Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6932779?dq=7,117,286
Timestamp: 2015-07-02 21:36:40
Document Index: 484040578

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 200', 'art 20311', 'art 20312', 'art 11', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 11', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 11', 'art 12', 'art 11', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 11', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 13', 'art 12']

Patent US6932779 - Method of controlling massaging machine - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsIn operating a massaging machine having massaging members and a motor for causing the massaging members to vibrate to massage a patient, a pulsed driving signal is applied to the motor for repetitively switching on and off the motor for specified time lengths such that the motor is intermittently activated,...http://www.google.com/patents/US6932779?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6932779 - Method of controlling massaging machineAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6932779 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/186,955Publication dateAug 23, 2005Filing dateJun 27, 2002Priority dateJul 31, 2001Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCN1226026C, CN1399946A, EP1281382A2, EP1281382A3, US20030032903Publication number10186955, 186955, US 6932779 B2, US 6932779B2, US-B2-6932779, US6932779 B2, US6932779B2InventorsEiji KasaiOriginal AssigneeOmron CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (10), Referenced by (4), Classifications (26), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod of controlling massaging machine
US 6932779 B2Abstract
1. A method of controlling a massaging machine comprising the steps of:
providing said massaging machine with massaging members, arms that support said massaging members and are rotatably supported by a kneading shaft, a patting shaft supported parallel to said kneading shaft, eccentric members attached to said patting shaft, a link that connects said eccentric members with said arms, and a motor for rotating said patting shaft; and applying to said motor a driving signal for repetitively switching on and off said motor for specified time lengths, thereby activating said motor intermittently to cause the massaging members to vibrate while undergoing patting motion, communicating driving power of said motor to said patting shaft, causing said arms to swing around said kneading shaft through said link by eccentric rotary motion of said eccentric members, and thereby causing said massaging members to undergo patting motion. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more variables of the group consisting of pulse frequency, duty ratio, pulse number, pulse width and pulse interval are changed to vary the frequency by which said massaging members pat the patient.
A massaging machine which may be used according to this invention is described first for explaining the mechanical and electrical principles of the method of this invention. FIG. 1 is a diagonal external view of such a massaging machine 10 for schematically showing its structure (the cover sheet and the cushion on the back supporting part 100 a being removed). FIG. 2 is its side view with the outer shape and inner structure of its back supporting part 100 a being shown.
The massaging machine 10 is basically a reclining chair 100 with the back supporting part 100 a incorporating a therapy unit 110 including massaging members 201 a-d. The massaging members 201 a-d protrude forward from the therapy unit 110 to the front surface of the back supporting part 100 a covered by a cover sheet. The massaging members include a first pair 201 a and 201 b on the right-hand and left-hand sides of the back muscle and a second pair 201 c and 201 d similarly disposed below the first pair 201 a and 201 b. The therapy unit 110 is supported by a pair of cross-sectionally U-shaped guide rails (guiding means) 101R and 101L such that the openings of their U-shapes face each other and adapted to move upward and downward along the guide rails 101R and 101L by the rotary driving motion of pinions 310 which engage with racks inside the guide rails 101R and 101L.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the therapy unit 110, FIG. 4 is its right-hand side view, FIG. 5 is its back view, FIG. 6 is its diagonal frontal view and FIG. 7 is its diagonal back view. The front surface of the therapy unit 110 is covered with a planar base board 111 with its upper end part bent backward and its middle part provided with an approximately rectangular opening 1111 through which the massaging members 201 a-d protrude. The base board 111 also includes a removed portion 1112 and an opening 1113 so as to prevent possible interference with moving parts such as a gear.
