FR3001888A1 - Massage system e.g. massage cushion, for massaging body part of user, has covering element comprising inflatable pocket to cover support surface in zone, and air retention unit to contain air in zone during displacement of massage elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a support surface (2) configured to receive a body part of a user, and a massage mechanism (4) including massage elements (5, 6) projecting on the surface. The mechanism moves the element on the surface. A covering element i.e. bib covers the surface on which the body part is supported. The covering element has an inflatable pocket to cover the surface in a zone defined by the displacement of the massage elements. The pocket has an air retention unit configured to contain the air in the zone during the displacement of the massage elements.

Description

The present invention relates to a massage system that is adaptable or adjustable to its user. B1304EN ARMCHAIR MASSAGE SYSTEM, MATTRESS OR MASSAGE CUSHION This massage system is configured to receive a portion of the body of a user and to perform a massage on one or more areas of this body part resting on said massage system. Such a massage system can be declined under different product designs, including an armchair or massage chair, a massage mattress, a massage cushion, and the like. Among the state of the art, it is known patent application WO 2004100571 A2 which discloses a first design of massage chair. This massage chair comprises a seat and a backrest respectively constituting a support surface of the posterior and a support surface of the back of a user wishing to sit in this chair. The backrest comprises a massage mechanism which comprises massage elements arranged projecting on the backrest, the mechanism being configured to move the massage elements relative to the plane of the backrest, either parallel to or perpendicular to this plane. The backrest includes a cover member including inflatable air pockets that cover the support surface outside the area of movement of the massage members. When the massage mechanism is not used on the chair, the pockets are inflated so that the user's back resting on the cover element is released from the massage elements. On the contrary, when the massage mechanism is actuated, the user adjusts the inflation of the pockets so as to reduce the thickness of the covering element on which his back is supported, until he feels the massage elements which come in contact with his back and move, thus achieving the massage.

Among the state of the art, it is also known patent application CN 200987761 Y which discloses a second variant of massage chair design. This massage chair comprises as before a seat and a backrest, the backrest comprising a massage mechanism which comprises massage elements arranged projecting on the backrest. The mechanism is configured to move the massage elements relative to the plane of the file. The backrest includes a cover member including air inflatable pockets that cover the support surface, one of these inflatable pockets being disposed in the area of movement of the massage members. This inflatable pocket disposed in said zone, is inflated when the massage mechanism is inactive so as not to feel the massage elements. On the contrary, this pocket is deflated when the massage mechanism is active, so that the massage elements exert a bearing against the back of the user during their movements.

A disadvantage of these two aforementioned designs is that the user may experience an unpleasant sensation during the massage because, depending on the size and inflation of the pockets located outside the zone of movement of the massage elements, said elements of massage exert more or less direct contact on the back. Indeed, the absence of an inflatable pocket on the chair described in WO 2004100571 A2 involves a direct contact of the massage elements on the back of the user. It is the same for the chair described in CN 200987761 Y since, despite the presence of an inflatable pocket in the zone of displacement of the massage elements, it is deflated during activation of the mechanism. By direct contact is meant that all the forces exerted by the massage elements are transmitted to the back of the user. The present invention aims in particular to overcome this major drawback which, in the case of the aforementioned species, relates to a massage chair, but can also be envisaged with other massage systems operating on the same principle, such as a mattress of massage or a massage cushion or even other.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a massage system such as, for example, a massage chair, a massage mattress or a massage cushion. The massage system according to the invention has characteristics similar to those described in the patent application CN 200987761 Y, in that it comprises a support surface configured to receive a part of the body of a user and, a mechanism of massage comprising at least one massage element arranged projecting on the support surface. The massage mechanism is configured to move the at least one massage member on said support surface. Similarly, the massage system comprises a covering element of the support surface, on which bears said part of the body of the user. This covering element comprises at least one inflatable bag configured to be inflated with air and to cover the support surface at least in an area defined by the displacement of the at least one massage element. Remarkably, according to the invention, the inflatable bag comprises air retention means configured to contain the air in said zone during the displacement of the at least one massage element. Thus, according to the massage system that is the subject of the invention, and unlike the CN patent application 200987761 Y, the inflatable bag disposed in the zone of displacement of the massage elements is inflated during the activation of the massage mechanism. , which makes it possible to adapt the thickness of the inflatable pocket as a function of the user's corpulence and its sensitivity to contact with the massage elements. The massage elements thus exert an indirect contact on the part of the body to be massaged, according to which the forces exerted by the massage elements are attenuated. In addition, the air-retaining means prevent the air contained in the pocket, in the zone of displacement of the massage elements, from being driven on the sides in the said inflatable pocket because of the displacement of the massage elements which exert efforts on said inflatable pocket. This preserves the indirect contact between the massage elements and the back of the user. Thus, the massage system according to the invention guarantees an efficiency of the massage while optimally adapting the massage system to the sensitivity of the user.

