Abstract:
A massage mechanism for a massage chair includes a roller frame which includes a roller, a vibration generator and a shoulder detection device. The massage mechanism detects the precise position of a user&#39;s shoulder so that the roller and the vibration generator are moved to precise positions to massage the desired parts of the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a massage mechanism for a massage chair, especially for a massage chair that can massage specific parts of users.  
         [0003]     2. The Prior Arts  
         [0004]     There are many types of massage devices such as massage chairs that use a massage mechanism received in the chair to massage users&#39; body. The conventional massage mechanism generally includes a frame with a threaded rod which is driven to move rollers along guide rails to massage the users. Depending on the mechanisms, the rollers can be moved linearly or moved up and down to massage the users&#39; back. However, the rollers have a fixed travel and cannot be adjusted for the travel. A longer travel may be suitable for taller users, but may not be satisfied with shorter users, and vice versa. Extra mechanisms are required if the travel of the rollers can be adjustable and the extra mechanisms occupy too much space and are costly.  
         [0005]     The present invention intends to provide with a massage mechanism for a massage chair wherein a shoulder detection device is used to detect the position of the users&#39; shoulders so that the mechanism can massage the users&#39; back and shoulders no matter the users are tall or short.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a massage mechanism for a massage chair that comprises a frame. A kneading motor and a main part are respectively connected to the frame. The kneading motor connects with a first belt pulley to which a first belt is connected. A worm rod is connected to the main part and an end of the worm rod connects with a second belt pulley to which the first belt is connected. A worm wheel assembly is engaged with the worm rod. A tapping motor is installed on the frame and connects with a third belt pulley to which a second belt is connected. An eccentric shaft is connected to the main part and connected with a fourth belt pulley to which the second belt is connected. The eccentric shaft has a cam which is engaged to a connecting rod. A swing arm seat is connected to the worm wheel assembly and the connecting rod. A roller frame with a roller is connected to the swing arm seat and a vibration generator is connected to the roller frame. A shoulder detection device is connected to the roller frame. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a massage chair with a massage mechanism of the present invention received therein;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  shows the massage mechanism in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a roller frame and a swing arm seat of the massage mechanism of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view to show the roller frame, the swing arm seat and other parts to be connected to the roller frame and the swing arm seat;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view to show a main part and the parts on the main part; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a vibration generator in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]     With reference to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  5 , a massage mechanism  5  in accordance with the present invention is received in a backrest  3  of a massage chair  1 . The massage mechanism  5  includes a kneading motor  9  installed on a frame  4 . The kneading motor  9  connects with a first belt pulley  8  to which a first belt  6  is connected. The first belt  6  is connected to a second belt pulley  7  which is connected with a worm rod  29 . The worm rod  29  connected to a main part  30  is engaged with a worm wheel assembly  32  connected to the main part  30 .  
         [0015]     The massage mechanism  5  further includes a tapping motor  12  installed on the frame  4  and the tapping motor  12  connects with a third belt pulley  14  to which a second belt  13  is connected. An eccentric shaft  31  is connected to the main part  30  and connected with a fourth belt pulley  15  to which the second belt  13  is connected. The eccentric shaft  31  has a cam  11  to which a connecting rod  10  is engaged.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 3  and  4 , the worm wheel assembly  32  and the connecting rod  10  are connected to a swing arm seat  16  which is fixed on a roller frame  28 . The roller frame  28  has two rollers  27 , a vibration generator  26  and a shoulder detection device  22  connected thereto. The roller frame  28  faces a support surface  2  of the backrest  3  of the massage chair  1 .  
         [0017]     The shoulder detection device  22  includes an emitting device  25  and a sensing device  24 . The emitting device  25  includes a magnet  20  and a fixing plate  21  fixed on the roller frame  28 . The sensing device  24  includes a PCB board  17  and a Hall sensor  18  fixed on the swing arm seat  16 .  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the vibration generator  26  includes a cover  33 , a vibration motor  34 , an eccentric member  35  and a base  36 , wherein the base  36  has a slot  37  and is connected to an underside of the cover  33 , the vibration motor  34  is mounted inside the cover  33 , and the eccentric member  35  is connected to an output shaft of the vibration motor  34 .  
         [0019]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , when the rollers  27  are not applied by the load of a user&#39;s body through the support surface  2 , the Hall sensor  18  of the shoulder detection device  22  is in an off status. When the massage chair is activated, the massage mechanism  5  moves to the user&#39;s shoulders and the rollers  27  bring the magnet  20  on the emitting device  25  of the shoulder detection device  22  on the roller frame  28  to move to generate a shift relative to the Hall sensor  18  on the sensing device  24  of the shoulder detection device  22  on the swing arm seat  16 . In other words, the Hall sensor  18  senses the change of magnetic field of the magnet  20 . When the change reaches a certain level, the Hall sensor  18  is activated, thereby obtaining a precise positioning on the user&#39;s shoulders.  
         [0020]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , in the operation of kneading, the kneading motor  9  drives the first belt pulley  8 , the first belt  6 , the second belt pulley  7 , and the worm rod  29  one after the other. Then, the worm wheel assembly  32  engaged with the worm rod  29  drives the swing arm seat  16  and the roller frame  28  to move back and forth, so that the rollers  27  fixed on the roller frame  28  produce kneading actions to the user.  
         [0021]     In the operation of tapping, the tapping motor  12  drives the third belt pulley  14 , the second belt  13 , the fourth belt pulley  15 , and the eccentric shaft  31  one after the other. The connecting rod  10  connected to the eccentric shaft  31  drives the swing arm seat  16  and the roller frame  28  so that the rollers  27  fixed on the roller frame  28  move front and rear to tap the user&#39;s body.  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , in the operation of vibration, the vibration motor  34  drives the eccentric member  35  to eccentrically rotate to cause vibration of the roller frame  28 , so that the rollers  27  vibrate at a high frequency.  
         [0023]     The shoulder detection device  22  allows the massage mechanism  5  to precisely massage the user&#39;s shoulders. The magnet  20  and the Hall sensor  18  are not in contact with each other directly and this ensures that the emitting device  25  and the sensing device  24  do not fail. The vibration generator  26  is located beneath the rollers  27  so that the rollers  27  can move toward the user&#39;s body and the vibration generator  26  can be operated together with the massage mechanism  5 . By this arrangement, when the rollers  27  move, the user feels a high frequency of vibration and continuous tapping. This can effectively massage the user and provide with complete relaxation. The cover  33  is made of elastic material so that the vibration motor  34  can be avoided from being damaged. The base  36  is made of steel board that secures the vibration motor  34  in position, so that the vibration motor  34  cannot move both in longitudinal and lateral directions. The vibration generator  26  is connected to the roller frame  28  that is made of elastic material so that the vibration generated by the vibration generator  26  can be effectively transferred.  
         [0024]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.