EP3488840A1

EP3488840A1 - Active massage assisting apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP3488840A1
Application number: EP17203257.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mao-Sheng Ruan
Original assignee: Ruan Mao Sheng
Current assignee: Ruan Mao Sheng
Priority date: 2017-11-23
Filing date: 2017-11-23
Publication date: 2019-05-29
Also published as: TWI648042B; TW201924636A

Abstract

An active massage assisting apparatus includes two massage assemblies (10) and a pivotal connection assembly (20). Each of the massage assemblies (10) includes a massage member (11) and a handle portion (12) connected to the massage member (11). The handle portion (12) is held by the user. The pivotal connection assembly (20) is disposed between the two massage assemblies (10) and provided with at least a pivoting junction (21). The handle portions (12) drive the massage members (11), with the pivoting junction (21) as the center point, to carry out massage motions including rubbing, kneading, pushing, pressing, and pounding. Therefore, the user is able to massage various body portions that are uneasily reached, such as the back, rear neck, shoulders, and bottom portions according to personal demands, so as to effectively eliminate body fatigue.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to active massage assisting apparatuses allowing the user to actively carry out a massage function upon the back portion of the user.

2. Description of the Related Art:

Channels of the human back portion connect other portions of the body together. Regularly massaging the back portion improves the flow of qi energy and blood, increases the circulation of blood and lymph, and enhances the metabolism among tissues, so as to relieve the fatigue of the whole body and the muscle soreness, mitigates diseases, and improves health and immunity of human body. In the field of Chinese medicine, a plurality of acupoints are located at the back portion of human. Moderately pounding the back portion of human is able to stimulate spirit, improve the flow of channels, and enhance the circulation of qi energy and blood, thereby removing fatigue and calming down the spirit, also improving endocrine and nervous system, and improving the immunity.
However, human back channels are often located at the positions untouchable by hands, such that a professional massage practitioner is usually needed to correctly press the channels at the back of human body in order to improve the flow of channels and eliminate fatigue. Other than accepting massage with aid provided by other personnel, user usually purchases massage device capable of pressing, patting, or rolling, so as to conduct massage by him/herself. Due to the fact that the user is able to sense the correct positions of soreness and channels much accurately according to the body reaction when receiving the massage, applying a massage device to press the acupoints may provide sensations that are much direct and accurate than being massaged with aid of other people.
Traditional massage techniques include patting, rolling, kneading, pressing, pushing, rubbing, and pounding. However, except for relatively large and high class massage chairs and beds, most traditional back massage devices provide only a few massage techniques, such as patting, rolling, or pressing, with limited effects and functions. Also, although massage chairs and beds are capable of providing comprehensive massage techniques and achieving the effect of improving flowing of channels, the cost thereof is relatively high, and the volume demand of the equipment is too large to be portable, failing to meet the convenience of usage.
Therefore, it is desirable to develop a structurally simple, low cost, portable, and easily stored active massage assisting apparatus which is able to carry out multiple massage techniques upon the back portion of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For improving the issues above, an active massage assisting apparatus is disclosed, which allows the user to actively carry out different massage techniques including rubbing, kneading, pushing, pressing, and pounding upon the body portions that are difficult to be reached by hands, such as the back, rear neck, shoulder, and bottom portion of the user, so as to effectively improve the flow of channels and eliminate fatigue.
For achieving the aforementioned objectives, an active massage assisting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is provided, comprising:

two massage assemblies, each massage assembly including a massage member and a handle portion connected with the massage member, the handle portion being held by a hand of a user; and
a pivotal connection assembly disposed between the two massage assemblies and provided with at least a pivoting junction, such that the handle portions drive the massage assemblies to move to carry out a massage motion with the pivotal junction as a moving center.

