CN106852720B

CN106852720B - Sleep mode operation method of massage chair and massage chair capable of executing the method

Info

Publication number: CN106852720B
Application number: CN201611114912.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 玄智勋; 金正渊; 李善镛; 裴秉燦
Original assignee: Coway Co Ltd
Current assignee: Coway Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-12-09
Filing date: 2016-12-07
Publication date: 2021-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-07
Also published as: CN106852720A; KR20170068236A

Abstract

The invention relates to a sleep mode operation method of a massage chair and a massage chair capable of executing the method. The present invention provides a sleep mode of a massage chair, and more particularly, to a method for a user who falls asleep while receiving a massage with the massage chair without disturbing his sleep and capable of maintaining a comfortable sleep state both during and after the massage is finished, and a massage chair capable of performing the method.

Description

Sleep mode operation method of massage chair and massage chair capable of executing the method

Technical Field

The present invention provides a sleep mode of a massage chair, and more particularly, to a method for a user who falls asleep while receiving a massage with the massage chair without disturbing his/her sleep during and after the massage is finished and capable of maintaining a comfortable sleep state, and a massage chair capable of performing the method.

Background

The massage chair is specially manufactured to provide a mechanical massage feeling at home or at work even without a professional massage person.

For this reason, various driving devices are provided on the massage chair, and when the massage chair is activated after a user sits on the massage chair, an air bag, a massage ball, or the like applies pressure or the like to the user to provide a massage feeling.

When a massage chair is used at home, a user often falls asleep while sitting on the massage chair and receiving a massage.

However, since the massage chair is operated only at a position most suitable for performing the massage operation and is returned to the initial setting position which is somewhat uncomfortable after the massage operation is completed, the state of falling asleep at the time of receiving the massage is often released during the massage or after the massage is completed.

Further, since a massage chair excellent in the feeling of elasticity is provided recently, it often happens that a user sits on the massage chair for sleeping and activates the massage chair, and therefore such a phenomenon may become a problem.

Viewing associated prior art documents

Korean patent publication No. 2011-0137142 discloses a massage chair for inducing sleep activity by stimulating sleep acupoints. The technique of this prior art document is not for maintaining the sleep of the user but for forcibly inducing the user who is not drowsy to fall asleep, and moreover, since the positions of the sleep acupoints of each person are different themselves, the sleep induction may not be usually achieved, but rather, a situation may occur in which the sleep is waken up due to the misalignment of the acupoints.

Korean patent No. 1288406 discloses a massage chair provided with a helmet capable of supporting the head and neck and performing sleep induction, but a user who wants to get loose in the massage chair is inconveniently wearing the helmet, and instead there may occur a case where it is difficult to fall asleep or be awakened from sleep achieved during massage due to a foreign body sensation caused by the helmet.

(patent document 1) KR 2011-

(patent document 2) KR 1288406B

(patent document 3) KR 1502117B

(patent document 4) KR 2012-0088633A

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method that can naturally complete a massage action without disturbing the sleep of a user in a case where the user falls asleep during a massage.

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for maintaining a user's sleep state as it is even during and after a massage is completed, thereby enabling the user to sufficiently realize a desired sleep in a massage chair.

Technical scheme

In order to solve the above problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a sleep mode operation method of a massage chair, including: step a: applying a sleep mode signal to the operating part 500; step b: the massage chair starts to perform a preset massage action, selectively operates a plurality of

air bags

129, 209, 309, 319, 419 provided in the massage chair; and step c: changing at least one of the first angle alpha and the second angle beta to a preset sleep angle if a preset time elapses after the massage chair starts a massage action.

Further, preferably, in the step c, the first angle α and the second angle β are simultaneously changed, and the changed preset sleep angle is 170 to 180 degrees.

Further, in the step c, it is preferable that both the first angle α and the second angle β are changed at the same time, and the changed sleeping angle is 180 degrees so that the backrest portion 100, the seat portion 200, and the leg fixing portion 300 form a plane.

Furthermore, preferably, after the step b, a step b1 is further included: if a preset first time passes after the massage action of the massage chair is started, changing at least one of the first angle alpha and the second angle beta into a preset pre-sleep massage angle, wherein the preset time in the step c is the time obtained by adding the first time and a preset second time.

Further, it is preferable that the preset pre-sleep massage angle is 120 to 150 degrees.

Furthermore, preferably, after the step c, the method further comprises: step d: if a preset third time passes after the step c, ending the massage action; and step e: the plurality of

air cells

129, 209, 309, 319, 419 are set to a preset pressure for sleeping.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the preset pressure for sleep in step e is less than a maximum value of the selectively operated pressure in step b.

