JP2000014788A - Relaxation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus which can obtain a relaxation effect by stimulating a human body. SOLUTION: This apparatus is provided with a stimulation generating means 9 to stimulate a human body and a control means 11 to control the generation of the stimulation. The control means 11 alternately executes a stimulation generating step wherein a stimulation is applied to the human body to keep it in tension and a stimulation stopping step wherein the stimulation is stopped to keep the human body in relaxation and hence, performs a control to gradually weaken the intensity of the stimulation. Immediately after the starting of the operation and immediately before the ending of the operation, the stimulation stopping step is executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a relaxation device for obtaining a relaxation effect by stimulating the body.

[0002]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a device which can obtain a relaxation effect by stimulating the body such as vibration.

[0003]

The present invention employs the following technical means in order to achieve the above object. That is,
The relaxation apparatus according to the present invention includes a stimulus generation unit that applies a stimulus to the body, and a control unit that controls the generation of the stimulus. And a stimulus stop step of stopping the stimulus to bring the body into a relaxed state, and alternately executing the stimulus intensity, and controlling the intensity of the stimulus to gradually decrease each time the stimulus generation step is executed.

This is based on the fact that once the muscles are tensed and then rested, the muscle relaxation effect is greater than simply resting. By putting the muscles in a relaxed state, a relaxation state can be obtained effectively. Vibration, pressure,
Sound and the like are preferred. In the case of vibration, a vibration generating mechanism that generates vibration by rotation of a motor can be employed. In the case of pressure, kneading, tapping, and other pressing force generation mechanisms in a known massage machine can be employed.
In the case of sound, a known sound generation system can be adopted. Music is the best sound.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a stimulus generating means for applying a stimulus to the body, and a control means for controlling the generation of the stimulus. A relaxation device that alternately executes a step and a stimulus stopping step of stopping the stimulus to bring the body into a relaxed state, and executing the stimulus stopping step immediately after the start of driving and immediately before the end of driving. Can also.

As will be shown in the embodiments described later, the relaxation state can be effectively obtained by executing the stimulus stop step immediately after the start of operation and immediately before the end. And, in order to obtain a relaxation effect, the apparatus preferably includes a stimulus generating means for applying a stimulus to the body, and a control means for controlling the generation of the stimulus. A stimulus generating step of
A stimulus stopping step of stopping the stimulus to make the body relaxed is alternately executed, and the stimulus intensity is controlled so as to gradually decrease, and a stimulus stopping step is executed immediately after the start of driving and immediately before the end of driving. Is preferred.

[0007] The relaxation apparatus of the present invention comprises:
A stimulus generating means for applying a stimulus to the body, and a control means for controlling the generation of the stimulus, the control means alternately performs a step of generating a stimulus and a step of stopping the stimulus, Synchronization means for executing the stimulus generation step at a timing synchronized with the expiration of the user is provided.

As described above, when the vibration is generated at such a timing that the user can synchronize the vibration and the exhalation, the user can exhale in accordance with the generation of the vibration. When the vibration synchronized with the expiration is given, the heart rate is reduced, and the accessory sympathetic nerve is activated, so that a relaxation state can be obtained. In addition, it is preferable to provide a notifying unit for notifying the user of the generation of the stimulus so that the user can easily synchronize the exhalation and the vibration.

In the present invention, the stimulus generating means includes:
It is preferable to provide stimulation to the lower limb or upper limb. That is, when the vibration synchronized with the exhalation is applied to the terminal part of the body such as the lower limb or the upper limb, the relaxation effect can be effectively obtained. According to the present invention, there is provided a stimulus generating unit for stimulating the body, and a control unit for controlling generation of the stimulus, wherein the stimulus generating unit is a first stimulus generating unit for stimulating a lower limb or an upper limb. And a second stimulus generator for giving a stronger stimulus to the torso than the first stimulus generator. The control means includes: a first step of operating the first stimulus generator; and a second stimulus generator. The second step to operate is alternately executed, and in the first step, the step of generating a stimulus and the step of stopping the stimulus are alternately executed, and the timing is synchronized with the expiration of the user. And a synchronization means for executing the stimulus generation step.