Preferably, the handle portion includes an extension member at which the massage member is disposed and a handgrip connected with the extension member.
Preferably, the extension member and the handgrip are connected by a method chosen from the group consisting of screwing, sleeving, engaging, embedding, riveting, and combination thereof.
Preferably, the extension member and the handgrip are integrally formed.
Preferably, the massage member is made of a material chosen from the group consisting of metal, wood, bamboo, plastic, rubber, stone, magnet, and far infrared ceramic.
Preferably, the two massage assemblies are disposed in parallel, with one end of the massage members extending outward from a lateral side of the massage members, respectively, and the other end of the massage members connected with the corresponding handgrip disposed in a direction identical to a direction of the massage member.
Preferably, the pivotal connection assembly includes at least two linkages, with one end of each linkage fixed to the corresponding massage assembly and the other end of the two linkages pivotally connected with each other.
Preferably, the linkage and the extension member include an angle ranging from 120 degrees to 150 degrees. Also, the linkage is disposed on one end of the extension member away from the handgrip.
Preferably, the linkage is provided with a plurality of moderate bores through where the pivot axle passes.
With the disposition of the handle portions, the user is allowed to easily position the massage members at the back, rear neck, shoulders, and bottom portion of the body, and drives the massage members to expand or fold with the pivotal junction as the pivot center by use of the handle portions, thereby conducting various massage techniques including rubbing, kneading, pushing, pressing, and pounding. Also, the user is able to clearly sense the correctness of the massage positions and the strength of massage by him/herself, so as to effectively improve the flow of channels and eliminate fatigue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the active massage assisting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the active massage assisting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the active massage assisting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the operation status of the active massage assisting apparatus being applied to massage the rear neck portion of the user.
Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the operation status of the active massage assisting apparatus being applied to massage the back portion of the user.
Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the operation status of the active massage assisting apparatus being applied with a support member.
Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the storage status of the active massage assisting apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned and further advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where the components are illustrated based on a proportion for explanation but not subject to the actual component proportion.
Referring to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 , an active massage assisting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises two massage assemblies 10, and a pivotal connection assembly 20.
Each massage assembly 10 comprises a massage member 11 and a handle portion 12 connected with the massage member 11. The handle portion 12 includes an extension member 13 at which the massage member 11 is disposed and a handgrip 14 connected with the extension member 13. Also, the handle portion 12 is applied to be held by a hand portion of the user.
Also, the massage member 11 of the two massage assemblies 10 are disposed in parallel to each other. One end of the two extension members 13 extends outward from a lateral side of the massage member 11, with the other end thereof connected with the corresponding handgrip 14. In addition, the handgrip 14 of the handle portion 12 is disposed in a direction identical to a direction of the massage member 11. Therefore, the two massage assemblies 10 generally form a U shape, such that the user, when holding the handgrips 14, easily places the massage members 11 at the back, rear neck, shoulders, and bottom portions that are difficult to be reached by bare hands.
The pivotal connection assembly 20 is disposed between the two massage assemblies 10 and provided with at least one pivoting junction 21, such that the handle portions 12 are able to drive the massage members 11 to expand or fold to carry out the massage motion with the pivoting junction 21 as the moving center.
The pivotal connection assembly 20 includes at least two linkages 22, wherein one end of each linkage 22 is fixed to the one corresponding massage assembly 10, with the other end of the two linkages 22 pivotally connected with each other to form the pivoting junction 21. Preferably, each linkage 22 has one end thereof being fixed to one side of the corresponding massage member 11, and the pair of linkages 22 are pivotally connected with a pivot axle 23 passing through the pivotal connection point of the linkages 22, so as to form the pivoting junction 21. The linkage 22 and the corresponding extension member 13 includes an angle θ which ranges from 120 to 150 degrees. Also, the linkage 22 and the handgrip 14 are disposed at two opposite ends of the extension member 13.
With the foregoing configuration, operation of the present invention will be illustrated below.
Referring to Fig. 3 , with the approximately U formed massage assemblies 10, the user needs to simply grip the handgrips 14 by hands for placing the massage members 11 at the back, rear neck, shoulder, or bottom portion of the user that are difficult to be reached by bare hands.
Subsequently, the user operates the handgrips 14 to drive the massage members 11 to impose force upon the body portions, so as to carry out the kneading, pressing, or pounding motions upon the sore positions.
Referring to Fig. 4 , for the rear neck or shoulders needed to be rubbed or kneaded, the user is allowed to place the two massage members 11 at two sides of the to-be-massaged positions (such as rear neck). The user operates to fold the handgrips 14, whereby the two massage members 11 moves toward each other with the pivoting junction 21 as the pivot center, thus carrying out the kneading motion. For the shoulder portions, the handgrips 14 are able to be placed at the front side and the rear side of the shoulder, respectively, so as to carry out the kneading motion upon the specific shoulder portion.
As for back portion around the spine or the positions beneath the shoulder blades, the massage motion is mainly carried out toward lateral or other direction. Referring to Fig. 5 , the two massage members 11 are placed at two sides of the spine, and the user expands the handgrips 14 outward toward two sides of the body, whereby the two massage members 11 are expanded with the pivoting junction 21 as the pivot center, so as to carry out an outward massage motion. Also, by moving the handgrips 14 clockwise or counterclockwise, a rubbing motion is achieved.
By applying the U shaped massage assemblies 10, massage functions for the back, rear neck, shoulders, and bottom portions are facilitated, and various massage techniques are easily achievable. Also, by operating the handgrips 14, the massage members 11 are driven to carry out different massage motions including rubbing, kneading, pushing, pressing, and pounding. As a result, various massage motions are combined to effectively improve the flow of channels and eliminate fatigue.
Furthermore, referring to Fig. 6 , a support member 30 is provided at the place of the pivotal connection assembly 20. The support member 30 includes a connection portion 31 and a support face 32. The connection portion 31 is movably and pivotally connected with the pivoting junction 21/pivot axle 23. During the operation, the user holds the support face 32 on the wall or other places convenient to be imposed with force. Therefore, the user is able to impose force by the body upon the wall through the support face 32, so as to improve the massage effect of the massage members 11. In addition, with the support member 30 being pivotally connected with the pivot axle 23 by the connection portion 31, the present invention carries out the massage motion corresponding to the wavering of the body.
Also, besides the integral formation or welding, for facilitating the portability or the convenience of storage, the extension member 13 and the handgrip 14 are also allowed to be movably combined by a method chosen from the group consisting of screwing, sleeving, engaging, embedding, riveting, and combination thereof, such that the handgrips 14 are detachable. To further reduce the volume occupied when being stored, as shown by Fig. 7 , the massage members 11 and the extension members 13 are able to be overturned with the pivoting junction 21 as the turning center, such that the two extension members 13 are arranged in parallel and allowed to be stored with the detached handgrips 14, facilitating the portability and the convenience of storage of the present invention.
Furthermore, the massage members 11 are allowed to be made of at least one material chosen from the group consisting of metal, wood, bamboo, plastic, rubber, stone, magnet, and far infrared ceramic. Therefore, besides providing the massage function, the present invention is also able to apply the magnetism or far infrared energy to carry out other treating effects, thereby further improving the flow of channels and the efficiency of massage.
Additionally, referring to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 , the linkages 22 are provided with a plurality of moderate bores 24 through where the pivot axle 23 passes. Therefore, the user is able to insert the pivot axle 23 through different moderate bores 24, so as to moderate the interval distance between the two massage members 11 according to different body profiles of users.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