Furthermore, preferably, after the step e, the method further comprises the step f: at least one of the first angle α and the second angle β is maintained at a preset sleep angle, and the plurality of

air cells

129, 209, 309, 319, 419 are maintained at a preset pressure for sleep until a signal is input to the operating part 500.

Furthermore, preferably, the preset third time in the step d is less than one minute.

Further, preferably, a sum of the first time, the second time, and the third time is a total massage action time, and the first time is half of the total massage action time.

Further, preferably, the plurality of

bladders

129, 209, 309, 319, 419 include a shoulder bladder 129, a pelvis bladder 209, a leg bladder 309, a beriberi bladder 319, and an arm bladder 419.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a massage chair capable of performing the above method.

Advantageous effects

According to the present invention, when a user falls asleep while receiving a massage in a massage chair, the massage chair can naturally complete a massage operation without disturbing the corresponding sleep, and the massage chair can be maintained in a state in which the user can sufficiently sleep even after the massage operation is completed, thereby providing a deep sleep.

That is, a mode in which the user falls asleep immediately after sitting in the massage chair is not assumed, but a general phenomenon in which the user naturally falls asleep after receiving a massage for a certain time is assumed.

Therefore, it is possible to deliver a more effective sense of relaxation to a user who receives the entire massage process and realizes sufficient sleep.

Further, the present invention is generally applicable in association with any massage chair and any massage action, and does not require an additional structure such as a helmet, and thus does not transmit a foreign body sensation, thereby being effective.

Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a massage chair for performing the method according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view with an external portion removed in a massage chair for performing the method according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view for illustrating an air bag of a massage chair for performing the method according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 and 5 are schematic views of a massage chair for explaining the method according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the method according to the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, in fig. 1 to 3, a user is assumed to sit in the massage chair, and the upper part and the lower part of the user are taken as upper and lower parts, respectively, and the front and rear parts facing the user are taken as front and rear parts, respectively.

The backrest part 100, the leg fixing part 300, and the foot fixing part 310, which will be described later, are capable of performing a rotational movement and a vertical movement, respectively, and separate actuators (not shown) are provided for this purpose, but this is a known technique, and thus a detailed description of the operation principle thereof will be omitted.

Further, when a signal is applied to the operation part 500, a corresponding signal is transmitted to a control part (not shown) to realize mode selection, change by the operation part 500 and operation of the massage chair based thereon, which will be described later, which is also a known technique, and thus detailed description of the operation principle thereof will be omitted.

Description of massage chair

With reference to fig. 1 to 3, a massage chair for performing the method according to the invention is described.

The massage chair includes a backrest part 100, a seat part 200, a leg fixing part 300, a support frame 400, and an operating part 500.

The backrest part 100 is a part that supports the back of the user, and is adjustable at a predetermined angle with respect to the fixed support frame 400 and the seat part 200. In this case, an angle between the backrest portion 100 and the seat portion 200 is referred to as a first angle α (see fig. 4 and 5).

A movable massage ball assembly 105 is mounted in the center of the backrest 100.

The massage ball assembly 105 is a structure including a plurality of balls, and is movable along a predetermined track inside the backrest portion 100.

In a massage action, the massage ball assembly 105 moves along a predetermined track inside the backrest portion 100 while the plurality of balls press the user's back to the shoulders to provide a massage feeling.

In another embodiment, the massage ball assembly 105 itself may also be heated to enable the provision of a thermal sensation to the user.

The backrest portion 100 has a headrest 110 that contacts the head of the user at an upper portion thereof.

Preferably, the headrest 110 is made of a material capable of providing a sense of elasticity, and in other embodiments, the headrest 110 may be disposed inside a separate airbag.

A pair of shoulder fixing portions 120 are attached to both left and right sides of a headrest 110 of the backrest portion 100, and shoulder airbags 129 are attached to the pair of shoulder fixing portions 120, respectively.

Before the massage chair starts a massage action, air is injected into the shoulder airbags 129, so that the shoulder position of the user can be fixed. The pressure and the amount of air in the air applied to the

various air cells

129, 209, 309, 319, 419 described later can be adjusted, and only the pressure and the amount of air at a level at which the body is not strongly pressed are required for fixing the position, and the air injected for this purpose is hereinafter referred to as "air for fixing".

Further, during the massage action, air is selectively further injected into the shoulder airbags 129 at a predetermined pressure, thereby applying pressure to the user to enable shoulder massage.