As described above, the effect of applying a weak stimulus to the end of the body in synchronization with exhalation and applying a strong stimulus to the center of the body, such as the torso, is performed alternately. It is possible to obtain a relaxation state. In the present invention, the apparatus further includes a device main body configured to be reclineable so that the body can be supported in a sitting position and a recumbent position, and a driving unit that performs reclining of the device main body. The driving unit may be configured to support the body in a sitting position during execution and to support the body in a lying position during execution of the second step.

By providing such a stimulus, a further relaxation effect can be obtained. Further, in the present invention, the control means may execute the first step immediately after the start of the operation and immediately before the end of the operation. By giving the first step of giving a weak stimulus immediately before and immediately after the start of operation, a relaxation effect can be appropriately obtained.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a relaxation device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The relaxation device 1 has a chair-shaped device main body 8 including a backrest 3, a seat surface 5, and a footrest 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the device main body 8 includes a stimulus generating means 9 and a control means 11 for controlling generation of a stimulus, and provides a relaxation effect by applying a stimulus to the body of a user sitting on the device main body 8. be able to.

[0013] Vibration is employed as a stimulus given to the body. Vibration generating means 9 as the stimulus generating means
Is provided inside the backrest 3. The vibration generating means 9 includes, for example, an electric motor 13 for generating vibration, and a weight (not shown) eccentrically mounted on a rotation shaft of the motor, and employs a mechanism for generating vibration by rotating the weight. be able to.

The control means 11 operates the vibration generating means according to a predetermined procedure in order to provide a relaxation effect, and comprises a timer circuit 15 and a drive voltage adjusting circuit 17 for the motor 11. The control means 11 is shown in FIG.
Perform the procedure as shown in (1) to put the body into a relaxation state. Hereinafter, this will be described.

First, a user sits on the device 1 and instructs the device 1 to start an operation for relaxation by a certain operation. Then, the vibration stop step S1 in which the timer circuit 15 operates and the vibration generating means 9 does not operate for a predetermined time is executed. A person's body can be relaxed by relaxing the muscles to a certain degree just by keeping it quiet while sitting.
That is, it is in a relaxation state. The vibration stopping step uses this in S1 to obtain a relaxation state due to the self-action of the body. Therefore, the execution time of the vibration stop step S1 is:
It is set to a time sufficient to obtain a relaxed state. As such a time, about 5 to 7 minutes is preferable. Also 3
Minutes. This execution time is determined by the timer circuit 1
5 measured.

When the vibration stopping step S1 is completed, an operation signal is sent from the timer circuit 15 to the motor drive voltage adjusting circuit 17, and a vibration generating step S2 in which the vibration generating motor 13 rotates for a predetermined time to generate vibration is executed. You. The vibration generation step S2 is for guiding the relaxed muscle to a tensioned state again by vibration. The execution time of the vibration generation step S2 is set to a time sufficient to obtain a certain tension state. About 2 minutes is preferable as such a time.

When the vibration generation step S2 ends, the second
The third vibration stop step S3 is executed for a predetermined time. This is based on the fact that once the muscles are tensed and then rested, the effect of relaxing the muscles is greater than simply resting. After the muscles are once tensed in the previous vibration generation step S2, By executing the vibration stop step S3, the relaxation state can be further promoted as compared with the first vibration stop step S1. The execution time of the second vibration stop step S3 is preferably about 3 minutes.

When the second vibration stop step S3 is completed, a second vibration generation step S4 is executed for a predetermined time. In the vibration generation step S4, the vibration is given with a strength of 70% when the vibration strength in the first vibration generation step S2 is set to 100%. Such adjustment of vibration intensity is performed by adjusting the voltage applied to the motor 13 by the motor drive voltage adjustment circuit 17.

