JP2006102480A - Massage unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the massage effect of a massage unit including a finger pressure element mounted on an annular belt. <P>SOLUTION: This massage unit includes: a rotatable roller 30 linking with a driving means 50; a roller 40 disposed at a predetermined space from the roller 30 and parallel thereto; the annular belt 20 stretched between the rollers 30, 40; and the finger pressure element projected on the outer peripheral surface of the belt 20 to give a massage to a diseased part of a person to be treated. The outer peripheral surface of the belt 20 is provided with a plurality of finger pressure elements 60, 70, and the finger pressure elements 60, 70 are formed in different shapes of two or more kinds. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a massage unit that massages an affected area of a user, and more specifically, relates to a massage unit that provides an acupressure element on an annular belt, runs the belt, and massages the affected area with the acupressure element. .

There is a massage unit that presses and massages an acupressure element against an affected area of a user by suspending a belt with a plurality of acupressure elements between rollers and rotating the roller (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-145044

  The acupressure elements attached to the belt are all in the same shape, for example, all of the acupressure elements are hemispherical in Patent Document 1, and the massage may be monotonous. In addition, the conventional acupressure element only presses the affected area, and it has not been possible to massage to improve blood circulation by sandwiching the affected area.

  An object of the present invention is to enhance as much as possible the massage effect of a massage unit having an annular belt provided with an acupressure element.

  In addition, the present invention is to provide a massage with a soft feel by the acupressure element and to smoothly move the annular belt.

  Furthermore, it is intended to obtain a massage machine in which the acupressure element can be easily attached to the annular belt and the acupressure element can be replaced.

In order to solve the above problems, the massage unit of the first invention of the present application is:
A roller linked to the driving means and rotatable, a roller arranged in parallel with the roller at a predetermined interval, an annular belt suspended between the rollers, and a treatment projecting on the outer peripheral surface of the belt In a massage unit comprising a shiatsu that massages the affected area of a person, the outer peripheral surface of the belt is provided with a plurality of shiatsus, and the shiatsus have at least two different shapes.

The massage unit of the second invention of the present application is
A roller linked to the driving means and rotatable, a roller arranged in parallel with the roller at a predetermined interval, an annular belt suspended between the rollers, and a treatment projecting on the outer peripheral surface of the belt In a massage unit comprising an acupressure element that massages the affected area of the person, the acupressure element is elastic and covered with a cloth cover, and the end of the cover is sewn to the belt, so that the acupressure element is attached to the belt. did.

Furthermore, the massage unit of the third invention of the present application is
A roller linked to the driving means and rotatable, a roller arranged in parallel with the roller at a predetermined interval, an annular belt suspended between the rollers, and a treatment projecting on the outer peripheral surface of the belt In a massage unit comprising a shiatsu that massages the affected area of the person, the belt is made of a synthetic resin material and a urethane film is coated on the side in contact with the roller, and the shiatsu is covered with a cover made of the same material as the belt The acupressure element was attached to the belt by coating a urethane film on the contact surfaces of the belt and the cover and welding the contact surfaces.

  According to the massage unit of the first invention, since the shape of the acupressure element arranged on the belt is different, the pressing feeling and the treatment feeling when each acupressure element hits the affected area of the user are different. Therefore, by pressing these acupressure elements sequentially against the affected area by rotating the belt, the massage operation is not monotonous, and a variety of massages can be performed.

  For example, if one of the acupressure elements has a groove shape that sandwiches the affected area of the user, and the other has a convex shape or a flat shape, the affected area becomes an acupressure element when the acupressure element of the groove shape hits the affected area. After being pinched and the groove-shaped acupressure element has passed, the affected area is released from the pinching force and stretched by the acupressure element having a convex or flat shape. A massage massage can be received.

  According to the massage unit of the second invention, since the acupressure element has elasticity and is covered with the cloth cover, the acupressure element and the cloth of the elastic body can provide a massage with a soft feel by the acupressure element. Since the acupressure element and the fabric cover are easily deformed, the roller part can be easily passed through and the belt can be moved smoothly.

  Here, the acupressure element is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction of the belt so as to cross the belt, and the cover is made of a highly stretchable fabric, and excluding an end face on the side orthogonal to the advancing direction of the acupressure element. By covering the acupressure element, the acupressure element can be easily pulled out from the cover, and the acupressure element can be easily replaced.

  According to the massage unit of the third invention, the belt is made of a synthetic resin material made of nylon and coated with a urethane film on the side in contact with the roller. You can move smoothly. The cover that covers the acupressure element is made of the same material as the belt, and the contact surface between the belt and the cover is coated with a urethane film, and the contact surface is welded. Can be improved.