In order to perform a massage action, the pressure and the amount of air of the injected air are greater than those of the above-described air for fixation, and hereinafter, the air injected therefor is referred to as "air for massage".

As described above, the headrest 110 and the shoulder fixing parts 120 are fixedly located in the backrest part 100, and if the backrest part 100 is driven for adjusting the first angle α, the headrest 110 and the shoulder fixing parts 120 are simultaneously driven.

The seat portion 200 is a portion contacting the buttocks and the upper thighs of the user, and is generally fixed to the support frame 400. Preferably, the seat portion 200 is made of a material capable of providing a feeling of elasticity.

In the opposite portions of the seat portion 200 and the support frame 400, there are pelvic airbags 209 on both sides of the inner side facing the user, respectively. Therefore, as shown in fig. 3, the pelvis airbags 209 have a shape such as a bag that can bulge in the end portions on both the left and right sides of the seat portion 200.

Each of the pelvic airbags 209 may be formed of a pair of upper and lower airbags. In this case, the upper pelvis airbag 209 may press the waist, and thus may be a lumbar airbag.

Before the massage chair starts the massage action, the pelvis and the waist of the user can be fixed by injecting air for fixation into the pelvis airbag 209, and further, during the massage action, air for massage is further injected into the pelvis airbag 209 at a predetermined pressure to apply pressure to the user, so that the pelvis massage can be performed.

In another embodiment, the amount of air injected into the pair of pelvic bladders 209 is different, thus also enabling the user to forcibly move or stretch the pelvis and waist.

The leg fixing part 300 is a part to which the leg of the user is fixed, and as best shown in fig. 2, a pair of grooves are provided in the leg fixing part 300 to enable insertion of the lower leg of the user.

In addition, the leg fixing part 300 may be adjusted at a predetermined angle with respect to the fixed support frame 400 and the seat part 200. In this case, the angle between the seat portion 200 and the leg fixing portion 300 is referred to as a second angle β (see fig. 4 and 5).

In the recess of the leg fixing portion 300, there is a leg air bag 309.

Each leg airbag 309 may be formed of a pair of left and right airbags. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 3, the pair of left and right airbags may be constituted by a pair of upper and lower airbags, respectively, and thus one leg airbag 309 may be constituted by a total of 4 airbags.

Before the massage chair starts the massage action, the lower leg of the user can be fixed by injecting air for fixation into the leg air cells 309, and further, during the massage action, air for massage is selectively further injected into the leg air cells 309 at a predetermined pressure to apply pressure to the user, so that leg massage can be performed.

The leg fixing portion 300 has a foot fixing portion 310 at a lower end thereof.

The foot fixing part 310 is a portion where a user can place a foot to fix the placed foot during a massage action, as well shown in fig. 2, a recess is provided in the foot fixing part 310 to enable insertion of the user's foot.

The foot fixing part 310 is fixed to the leg fixing part 300, and thus if the leg fixing part 300 is driven in order to change the second angle β, the foot fixing part 310 is simultaneously driven.

The foot fixing part 310 may be integrally formed with the foot fixing part 300, or the foot fixing part 310 may be movable up and down with respect to the leg fixing part 300 to be appropriately adjustable according to the body size of the user (i.e., the length of the leg or the lower leg).

A foot airbag 319 is provided in the recess of the foot fixing part 310.

Each foot airbag 319 may be formed of a pair of left and right airbags. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 3, the pair of left and right airbags may be constituted by a pair of upper and lower airbags, respectively, and thus one foot airbag 319 may be constituted by a total of 4 airbags.

The user's feet can be fixed by injecting air for fixation into the beriberi bladder 319 before the massage motion of the massage chair is started, and further, air for massage is selectively further injected into the beriberi bladder 319 at a predetermined pressure during the massage motion to apply the pressure to the user, so that the foot massage can be performed.

The seat frame 400 is positioned at the left and right of the seat portion 200, and can firmly fix the entire massage chair even during the operation of the backrest portion 100 and the leg fixing portion 300 and the operation of the foot fixing portion 310. For this, the lower portion of the seat frame 400 may further have a bracket to enable the massage chair to be fixed on the ground.

The upper portion of the seat frame 400 has an arm fixing portion 410.

The arm fixing part 410 is a portion where a user can place an arm to fix the placed arm during a massage action, and as best shown in fig. 1, a recess is provided in the arm fixing part 410 to enable insertion of the user's arm.

An arm airbag 419 is provided in the recess of the arm fixing portion 410.