The execution of the second vibration generation step S4 causes the relaxed muscles to return to the tensed state. However, since the vibration is weaker than in the first vibration generation step S2, the degree of tension due to the vibration is lower than in the first vibration generation step S2. The execution time of the second vibration generation step S4 is preferably about 2 minutes.

When the second vibration generation step S4 is completed, a third vibration stop step S5 is executed.
Also in this case, the relaxation effect is promoted by the rest state after stimulation, and the state becomes more relaxed than the second stimulation stop step S3. The execution time of the third vibration stop step S5 is preferably about 3 minutes.

When the third vibration stop step S5 is completed, a third vibration generation step S6 is executed.
In this vibration generation step S6, vibration is applied at 30% of the intensity of the first-eye vibration generation step S2, and the muscles return to the tension state again. However, since the vibration is weaker than in the second vibration generation step S4, the degree of tension is weaker than in the second vibration generation step S4. The execution time of the third vibration generation step S6 is preferably about 3 minutes.

When the third vibration stop step S6 is completed, a fourth vibration stop step S7 is executed.
Also in this case, the relaxation effect is promoted by the resting state after stimulation, and the state becomes more relaxed than the third stimulation stopping step S5. The execution time of the fourth vibration generation step S7 is preferably about 5 minutes.

When the fourth vibration stop step S7 is completed, the buzzer 19 (notification means) sounds to notify the user of the end of all steps (S8), and the operation is ended. In addition,
The notification to the user may be of a type that appeals to the auditory sense such as the buzzer 19, or may be of a type that appeals to the visual sense such as an indicator light. The notification from the user may be omitted. As described above, the vibration (stimulation) generating steps S2, S4, S6 for giving the vibration to make the body in a tension state, and the vibration (stimulation) generating step S1, S3 for stopping the vibration and making the body in a relaxed state.
By executing S5 and S7 alternately and making the intensity of the vibration gradually weaker each time the vibration generation steps S1, S3, S5 and S7 are performed, the relaxation effect becomes greater than when simply resting. .

Further, by executing the stimulus stopping steps S1 and S7 immediately after the start of the operation and immediately before the end of the operation, an appropriate relaxation effect can be obtained. In the present embodiment, the execution time of the stimulus generation step and the execution time of the stimulus stop are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set according to the strength of the stimulus and the degree of the relaxation effect to be obtained. . Also, the number of executions of the stimulus generation step is not particularly limited, but is preferably performed a plurality of times.

FIG. 4 shows a relaxation device 21 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The relaxation device 21 has a chair-shaped device main body including a backrest 23, a seat surface portion 15, and a footrest 27, and can automatically recline the backrest 23 by a reclining drive unit (reclining motor) 28a. Things.

As shown in FIG. 5, the device 21 includes a stimulus generating means 29, a control means 31 for controlling the generation of the stimulus, and a notifying means 33 for notifying the user of the generation of the stimulus. A relaxation effect can be obtained by applying a stimulus to the body of a sitting user in synchronization with the expiration of the user. As stimulation given to the body,
Vibration is also employed in the present embodiment. The vibration generation means as the stimulus generation means 29 includes a first vibration generation unit (first stimulus generation unit) 35 provided inside the backrest 23,
A second vibration generator (second stimulus generator) 37 is provided inside the footrest 27.

The first vibration generating section 35 generates a vibration by the rotation of the first vibration generating motor 39, and the second vibration generating section 37 generates the vibration by the rotation of the second vibration generating motor 41. The first vibration generating unit 35 is connected to the user's foot (ie,
The second vibration generating section 37 is for applying vibration to the lower limb) and applies vibration to the back (that is, the torso) of the user. Here, the second vibration generator 37 generates a stronger vibration than the first vibration generator 35.

The control means 31 generates vibrations in a predetermined procedure to give a relaxation effect, generates vibrations in synchronization with exhalation,
And a timer circuit 43, a vibration generator selection circuit 45, and an exhalation signal generation circuit (synchronization means) 47. Control means 3
1 executes a procedure as shown in FIG. 6 to bring the body into a relaxation state. Hereinafter, this will be described.