FIG. 8 is a front view of a treatment part 200 attached to the base board 111, FIG. 9 is its back view, FIG. 10 is its diagonal back view taken from an upward position, FIG. 11 is its frontal view taken from its right-hand side, FIG. 12 is its diagonal frontal view taken from the left-hand side, and FIG. 13 is its diagonal back view taken from a lower position. The four massaging members 201 a-d are rotatably supported at the tips of approximately V-shaped arms 202R and 202L of which base parts are affixed to arm-supporting members 203R and 203L. These arm-supporting members 203R and 203L are affixed respectively to a side surface of a bearing case 2031R or 2031L. These bearing cases 2031R and 2031L are rotatably engaged with sloped sleeves 207R and 207L through bearings which rotate along the peripheral surfaces of the sloped sleeves 207R and 207L. The sloped sleeves 207R and 207L are cylindrically shaped and are affixed to a kneading shaft 205 obliquely from both sides with respect to its axial direction so as to slope symmetrically in the left-right direction. The bearing cases 2031R and 2031L are provided not only with a base part 20311R and 20311L for engaging with the outer periphery of corresponding one of the sloped sleeves 207 but also with a link receiving part 20312R or 20312L to which is engaged a spherically formed end of a link 209R or 209L supported so as to swing along the spherical surface.
The structure of the kneading mechanism is described next with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 which are both a back view of the base board 111 with some components removed for the purpose of disclosure. The kneading shaft 205 is operated by a motor 210 affixed to a planar supporting member 112 which is bent more or less into an M-shape, covering the back side of the kneading shaft 205 and the patting shaft 206 and having one end affixed to the backside of the base member 111. A small pulley 211 is affixed to the drive shaft 210 a of the motor 210, supporting an endless belt 213 which is wound also around a larger pulley 212 affixed to the shaft of a worm gear 214. The worm gear 214 engages with a worm wheel 215 which is coaxially affixed to the outer circumference of the kneading shaft 205. The worm gear 214 and the worm wheel 215 are rotatably held inside a gear box 218 attached to the holder bracket 204R. Thus, the driving force of the motor 210 is communicated from the small pulley 211 to the endless belt 213 to the larger pulley 212 to the worm gear 214 to the worm wheel 215 while being decelerated, thereby causing the kneading shaft 205 to rotate.
FIGS. 16 and 17 are referenced next to explain the patting operation by the massaging machine structured as explained above. The patting shaft 206 is driven by a motor 220 therefor affixed to the backside of the baseboard 111 through supporting members 113 a and 113 b as shown in FIG. 5. A small pulley 221 is attached to the drive shaft of the motor 220, and an endless belt 223 is stretched over this small pulley 221 and a large pulley 222 affixed coaxially to the patting shaft 206. Thus, the driving force of the motor 220 is communicated through the small pulley 221, the belt 223 and the patting shaft 206 while being decelerated. Mechanisms for moving the shaft upwards and downwards or forward and backward are not explained although they are provided.
patients who felt it
who felt it was
Time during which the motor is switched on
0.02-1 sec
Time during which the motor is switched off
As described above, the present invention is characterized as applying a pulsed voltage to a motor for patting operation in massaging. FIG. 22 shows an example of driving circuit for providing such a voltage to the motor. For generating a pulsed voltage repeatedly outputted at specified intervals, any known pulse control method, pulse width modulation (PWM) method or phase control method may be used. In FIG. 22, numeral 11 indicates an input part comprising switches 11 a, 11 b and 11 c for setting necessary conditions for generating a pulse with desired frequency and duty ratio. Numeral 12 indicates a calculating part which may comprise a microcomputer capable of generating and outputting required control signals from the input from the input part 11. A power control part 13 serves to receive the output from the calculating part 12 and to generate a power control signal for rotating the motor 220 for the patting operation. FIG. 22 shows an example wherein the power control part 13 is formed with two transistors 13 a and 13 b and a field effect transistor (FET) 13 c. Numeral 14 indicates a power source for rectifying power from a commercial source 15 to supply power required by the motor 220.
In order to apply the pulse shown in FIG. 20 to the motor 220, the switches of the input part 11 are operated first to set the frequency and the duty ratio (say, to 2.5 Hz and 20%, respectively). The inputted data are transmitted to the calculating part 12 and the calculated result is transmitted to the power control part 13. The rectified voltage from the power source 14 is applied to the motor 220 but the transistors 13 a and 13 b and the FET 13 c of the power control part 13 serve to switch on and off the source according to the output from the calculating part 12 to provide the pulsed voltage to the motor 220.