Each arm airbag 419 may be formed of a pair of upper and lower airbags. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 3, the pair of upper and lower airbags may be constituted by a pair of left and right airbags, respectively, and thus one arm airbag 419 may be constituted by a total of 4 airbags.

Before the massage chair starts the massage action, the arm of the user can be fixed by injecting air for fixation into the arm bladder 419, and further, during the massage action, air for massage is selectively injected into the arm bladder 419 at a predetermined pressure to apply pressure to the user, so that arm massage can be performed.

The operation unit 500 is a portion that can be operated by a user, and may be composed of buttons and a touch panel.

The operation unit 500 is usually provided on the right side of the massage chair so as to be conveniently operated by the right hand, but may be provided on the left side as the case may be.

Preferably, the operation part 500 and the massage chair are connected by a material that is hard while its shape can be changed to some extent, and a cable for connecting the operation part 500 with a control part (not shown) inside the massage chair may be installed inside the operation part 500.

The user can select various modes through the operation part 500 to apply its signals to the control part (not shown), and thus, the operation part 500 transmits signals corresponding to the respective modes to the control part (not shown) to operate the actuator, etc., thereby driving the backrest part 100, the leg fixing part 300, the foot fixing part 310 to change the first angle α and the second angle β, or controlling the operation of the massage ball assembly 105 and the

various airbags

129, 209, 309, 319, 419.

Description of the method

Hereinafter, a sleep mode operation method according to the present invention is explained with reference to fig. 4 to 7.

As described above, the steps are executed according to the control of the control section (not shown).

The sleep mode according to the present invention is not a mode in which the user is assumed to fall asleep immediately after sitting in the massage chair, but a mode in which the user naturally falls asleep after receiving a massage for a certain time according to the user's usual usage form.

First, a sleep mode signal is applied to the operation part 500 (S100). Accordingly, the operation part 500 sends a signal to a control part (not shown) to perform the following operation.

The massage chair starts to perform a preset massage action (step S200).

The massage action method steps may use any method, for example, may include: a step of first measuring the body size of the user by a method according to the prior art; a step of driving the backrest part 100, the leg fixing part 300, the foot fixing part 310 accordingly, and operating the plurality of

air cells

129, 209, 309, 319, 419 provided in the massage chair and injecting air for fixation to fix the body of the user; a step of further applying a predetermined pressure to the plurality of

air cells

129, 209, 309, 319, 419 in a state of fixing the body to perform massage; and a step of operating the massage ball assembly 105.

Then, if a preset first time has elapsed after the massage action is started, at least one of the first angle α and the second angle β is changed to a preset "pre-sleep massage angle" (step S300).

That is, as shown in fig. 4, at least one of the first angle α and the second angle β is made larger to make the user more relaxed and more comfortable to fall asleep.

To induce the user to fall asleep, it is more preferable to simultaneously change the first angle α and the second angle β.

Further, the angle of the massage before sleep is preferably larger than the angle during the massage, preferably 120 degrees to 150 degrees, more preferably 135 degrees.

Preferably, the first time is about half of the total massage time. This is because in a massage process, if about half the time elapses, the user starts to make a trouble.

For example, if the overall massage time is 20 minutes, the first time is preferably 10 minutes.

Then, if a preset second time elapses after the first time elapses, in other words, only a preset third time remains before the ongoing massage action is completed, at least one of the first angle α and the second angle β is changed to a preset "sleep angle" (step S400).

That is, as shown in fig. 5, it is assumed that the user enters a certain degree of sleep and the first angle α and the second angle β are made larger.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the sleep angle is slowly implemented before the massage action is completed. This is because if the backrest part 100 or the leg fixing part 300 moves together while the massage motion is completed, the user may be hindered from sleeping.

The sleep angle is preferably 170 to 180 degrees, and as shown in fig. 5, it is preferable to change both the first angle α and the second angle β to 180 degrees so that the massage chair itself forms a complete plane, because the deep sleep can be more effectively ensured in this case.

In the entire massage time, it is preferable to perform the step S400 before finishing one minute. This is to provide a natural feeling without hindering the user's sleep while slowly moving the backrest part 100 and the leg fixing part 300 within one minute.

For example, if the overall massage time is 20 minutes, it is preferable that the first time is 10 minutes, the second time is 9 minutes, and the third time is 1 minute.

The sum of the first time, the second time and the third time corresponds to the overall massage time.

At this time, if the massage operation is completely completed after the third time, the pressure in the plurality of

air bags

129, 209, 309, 319, 419 is adjusted to the preset "pressure for sleep" (step S500).