First, a user sits on the device 21 and starts an operation for relaxation by a certain operation.
To instruct. Then, a first step of giving a weak vibration to the foot (calf) by the first vibration generating unit so as to synchronize with the exhalation of the user is executed. In this first step, an exhalation signal generating circuit 47 as a synchronizing means generates an exhalation signal for a certain period of time, and gives it to a buzzer as the notifying means 33 and a vibration generator selecting circuit 45. The buzzer 33 generates a “peep” sound while the exhalation signal is generated, and the selection circuit 45 drives the first vibration generation motor 31 to generate vibration (S11). The expiration signal generation time (execution time of S11) is set to an appropriate time for a person to exhale (for example, about 1 to 2 seconds).

Therefore, when the user exhales while the buzzer 33 emits a "peep" sound, the exhalation and the vibration can be synchronized. After a while, the generation of the exhalation signal stops, the buzzer 33 stops sounding, and the vibration stops (S12). During this time, the user inhales. The stop time of the exhalation signal (the execution time of S12) is set to an appropriate time for a person to inhale (for example, about 1 to 2 seconds).

Thereafter, an exhalation signal is generated again, and the above operations (S11, S12) are repeated. Such a first step is preferably repeated for 2 minutes. The measurement of this time is performed by the timer circuit 43. By applying the vibration in synchronization with the exhalation, a relaxation state can be obtained effectively.

Here, the buzzer 33 serving as a notification means can be omitted. That is, the user may exhale in accordance with the vibration generated by the first vibration generation motor 31 instead of the sound of the buzzer 33. In addition, if a breath detection means for detecting a user's breath is provided in a breath signal generation circuit as a synchronizing means, and the breath detection means generates a breath signal when the breath is detected, the user can hear a buzzer. There is no need to adjust to the sound and vibration of 33. As such an expiration detecting means, a means for detecting a change in the degree of swelling of the chest due to breathing and a means for detecting the temperature of air flowing through the nostrils can be adopted.

As a device for detecting a change in the degree of swelling of the chest, for example, a device in which a pressure sensor is provided on a band that can be wound around the chest can be used. In this case, when the chest is expanded by inhaling the air, the band body is in a tightened state, and if the tightened state is detected by a pressure sensor, the inhaled air can be detected. Conversely, when exhalation causes the chest to wither, the band body becomes loose. If this loose state is detected as a decrease in pressure by a pressure sensor, exhalation can be detected.

As a sensor for detecting the temperature of the air flowing through the nostrils, for example, a temperature detection sensor that detects the temperature of the air flowing through the nostrils can be employed. In this case, the temperature of the air flowing through the nostrils when inhaling is about the same as the temperature of the atmosphere and relatively low, whereas the temperature of the air flowing through the nostrils when exhaling comes out of the body. Because relatively high. Intake and expiration can be detected from this temperature difference.

When the execution of the first step is performed for two minutes (S
13), the reclining motor 28a operates, and the backrest falls down (S14). Therefore, the user is in the supine position. Then, a second step of giving a strong vibration to the back by the second vibration generating unit 37 is executed. In the second step, the selection circuit 45 drives the second vibration generation motor 41 to generate vibration continuously regardless of exhalation (S15). The execution time of this second step is 1
0 to 15 minutes is preferred.

After the execution of the second step, the reclining motor 28a operates and the backrest returns to the original position (S1).
6) The user is in a sitting position. Then, the first step of giving a weak vibration to the foot (calf) by the first vibration generating unit while synchronizing with the expiration of the user is executed again. The execution contents of this first step are the same as those of the above-mentioned first step. The relaxation effect is promoted in the same manner as in the first embodiment by temporarily increasing the tension by the second step of the strong stimulus and then performing the first step of the weak stimulus. When the second execution of the first step ends, the operation ends.