With reference now to FIG. 23, the input part 11 allows the user to select whether a phase control should be started at a zero-cross point of a waveform from a commercial power source 15 and stopped at a specified position or it should be started at a specified position and stopped at a zero-cross, as well as a phase angle corresponding to the pulse width. The calculating part 12 comprises a microcomputer capable of generating and outputting required control signals from the input from the input part 11. The power control part 13′ serves to receive the output from the calculating part 12 and to generate a power control signal for rotating the motor 220 for the patting operation. FIG. 23 shows an example wherein the power control part 13′ is formed with a triac 13 a′ and a diac 13 b′ which is connected to the gate terminal of this triac 13 a′ and insulated from a light emitting diode 13 c′ by a photocoupler. Numeral 14 again indicates a power source for rectifying power from a commercial source 15 to supply power required by the motor 220.
In order to apply a specified pulse to the motor 220, the switches of the input part 11 are operated first to set the pulse rise position and phase angle with respect to the commercial power source 15 such as 50 Hz for frequency of repetition and 20% as duty ratio. The inputted data are used by the calculating part 12 and the calculated result is outputted to the power control part 13′. Voltage from the power source 14 is being applied to the motor 220 but the triac 13 a′ and the diac 13 b′ of the power control part 13′ serve to switch on and off the current according to the output from the calculating part 12 to apply to the motor 220 a pulsed voltage obtained by cutting off a portion of the sinusoidal waveform of the commercial power source 15.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4718408 *Apr 29, 1986Jan 12, 1988Armando BarreiroVariable massage apparatus having a clutch selectively engaging alternate gearsUS5022384 *May 14, 1990Jun 11, 1991Capitol SystemsVibrating/massage chairUS5575761Jul 27, 1994Nov 19, 1996Hajianpour; Mohammed-AliMassage device applying variable-frequency vibration in a variable pulse sequenceUS6027463 *Dec 27, 1996Feb 22, 2000Moriyasu; HiroMusic massagerUS6039702Jul 28, 1997Mar 21, 2000Jb Research, Inc.Microcontroller based massage systemUS6077238Feb 29, 1996Jun 20, 2000Homedics, Inc.Massaging apparatus with micro controller using pulse width modulated signalsUS6083181 *Jul 29, 1998Jul 4, 2000Ciar S.R.L.Massaging device for insertion in the back of massage chairs or the likeUS6087942 *May 18, 1998Jul 11, 2000Jb Research, Inc.Tactile alert and massaging systemUS6224563 *Sep 26, 1997May 1, 2001Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Backrest with fingers providing kneading massageWO2001019316A2Sep 14, 2000Mar 22, 2001John McguireA vibratory therapy apparatus* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8512265 *Nov 18, 2010Aug 20, 2013Fka Distributing Co.Percussive massagerUS8801600 *Mar 14, 2013Aug 12, 2014Ralph ZipperSexual stimulation device using light therapyUS20110118637 *Nov 18, 2010May 19, 2011Fka Distributing Co. D/B/A Homedics, Inc.Percussive massagerUS20130261385 *Mar 14, 2013Oct 3, 2013Ralph ZipperSexual stimulation device using light therapy* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification601/99, 601/100, 601/103, 601/116International ClassificationA61H1/00, A61H37/00, A61H7/00, A61H15/00, A61H23/02Cooperative ClassificationA61H37/00, A61H23/02, A61H7/00, A61H1/00, A61H15/00, A61H2201/1427, A61H2205/081, A61H2201/1623, A61H2201/1669, A61H2201/0138, A61H2015/0028, A61H2201/0149, A61H2201/5007, A61H2201/1654, A61H7/007, A61H15/0078, A61H2201/5005Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJun 27, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: OMRON CORPORATION, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KASAI, EIJI;REEL/FRAME:013072/0946Effective date: 20020619Dec 16, 2003ASAssignmentOwner name: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:OMRON CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:014763/0936Effective date: 20031029Owner name: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD. 24 YAMANOUCHI YAMANOSHIFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:OMRON CORPORATION /AR;REEL/FRAME:014763/0936Owner name: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD. 24 YAMANOUCHI YAMANOSHIFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:OMRON CORPORATION /AR;REEL/FRAME:014763/0936Effective date: 20031029Dec 27, 2005CCCertificate of correctionMar 2, 2009REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedAug 23, 2009LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesOct 13, 2009FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20090823RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services