According to a first embodiment of the massage system according to the invention, the inflatable bag comprises a plurality of compartments, with at least two of said compartments configured in air communication. This allows to form an air duct between at least two compartments to organize the movement of air so that the air remains distributed in the pocket regularly, for example in the central region of the pocket. The plurality of compartments may be configured particularly for successively communicating with each other. Each intermediate compartment has its first end which communicates with the first end of the compartment disposed upstream and its second end which communicates with the second end of the compartment disposed downstream. This makes it possible to form a kind of serpentine duct which prevents the air from flushing on the sides of the pocket during the passage of the massage elements. According to a second embodiment of the massage system according to the invention, the inflatable bag comprises two walls and a layer of foam disposed between said walls, the outer faces of the foam layer being respectively fixed to the inner faces of the two walls. This design helps to contain the air in the pores of the foam during the passage of the massage elements. Similarly, the fixing of the inner faces of the two walls to the outer faces of the foam also prevents air from escaping between the foam and the walls during the passage of the massage elements. In a preferred embodiment according to this second embodiment of the massage system according to the invention, the foam layer comprises uniformly distributed holes. This retains the air in the holes during the passage of the massage elements. In a variant, according to this preferred design above, each hole has its two ends which open respectively to the two outer faces of the foam layer. In addition, fixing points are arranged between the inner faces of the walls, through said holes. This optimizes the retention of air in the passage zone in the zone of displacement of the massage elements. In one embodiment of the massage system which is the subject of the invention, it comprises an inflation device for inflating the bag designed to inflate and deflate said inflatable bag. Thanks to the presence of this inflation device, the user can permanently adjust, according to his desires, the inflation of said inflatable bag during use of the massage system. One could however consider a simple valve on the massage system that communicates with the inflatable bag, on which would be reported an external inflator such as a pump, for example. In one embodiment of the massage system according to the invention, the covering element comprises two lateral edges, inflatable pockets being arranged respectively at these two lateral edges and configured to hold the user on the covering element. . This allows the user to be properly held in position on the support surface of the massage system. According to one embodiment of the massage system object of the invention, it is a chair comprising a backrest which comprises the support surface and the massage mechanism. Preferably, according to this embodiment of the massage system, the covering element is in the form of a removable flap configured to be fixed on the backrest. Thus it is possible to easily remove the covering element, for example to access the massage elements. However, it is conceivable variants of massage systems object of the invention, on which are fixed permanently covering elements. According to another embodiment of the massage system according to the invention, the latter is a mattress, the zone defined by the displacement of the at least one massage element being located at least in a part of the mattress intended to receive the back of the user. According to this embodiment, it is also possible to provide a covering element permanently attached to the massage system or, conversely, removable. For example in the form of a sheet having a direction of implementation on the mattress. According to another embodiment of the massage system object of the invention, it is a cushion. According to this embodiment, it is also possible to provide a covering element permanently attached to the massage system or, conversely, removable. For example in the form of a pillow having a direction of implementation on the cushion. The following description highlights the features and advantages of the massage system according to the present invention. This description is based on figures illustrating the embodiments of the invention without limitation, among which: - Figure 1 illustrates an example of a massage mechanism arranged on a chair backrest; FIG. 2 illustrates a massage system according to the invention in the form of a removable assembly; FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary covering element in the form of a removable flap arranged to be positioned on the back of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 illustrates a partial sectional view of a first example of an embodiment of an inflatable pocket consisting of compartments; - Figure 5 illustrates a partial sectional view of a second example of an inflatable bag having a foam thickness; FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the inflated and deflated positions of the inflatable bag of FIG. 5; FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the foam thickness of the inflatable bag of FIG. 5; FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate two partial sectional views of two examples of an inflatable pocket with a thickness of foam illustrated in FIG. 8.