When the above driving is performed, the heart rate decreases and the accessory sympathetic nerve is activated. The decrease in heart rate and activation of the accessory sympathetic nerve are medically recognized to be in a relaxed state, and the present device 21 can provide a relaxation effect. In this embodiment, the vibration synchronized with the exhalation may be given to the user's hand (that is, the upper limb). In this case, it is preferable that the first vibration generating section is provided on an armrest of a chair or the like.
Further, the reclining drive unit (motor) 28a can be omitted, and a certain degree of relaxation effect can be obtained without changing the form of giving vibration between the sitting position and the lying position.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, for example, the relaxation devices 1 and 21 can be of a bed or a chair type instead of a chair type. Further, in the embodiments, the function realizing means exemplified as “circuit” can be replaced by a computer program having an equivalent function.

[0039]

As described above, according to the relaxation apparatus of the present invention, a relaxation effect can be obtained by stimulating the body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a relaxation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the relaxation device.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of the relaxation device.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a relaxation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the relaxation device.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of the relaxation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,21 Relaxation device 3,23 Backrest 5,25 Seat portion 7,27 Footrest 8,28 Device body 9,29 Stimulus generation means 11,31 Control means 28a Reclining drive unit (motor) 33 Notification unit (buzzer) 35 First Vibration generator 37 Second vibration generator

Claims (8)

[Claims] A stimulus generating means (9) for applying a stimulus to the body, and a control means (11) for controlling the generation of the stimulus, wherein the control means (11) applies the stimulus to tension the body. A stimulus generation step of making a state and a stimulus stop step of stopping the stimulus to make the body relaxed are alternately executed, and the intensity of the stimulus is controlled so as to gradually become weaker each time the stimulus generation step is executed. Features a relaxation device. 2. A stimulus generating means (9) for applying a stimulus to the body, and a control means (11) for controlling the generation of the stimulus, wherein the control means (11) applies the stimulus to tension the body. A stimulus generation step of making a state and a stimulus stop step of stopping the stimulus to make the body relaxed are alternately executed, and the stimulus stop step is executed immediately after the start of driving and immediately before the end of driving. Relaxation device. 3. A stimulus generating means (9) for applying a stimulus to the body, and a control means (11) for controlling the generation of the stimulus, wherein the control means (11) applies the stimulus to tension the body. A stimulus generation step of making a state and a stimulus stop step of stopping the stimulus and putting the body in a relaxed state are alternately executed, and control is performed so that the intensity of the stimulus gradually decreases. A relaxation device for performing a stimulus stopping step. 4. A stimulus generating means (29) for applying a stimulus to a body, and a control means (31) for controlling generation of a stimulus, wherein the control means (31) includes a stimulus generating step, A relaxation device which alternately executes a stop step and a synchronizing means (47) for executing the stimulus generation step at a timing synchronized with the expiration of the user. 5. The relaxation device according to claim 4, wherein said stimulus generating means (29) applies a stimulus to a lower limb or an upper limb. 6. A stimulus generating means (29) for applying a stimulus to the body, and a control means (31) for controlling generation of the stimulus, wherein the stimulus generating means (29) is provided for a lower limb or an upper limb. A first stimulus generator (35) for providing a stimulus; and a second stimulus generator (37) for providing a stronger stimulus to the torso than the first stimulus generator (35). A first step of operating the first stimulus generation section (35) and a second step of operating the second stimulus generation section (37) are alternately performed, and within the first step, a stimulus generation step And a step of alternately executing the step of stopping the stimulation, and comprising a synchronizing means (47) for executing the stimulation generating step at a timing synchronized with the expiration of the user. . 7. An apparatus main body (28) configured to be reclineable so as to support a body in a sitting position and a lying position;
A drive unit (28a) for reclining the apparatus main body (28), wherein the control means (31) supports the body in a sitting position when the first step is performed, and is in a supine position when the second step is performed. 7. The relaxation device according to claim 6, wherein the driving unit is operated so as to support the body. 8. The relaxation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means (31) executes the first step immediately after the start of operation and immediately before the end of operation.