Here, the "pressure for sleep" is a pressure lower than a pressure that does not disturb the sleep of the user and fixes only the body parts slightly, and is equal to or less than a value of a state in which air for fixation flows.

Further, in general, if the massage action is completed, the backrest part 100 and the leg fixing part 300 are driven to return the massage chair to the initial setting position, however, in the case of the sleep mode operation such as the present invention, it is necessary not to return to the initial setting position so as not to obstruct the sleep of the user, and it is preferable to return to the initial setting position when another signal is input to the operation part 500.

In other words, at least one of the first angle α and the second angle β is maintained at the preset sleep angle, and the plurality of

air cells

129, 209, 309, 319, 419 are maintained at the preset pressure for sleep until another signal is input to the operation part 500.

In addition, in another embodiment of the present invention, the step S300 of driving to the pre-sleep massage angle may not be performed.

That is, at least one of the first angle α and the second angle β is directly changed to the preset sleep angle after the massage action is performed for the preset time.

This is preferred in situations where the first angle alpha and the second angle beta are sufficiently large due to the massage mode being at least about 135 degrees.

The preset time is obtained by adding the first time and the second time.

For example, if the overall massage time is 20 minutes, after 19 minutes of the total time of the first time and the second time elapses, at least one of the first angle α and the second angle β starts to be changed to the preset sleep angle, and after 1 minute as the third time elapses, the massage action is completed.

In this case, too, the sum of the first time, the second time, and the third time is the overall massage operation time.

The embodiments are described above in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and practice the present invention, but the embodiments are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments can be realized from the embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined from the following claims.

[ description of reference numerals ]

100: back rest

105: massage ball assembly

110: head rest

120: shoulder fixing part

129: shoulder airbag

200: seat part

209: pelvis air bag

300: leg fixing part

309: leg airbag

310: foot fixing part

319: foot air bag

400: supporting frame

410: arm fixing part

419: arm air bag

500: operation part

Claims

1. A sleep mode operation method of a massage chair, which comprises a backrest part (100), a seat part (200), and leg fixing parts (300), and which is capable of adjusting a first angle alpha between the backrest part (100) and the seat part (200) and a second angle beta between the seat part (200) and the leg fixing parts (300),

the method comprises the following steps:

step a: applying a sleep mode signal to an operation unit (500);

step b: the massage chair starts to execute preset massage actions, and a plurality of air bags (129, 209, 309, 319, 419) arranged in the massage chair are selectively operated;

step b 1: changing at least one of the first angle a and the second angle β to a preset pre-sleep massage angle if a preset first time elapses after the massage chair starts the preset massage action;

step c: changing at least one of the first angle alpha and the second angle beta from the preset pre-sleep massage angle to a preset sleep angle if the preset first time and a preset second time have elapsed after the massage chair starts the preset massage action,

step d: if a preset third time passes after the step c, ending the preset massage action;

step e: setting the plurality of air bags (129, 209, 309, 319, 419) to a preset pressure for sleep after the preset first time, the preset second time, and the preset third time have elapsed, and

step f: maintaining at least one of the first angle a and the second angle β at the preset sleep angle, and maintaining the plurality of air cells (129, 209, 309, 319, 419) at the preset pressure for sleep until a signal is input to the operating part (500),

wherein the sum of the preset first time, the preset second time and the preset third time is the integral preset massage action time,

wherein the preset sleep angle is larger than the preset pre-sleep massage angle, and the preset pre-sleep massage angle is in the range of 120-150 degrees.

2. The sleep mode operation method of a massage chair according to claim 1, wherein, in the step c, the first angle a and the second angle β are simultaneously changed, and the changed preset sleep angle is in the range of 170 to 180 degrees.

3. The sleep mode operation method of a massage chair according to claim 1, wherein in the step c, the first angle α and the second angle β are simultaneously changed, and the changed preset sleep angle is 180 degrees, so that the backrest part (100), the seat part (200) and the leg fixing part (300) form a plane.

4. The sleep mode operation method of a massage chair according to claim 1, wherein the preset pressure for sleep in the step e is less than a maximum value of the selectively operated pressure in the step b.

5. The sleep mode operation method of a massage chair according to claim 1, wherein the preset third time in the step d is within a range of one minute or less.

6. The sleep mode operation method of a massage chair according to claim 1,

the preset first time is half of the integral preset massage action time.

7. The sleep mode operation method of a massage chair according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of air bags (129, 209, 309, 319, 419) include a shoulder air bag (129), a pelvis air bag (209), a leg air bag (309), a beriberi air bag (319), and an arm air bag (419).

8. A massage chair for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 7.