In the remainder of the description, the same references will be used to define the same elements according to the various implementation variants described. In Figure 1, the massage system consists of a chair which comprises a backrest 1. Of course this chair also comprises other parts such as a seat attached by a hinge connection to the backrest 1. In FIG. massage consists of a set 100 composed of a backrest 101 and a seat 102 attached to each other by a flexible hinge 103 such as a textile band. This set 100 is a removable massage chair that can be placed on a chair, an armchair or a car seat, for example. This assembly 100 is easily transportable and may include at least one attachment strap to the seat on which it is placed to ensure that it remains secure during all operation. This chair and this massage chair can alternatively comprise other parts, for example armrests, a foot or a base ..., well known to those skilled in the art of chairs or relaxation chairs. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the backrest 1 comprises a support surface 2 on which the back of a user is supported, as well as a headrest 3. The backrest 1 also comprises a massage mechanism 4 arranged Inside said backrest 1. In this FIG. 1, the massage mechanism 4 comprises two massage elements 5, 6 in the form of one or more rounded heads arranged projecting from the support surface 2. These elements are called shiatsus, and look like rotating balls which are intended to reproduce the pressure of the fingers. Similarly, in this FIG. 1, the massage mechanism 4 comprises drive means 7, 8 which comprise two circular plates 9, 10 rotatably mounted on a central piece 11, along axes X1, X2 perpendicular to said surface of 2. These circular plates 9, 10 receive, respectively, eccentrically, the massage elements 5, 6. The central piece 11 is further actuated in longitudinal translation of Y axis parallel to the support surface 2. Thus the massage elements 5, 6 perform circles around the respective axes X1, X2 and move concomitantly in translation along two slots 12, 13 parallel to the axis Y and arranged on the support surface 2. These lights 12, 13 define an area of displacement of the massage elements 5, 6. The arrangement of such massage elements 5, 6 on a chair is known to those skilled in the art. Of course one could envisage other massage mechanism designs 4 with a different number of massage elements, for example four or six, and different zones of movement of the massage elements, for example a zone of movement along the back. and another zone of displacement at the level of the head. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 in dotted lines, the massage mechanism 4 comprises two first massage elements 5, 6 which move in the first two lumens 12, 13, as in FIG. 1 and, in addition, two second massage elements 105, 106 which move in a comparable manner in two second lights 112, 113. In Figure 3 is shown a flap 14 which constitutes a covering element of the support surface 2 of the backrest 1. The user therefore comes to bear on this flap 14 when it is positioned on the chair.

This flap 14 comprises an assembly strip 15 of the loop / hook type which is configured to cooperate with an assembly strip 16 of the hook / loop type, arranged in the upper part of the support surface 2, as illustrated in FIG. 1. It allows to be able to removably assemble the flap 14 on the back 1. It could of course provide other means of assembly between the flap 14 and the backrest 1. As shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3, the flap 14 comprises an inflatable pocket 17. When the flap 14 is positioned on the support surface 2, the inflatable pocket 17 covers the zone of displacement of the massage elements 5, 6 defined by the two lumens 12, 13. It is understood that two inflatable pockets respectively cover the two lumens 12, 13. Similarly, depending on the variants of massage mechanisms 4 that may be envisaged, several inflatable pockets 17 arranged in correspondence with the different areas of movement of the massage elements. This inflatable pocket 17 is more or less permanently inflated when the chair is used, whether the massage mechanism 4 is activated or not. Thus, the massage elements 5, 6 are in indirect contact with the user's back resting on the support surface 2. This makes it possible to attenuate the forces exerted by the massage elements 5, 6 on the back of the patient. 'user. In FIG. 2, the massage system comprises a covering element 114 which comprises a first inflatable pocket 17 disposed in the first zone of displacement of the first two massage elements 5, 6 and a second inflatable pocket 117 is disposed in the second zone for moving the two second massage elements 105, 106. This covering element 114 may be removable or not. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the flap 14 comprises an inflation device 18 in the form of a pear or a pump arranged in the lower part on one of the lateral edges 19 of the flap 14 and, being able to be operated with the palm of your hand and your fingers. This inflator 18 is connected to the inflatable bag 17 by means of a hose 20 and includes a manual valve (not shown) for removing air. This inflation device 18 is therefore configured to allow inflation and also deflation of the inflatable bag 17. Such an inflation device 18 is known to those skilled in the art. Variants of inflation / deflation devices are also possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Such an inflation device 18 is also provided for the embodiment of FIG. 2 (not shown in FIG. 2). In addition, several inflation devices could be provided, one for each inflation bag 17, 117 so as to allow independent adjustments.

