ( 115 , 135 ) formed on the inner surface of the front and rear cases ( 13 ,  11 ). 
     At least one strap groove ( 137 ) is formed on the outer surface of the front case ( 13 ). Two connecting grooves ( 139 ) are formed on the outer surface of the front case ( 13 ) and respectively at two sides of each at least one strap groove ( 137 ). 
     The massaging face ( 20 ) comprises an outer surface (not numbered) and an inner surface (not numbered). At least one massaging bulb ( 21 ) is formed on the outer surface of the massaging face ( 20 ). The inner surface of the massaging face ( 20 ) comprises means to attach the massaging face ( 20 ) to the outer surface of the front case ( 13 ). The means comprises multiple hollow stubs ( 22 ) formed on the inner surface of the massaging face ( 20 ). At least one strap groove ( 24 ) and two ribs ( 25 ) are formed on the inner surface of the massaging face ( 20 ), and the ribs ( 25 ) abutted with the connecting grooves ( 139 ) to engage with the corresponding connecting grooves ( 139 ). Multiple screws (not numbered) extend respectively through the hollow stubs ( 113 ) in the rear case ( 11 ), the through holes ( 133 ) in the front case ( 13 ) and screw into the hollow stubs ( 23 ) on the massaging face ( 20 ). Therefore, the means of attaching the inner surface of the massaging face ( 20 ) to the outer surface of the front case ( 13 ) is to attach the massaging face ( 20 ) to the outer surface of the front case ( 13 ) with screws screwed into studs on the massaging face ( 20 ). 
     With reference to FIG. 3, a chair comprises a chair back and multiple resilient straps ( 43 ), and each of the resilient straps ( 43 ) has two ends (not numbered). The chair back comprises a frame (not numbered) with two sides (not numbered), multiple fasteners (not numbered) and multiple strap connectors (not numbered). The strap connectors are respectively attached to two sides of the frame and each corresponds to one of the others, and two resilient straps ( 43 ) are attached between each pair of corresponding strap connectors on two sides of the frame. At least one massaging device is attached to the straps ( 43 ) between the corresponding strap connector. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 to  3 , the resilient straps ( 43 ) securely mounted on the frame of the chair back are detachably mounted in the strap grooves ( 137 ,  24 ) between the outer surface of the front case ( 13 ) and the inner surface of the massaging face ( 20 ). The ribs ( 25 ) on massaging face ( 20 ) mate with the corresponding connecting grooves ( 139 ) on the front case ( 13 ). When the massaging face ( 20 ) is detached from the outer surface of the front case ( 13 ), the resilient straps ( 43 ) will automatically leave a position where the straps ( 43 ) are clamped between inner surface of the massaging face ( 20 ) and the outer surface of the front case ( 13 ). Therefore, the massaging device will taken away from the resilient straps ( 43 ) of the chair back. The massaging device can be attached to another position on the chair back by means of clamping the massaging device to another different resilient straps ( 43 ). 
     With reference to FIG. 3, the offset flywheel ( 33 ) on the protruding motor shaft ( 311 ) rotates and creates vibration movement for the massaging device ( 1 ) when power is supplied to the motor ( 31 ) of the vibration device ( 30 ) and the massaging device ( 1 ) is turned on. The vibration movement causes the massaging bulb ( 21 ) on the massaging face ( 20 ) to vibrate and to massage a desired area on a human body. 
     The advantages of this invention are that the massaging devices can be attached to any desired position on the chair ( 40 ) and are exposed to ambient air so heat does not build up around them. The massaging devices are attached or detached from the chair by simply removing the massaging face ( 20 ) from the front case ( 13 ) and the resilient straps ( 43 ) from the strap grooves ( 137 ,  24 ). The massaging area can be enlarged by adding additional massaging devices to the chair. When one of the massaging devices ( 1 ) needs to be repaired, the broken massaging device can be removed from the chair ( 40 ) and repaired. A great deal of money can be saved by being able to repair individual massaging devices rather than an entire apparatus. Furthermore, the remaining massaging devices can be used while one is being repaired. 
     It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.