An active massage assisting apparatus, comprising:
two massage assemblies (10), each massage assembly (10) including a massage member (11) and a handle portion (12) connected with the massage member (11), the handle portion (12) being held by hand portion of a user; and

a pivotal connection assembly (20) disposed between the two massage assemblies (10) and provided with at least a pivoting junction (21), such that the handle portions (12) drive the massage members (11) to move to produce a massage motion with the pivoting junction (21) as a pivot center.
The active massage assisting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the each handle portion (12) includes an extension member (13) at which the massage member (11) is disposed and a handgrip (14) connected with the extension member (13).
The active massage assisting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the extension member (13) and the handgrip (14) are movably combined by a method chosen from the group consisting of screwing, sleeving, engaging, embedding, riveting, and combination thereof.
The active massage assisting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the extension member (13) and the handgrip (14) are integrally formed.
The active massage assisting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the massage members (11) are formed of at least one material chosen from the group consisting of metal, wood, bamboo, plastic, rubber, stone, magnet, and far infrared ceramic.
The active massage assisting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the massage members (11) of the two massage assemblies (10) are disposed in parallel; one end of each extension members (13) extends outward from a lateral side of the massage member (11), with another end of the extension member (13) connected with the corresponding handgrip (14); the handgrip (14) is disposed in a direction identical to a direction of the massage member (11).
The active massage assisting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pivotal connection assembly (20) includes at least two linkages (22), with one end of each linkage (22) fixed to one of the corresponding massage assemblies (10), and another end of the two linkages (22) pivotally connected with each other to form the pivoting junction (21).
The active massage assisting apparatus of claim 7, wherein a pivot axle (23) passes through a pivotal connection point of the two linkages (22) to form the pivoting junction (21).
The active massage assisting apparatus of claim 8, wherein each linkage (22) and the corresponding extension member (13) includes an angle (θ) which ranges from 120 degrees to 150 degrees, and the linkage (22) and the handgrip (14) are disposed at two opposite ends of the extension member (13).
The active massage assisting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support member (30) disposed at the position of the pivotal connection assembly (20), the support member (30) including a connection portion (31) and a support face (32), the connection portion (31) movably and pivotally connected with the pivoting junction (21).