JP2002011063A - Air cell driving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently reduce noise from of an air cell when a treatment site is close to the ear. SOLUTION: The air cell driving device comprises an air cell function part which expands and contracts by a supplied air, and incorporates an air cell which is able to pressurize freely a treated body part, an air supply device which supplies air to the air cell, and an air pipe connecting the air supply device and the air cell function part. The air cell function part and the air cell supply part are isolated via the pipe, and a sound attenuation means is built in the air cell function part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air cell provided in an air cell function section, which is supplied with air from an air supply device including an air pump and a distributor through a ventilation pipe to expand and contract the air cell. The present invention relates to an air cell driving device that performs position change for preventing massage and bedsores.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, air massage machines and bedsore prevention devices having an air cell function section such as a mat shape are widely known. In this type of air cell driving device, air from an air supply device including an air pump and a distributor is supplied to an air cell in an air cell function unit at a separated position through a ventilation pipe. The air cell is inflated and contracted by the supply of air, and the body is moved along the air cell function unit to perform a position massage for body massage and bedsore prevention. By the way, at the time of air supply, noise is generated from the air supply device due to the operation of the pump, the distributor, and the like. This noise can be reduced by a silencer or the like in the air supply device, but the noise is transmitted to the air cell via the ventilation pipe. Since the transmitted noise is generated from the vicinity of the air cell, when the air cell is arranged near the ear such as the neck or the shoulder, it is very annoying.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention reduces the noise on the air cell side when the air supply device and the air cell are directly connected by a ventilation pipe, which is seen in the conventional air massage machines and bedsore prevention devices as described above. The task is to

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and expands and contracts by supplying air.
An air cell drive unit including an air cell function unit having a built-in air cell capable of pressurizing the treatment target, an air supply device for supplying air to the air cell, and a ventilation pipe communicating the air supply device and the air cell function unit. In the apparatus, the air cell function unit and the air supply device are separated from each other via a ventilation pipe, and a muffling unit is incorporated in the air cell function unit. It is also characterized in that a cushion function material is provided at least above a noise-reducing air tank as a noise-reducing means, and that an air cell is provided above the noise-reducing air tank.

[0005]

With the above construction, the noise generated when air is supplied to the air cell can be silenced by the silencing means provided in the air cell function part, so that the noise generated at a position closer to the treatment part is obtained. Is effective because the sound is muted.

[0006]

Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a mat type air massage machine will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a mat body serving as an air cell function unit, and a mat member 13 having elasticity is disposed throughout the inside of the mat body 1. A connecting portion 3 that is detachably connected is formed.

[0007] The ventilation pipe 2 is composed of a plurality of pipes (6 in this embodiment).
The connection portions 21 and 22 are formed at both ends in a state where the book is bundled, and the other end of the ventilation pipe 2 is detachable from the connection portion 5 of the air supply device 4. A pump 6 and a distributor 7 are disposed inside the air supply device 4, and air is selectively supplied to each of the communication tubes 2 by predetermined control.
The air supplied to the predetermined pipe from the distributor 7 is supplied to a predetermined air cell, inflates the air cell, applies a pressing force to the treatment target, and after a certain period of time, uses an exhaust unit provided in the distributor 7. The pressing force is released by being exhausted. In addition, in addition to the configuration provided in the distributor 7, the exhaust means may be configured to exhaust air by a body pressure or the like after a small hole is formed in the air cell and air supply is stopped.

It is possible to arrange a silencer in the air supply device 4 if necessary. However, it is difficult to completely muffle the sound in the stage preceding the distributor because the noise level is high near the noise source. A part of the noise accompanying the air supply by the distribution is transmitted to the inside of the mat body 1 through the ventilation pipe 2.

Next, the mat body 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A plurality of hollow air cells 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 8 are provided inside the mat body 1.
6 are provided and each end is connected to the internal ventilation pipe 9. Each air cell repeats expansion and contraction at a predetermined cycle. The air cell 81 is arranged at a position corresponding to the neck of the human body, and can be freely expanded and contracted by air supply, so that the upper body such as the neck can be massaged.

In this embodiment, only the air cell 81 is provided with a silencer air tank 10 as a silencer at a position on the passage of the internal ventilation pipe 9 which does not interfere with the treatment section. The air tank 10 is hollow by means of, for example, blow molding, and both ends are connected to the ventilation pipe 9, and as shown in FIG. That is, a cushion material is provided at least on the upper side of the air tank 10 so that even if the body hits, there is no uncomfortable feeling. The air tank 10 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped having a low height.
The mat material 1 in the mat body 1 is so arranged that only the air tank 10 does not prominently protrude in a state in which the air tank 1 is completely exhausted.
3, a recess 12 or a through hole is formed and disposed therein.

The communication pipe 9 is connected to the air tank 10 at a stage prior to connection with the air cell 81, so that noise transmitted to the ventilation pipe 9 is suppressed, and the momentum at which air is directly blown into the air cell is suppressed. It also has the effect of reducing sound. In this embodiment, the air tank 10 for silencing is provided only for the air cell 81 for the neck, and no air tank is provided for the remaining air cells 82 to 86. As described above, by separately providing a silencing measure only for the neck air cell 81 near the ear, effective silencing can be expected without significantly increasing the cost.

As shown in FIG. 3, the air cells 82 to 86 do not have a noise reduction effect because there is no noise reduction air tank, and only the noise reduction device provided in the air supply device 4 has a noise reduction effect. There is no particular problem because it is a treatment away from the ear. Of course, it is also possible to provide an air tank for silencing as required.