In the remainder of the description, reference will be made only to the two massage elements 5, 6 and to the inflation bag 17, the principle being the same for the second massage elements 105, 106 and the second inflatable bag 117 concerning the FIG. 2.

When the massage mechanism 4 is activated, the massage elements 5, 6 which move in abutment against the inflatable bag 17, have a tendency to expel the air contained in the said inflatable bag 17, which would accentuate the forces exerted by the massage elements 5, 6 on the back. To overcome this drawback, the inflatable bag 17 comprises air retention means configured to contain the air in the zone of displacement of the massage elements 5, 6, between the back of the user and the said massage elements 5 6. In FIG. 4 is illustrated a first embodiment of air retention means 21. The inflatable pocket 17 comprises several inflatable compartments 22, 23, 24 which communicate with each other through passage holes. 25, 26 arranged between the ends 22a, 23a, 23b, 24b of these compartments 22, 23, 24, so as to inflate or deflate the inflatable bag 17 by means of the inflation device 18. These compartments 22, 23, 24 are for example implemented by means of polyvinyl chloride sheets welded together. The dimensions and the number of these compartments will be adapted to cover the zone of displacement of the massage elements 5, 6. Thus, during a pressure exerted by the massage elements 5, 6 which move on the compartments 22, 23, 24, the air remains trapped inside these compartments 22, 23, 24 and therefore does not have time to escape on the sides of the inflatable pocket 17, which does not modify the forces exerted on the back of the user. FIG. 5 illustrates a second mode of implementation of air retention means 21 on the inflatable pocket 17. These air retention means 21 comprise an open cell thickness or layer 28 of foam, arranged inside of the inflatable bag 17 in the zone of displacement of the massage elements 5, 6. The inflatable bag 17 comprises two walls 29, 30, for example polyester and preferably of a thickness greater than 0.15 millimeters. The first outer face 28a of the foam is fixed by gluing or welding, for example, to the inner face 29a of the first wall 29. Similarly, the second outer face 28b of the foam 28 is fixed to the inner face 30a of the second wall 30. Thus, during inflation of the inflatable bag 17, the foam 28 extends or is expanded proportionally to inflation, as seen with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The open cells of the foam 28 allow to contain the air inside said foam 28 during the displacement of the massage elements 5, 6. In addition, the attachment of the outer faces 28a, 28b of the foam 28 to the respective inner faces 29a, 30a of the walls 29 Prevents air from escaping between said foam 28 and said walls 29, 30 during movement of the massage members 5, 6.