Next, FIGS. 4 to 6 show another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a massage function unit according to another embodiment, which is characterized by the positional relationship between the air cell and the air tank for silencing. The air cell 22 is disposed above the air tank 24 according to the present embodiment, and the cushion function material 25 is disposed above the air cell 22. For this reason, it is in a swelled state compared with the position where the other air cells are provided. The raised part can be used as a pillow to support the neck position, and plays a role in confirming the installation position of the neck and improving the massage effect.

With this configuration, the blow-molded air tank 24 can prevent the inflation force of the air cell 22 from being applied downward, and can obtain a further upward force, thereby improving the massage effect. . Furthermore, there is a sufficient thickness of cushioning material between the air cell 22, the air tank 24 and the neck to be treated as a pillow so as to ensure an appropriate thickness as a pillow. In addition to being reduced by the presence of the tank 24, the cushion function material acts as a soundproofing material against the reduced noise at the time of jetting, and is further reduced at the ear.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show still another embodiment, in which an air tank 52 for noise reduction is provided around an air cell 51. FIG.
Is arranged. This air tank 52 is formed by blow molding like the above-described air tank, and has a hollow donut shape. By arranging the air tank 52 around the air cell 51 in this manner, the space can be effectively used, and a larger space can be used as a noise reduction space.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a bedsore prevention mat. FIG. 7 is a plan view of a bedsore prevention mat 61 as an air cell function unit.
, And is selectively supplied into the air cell groups 66, 67, 68, 69. Cell groups 66 and 67 expanded by air supply
Only the air cell is in contact with the body, exhausted after a predetermined time, and another group of air cells 68, 69 is inflated to make contact with the body, thereby dispersing the contact points with the mat of the body and preventing bedsore. The air cells 66a, 67a, 6 closest to the head position among the air cell groups of the bedsore prevention mat 61.
The noise-reducing air tank 70 is interposed in each of 8a and 69a, so that the user can reduce noise at his / her ear. The shape of the air tank 70 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped as described above. However, if the end of the mat 61 is in contact with the body, there is little risk of contact with the body. In all the above-described embodiments, the outer shape of the air tank is not limited to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped,
Of course, it may be cylindrical or barrel-shaped.

FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment, in which a distributor 95 is provided on the side of a mat body 93 having a built-in air cell. In this embodiment, the air supply device 94 is used.
Is provided with only a pump 91, and the air sent by the pump 91 is distributed to a predetermined flow path by a distributor 95 provided in the mat body 93 through a ventilation pipe 92 to expand and contract each air cell. . Since the distributor 95 distributes air by selectively opening and closing a plurality of valves by an electromagnetic mechanism, electric power is required.
6 is also connected between the air supply device 94 and the distributor 95. Mat body 9 before or after distributor 95
An air tank 97 for muffling is provided in 3. FIG.
Indicates a state in which it is arranged at the subsequent stage of the distributor 95, and only the ones that require the most silencing (the ones that communicate with the head-side air cell) are provided with a silencing air tank. I have.

In the embodiment described above, an air tank is separately provided as a muffling means. However, as shown in FIG. 9, a specific air cell such as a neck position is different from other air cells and has a more muffling effect. It may be formed into a shape and used as a noise reduction means. As a shape having a noise-reducing effect, the joint between the air cell 100 and the ventilation pipe 102 is eliminated or connected with a smooth curve as much as possible. In addition, since increasing the smoothness of the inner surface of the air cell also has a sufficient effect on silencing, it is also preferable to subject only the inner surface of a specific air cell to surface treatment. Although such a special configuration usually leads to an increase in cost, there is an advantage that the cost can be minimized by applying it to only a specific air cell.

It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a massager or a bedsore prevention mat of a type in which air is supplied from an air supply device other than the above-mentioned embodiment through a ventilation pipe.

[0020]

As described above, the present invention provides an air cell function section having a built-in air cell capable of expanding and contracting by air supply and capable of pressurizing a treatment portion, and an air supply section for supplying air to the air cell. In an air cell driving device including a device and a ventilation pipe communicating the air supply device and the air cell function unit, the air cell function unit and the air supply device are separated from each other via a ventilation tube, and noise is reduced in the air cell function unit. Built-in means makes it possible to muffle the sound near the air cell, which is the final air ejection part, and the air muffler is transmitted to the air cell through the ventilation pipe when air is supplied to the air cell by the muffling means. This has the effect of reducing the noise from the air and the sound of air jetting into the air cell.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an entire embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a mat type air massage machine.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the mat body of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the mat body of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a principal part showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a main part plan view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an entire embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a bedsore prevention mat.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an air cell showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mat body part (air cell function part) 2 Ventilation pipe 4 Air supply device 10 Air tank (silencer) 81-86 air cell

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 3B096 AC12 AD03 4C040 AA01 CC03 EE02 4C100 AA00 AD01 BB05 BC11 BC12 CA15 DA05 DA08 DA10

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An air cell function unit having a built-in air cell that expands and contracts by air supply and is capable of pressurizing a treatment target.
In an air supply device that supplies air to the air cell, and an air cell drive device that includes a ventilation pipe that communicates the air supply device with the air cell function unit, the air cell function unit and the air supply device are connected through a ventilation tube. An air cell driving device, wherein the air cell driving device is separated and a muffling means is built in the air cell function part. 2. The air cell driving device according to claim 1, wherein a cushioning material is provided at least on the outer side of the muffling means. 3. The air cell driving device according to claim 1, wherein an air cell is disposed above the muffling means. 4. The air cell driving device according to claim 1, wherein said muffling means is formed as a hollow air tank. 5. The air cell driving device according to claim 1, wherein said muffling means is applied only to a specific air cell.