The thickness of foam 28 will preferably be between 3 and 10 millimeters, for example 5 millimeters. In the third embodiment of the air retention means 21, illustrated in FIG. 9, the design is identical to that of the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, except that the foam 28 additionally comprises holes or holes 31 uniformly distributed, as shown in Figure 8. These holes 31 can improve the retention of air in the foam 28 during the displacement of the massage elements 5,6. These holes 31 are preferably opening on the two outer faces 28a, 28b of the foam 28, according to this third embodiment. These holes have a regular distribution and the number of holes can, on a surface of 10 cm by 10 cm, be between 10 and 20, for example 16; these holes may take the form of cylinder whose diameter may be equal to 10 mm. On the contrary, according to the fourth embodiment of the air retention means 21, illustrated in FIG. 10, which incorporates all the characteristics of the third embodiment of FIG. 9, the holes 31 are necessarily leading to the two outer faces 28a, 28b of the foam 28. In addition, the walls 29, 30 of the inflatable bag 17 penetrate through the holes 31 and are fixed together by means of attachment points 32 disposed inside said holes. 31. These attachment points 32 are for example implemented by welding or gluing. This makes it possible to constitute a kind of cells on the inflatable pocket 17 making it possible to reinforce the retention of air in the zone of displacement of the massage elements 5, 6. The distribution and the number of holes 31 can be adapted as a function of the position of the inflatable pockets 17 on the cover member and body parts to be massaged. Other features are conceivable within the scope of the invention. In particular, the lateral edges 19, 33 of the flap 14, or even any variant of the covering element, may be provided with complementary inflatable pockets which do not necessarily have air retention means, but which have larger dimensions so stall in position the user's back on the cover member and thus on the support surface 2, in the manner of a chair or bucket seat. The implementation of the massage system according to the invention is not limiting. Indeed, the massage system object of the invention may consist of other products than a chair. One could consider a massage system consisting of a mattress which has a massage mechanism comparable to that described above for the chair and defining at least one area of displacement of massage elements along the back of a user lying on said mattress. In this case the covering element is preferably in the form of a sheet or a cover adapted to the dimensions of the mattress and having one or inflatable pockets comparable to those described above. Similarly, one could consider a massage system in the form of a cushion or a pillow also comprising a massage mechanism adapted and defining a movement zone of massage elements at the neck and / or skull . In this case the covering element may take the form of a bib or a pillow receiving case or pillow and having one or more inflatable pockets similar to those described above.

Claims (12)

REVENDICATIONS1. A massage system comprising: - a support surface (2) configured to receive a portion of a user's body; a massage mechanism (4) comprising at least one massage element (5, 6) arranged protruding on the support surface, the mechanism being configured to move the at least one massage element on said support surface and; a covering element (14, 114) of the support surface on which said body part of the user abuts, said covering element comprising at least one inflatable pocket (17, 117) configured to cover the surface of support at least in a zone defined by the displacement of the at least one massage element, characterized in that the inflatable bag comprises air retention means (21) configured to hold the air in said zone during the moving the at least one massage element. The massage system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bag (17, 117) comprises a plurality of compartments (22, 23, 24), at least two of said compartments being configured in air communication. 3. Massage system according to the preceding claim, wherein the plurality of compartments (22, 23, 24) is configured to communicate successively with each other. 4. A massage system according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable bag (17, 117) comprises two walls (29, 30) and a foam layer (28) disposed between said walls, the outer faces (28a, 28b) of the layer of foam being respectively fixed to the inner faces (29a, 30a) of the two walls. The massage system of claim 4, wherein the foam layer (28) includes holes (31) uniformly distributed. 6. Massage system according to the preceding claim, wherein each hole (31) has its two ends which respectively open on the two outer faces (28a, 28b) of said foam layer (28), fixing points (32). being arranged between the inner faces (29a, 30a) of the walls (29, 30), through the holes. The massage system of one of claims 1 to 6, which comprises an inflator (18) of the inflatable bag (17, 117) configured to inflate and deflate said inflatable bag. 8. Massage system according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the covering element (14, 114) comprises two side edges (19, 33), inflatable pockets being arranged respectively at these two side edges. and configured to hold the user on the overlay. 9. Massage system according to one of claims 1 to 8, which is a chair comprising a backrest (1, 101) which comprises the support surface (2) and the massage mechanism (4). 10. Massage system according to the preceding claim, wherein the cover element is in the form of a removable flap (14) configured to be fixed on the backrest (1). 11. Massage system according to one of claims 1 to 8, which is a mattress, the area defined by the movement of the at least one massage member being located at least in a portion of the mattress for receiving the back of the 'user. 12. Massage system according to one of claims 1 to 8, which is a cushion.