  An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a massage unit (10) for massaging a calf of a user will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the chair type massage machine (90) has a seat (92) on which a user sits and an armrest (93) protruding from both the left and right sides of the seat (92). Further, a backrest (94) is disposed at the rear end of the seat (92) so as to be tiltable and positionable. Furthermore, the massage unit (10) of the present invention for massaging the calf of the user is disposed at the tip of the seat (92). In the backrest (94), a well-known massage means (not shown) for performing massage from the shoulder to the waist of the user is provided so as to be able to move up and down along the backrest (94).

  The massage unit (10) can be tilted and positioned with respect to the seat (92), and is surrounded by a cushion cover (12) at a portion where the calf of the user hits and a lower cover (13) at the back side. . As shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, the user tilts the massage unit (10) until it is almost horizontal with respect to the seat (92), and the cushion cover (12) of the massage unit (10). You can get a massage by putting a calf on top.

  2 is a front view showing a state in which the cushion cover (12) and the lower cover (13) of the massage unit (10) in FIG. 1 are removed, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the massage unit (10) is connected to a frame (96) (96) extending from the seat (92) so as to be tiltable. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the massage unit (10) includes support frames (15) and (15) connected to the seat frames (96) and (96). The support frame (15) Between (15), the proximal end side and the distal end side are connected by horizontal frames (16) and (16), respectively. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plate (17) having a narrow center is provided between the support frames (15) and (15).

  As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of bearings (32), (32), (42), and (42) are disposed on the back and front of the wide portion at the left and right ends of the plate (17), respectively. A drive shaft (33) is freely fitted to the bearings (32) and (32) on the base end side, and one end of the drive shaft (33) is connected to drive means (50) described later. A cylindrical roller (30) is fitted to the drive shaft (33) so as to be rotatable integrally with the drive shaft (33).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bearings (42) and (42) on the front end side are provided with shaft holes (44) and (44) that are long in the front-rear direction, and driven shafts (44) and (44) are driven shafts ( 43) is fitted. Adjustment screws (45) and (45) for adjusting the tension of the belt (20) are screwed onto the driven shaft (43). The adjustment screw (45) has a tip that contacts the inner surface of the shaft hole (44) and a base end that protrudes from the shaft hole (44) through the bearing (42). A roller (40) is fitted to the driven shaft (43) so as to freely rotate.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a motor (51) serving as a driving means (50) is disposed on the back surface of the plate (17) on one left end side of the plate (17). As shown in FIG. 5 (showing a state where the cover (55) of the speed reduction mechanism (52) is removed), the motor (51) is connected via a speed reduction mechanism (52) including a pinion (53) and a gear (54). The roller (30) is connected to the drive shaft (33) so that power can be transmitted.

  A flexible annular belt (20) shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is suspended between the rollers (30) and (40). The belt (20) sandwiches the plate (17) up and down, and the upper surface of the plate (17) and the inner surface of the belt (20) are arranged so as to approach or contact each other. The belt (20) can be formed by forming an annular shape by connecting both ends of a flexible rectangular material. The belt (20) can be formed of, for example, a cloth spring or rubber.

  As described above, when the belt (20) is formed in an annular shape by connecting both ends of the rectangular material, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the seam (22) remains, but the seam (22) It is desirable to cover the seam (22) with an acupressure element (60), which will be described later, so that the end part protrudes to the outer peripheral side of (20). If the seam (22) is located at a part other than the acupressure (60) (70), when the belt (20) is rotated, the seam (22) may hit the affected area of the user and feel uncomfortable. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, two acupressure elements (60) and (70) having different shapes are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the belt (20).

  The illustrated acupressure elements (60) and (70) have a width protruding from the left and right sides of the belt (20). As shown in FIG. A groove-shaped recess (62) is formed to sandwich the affected area (calf) of the user. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the other acupressure element (70) can be formed in a shape having a lower height than the acupressure element (60) and a flat upper surface. Note that the shape of the acupressure elements (60) and (70) is not limited to these, and examples thereof include those provided with a plurality of irregularities, and those in which the width and angle of the groove-shaped recesses are changed.

  The tension of the belt (20) can be adjusted by rotating adjusting screws (45) and (45) provided at both ends of the driven shaft (43). Since the tip of the adjustment screw (45) (45) is in contact with the inner surface of the shaft hole (44) (44), when the adjustment screw (45) (45) is rotated in the tightening direction, the adjustment screw (45) (45) ) And the driven shaft (43) screwed to the belt (20) move in the direction of increasing the tension of the belt (20). Further, when the adjusting screws (45) and (45) are rotated in the direction of loosening, the driven shaft (43) moves in the direction of decreasing the tension of the belt (20). Thus, the tension of the belt (20) can be optimally adjusted by the adjusting screws (45) and (45).

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a concave portion (63) that covers the joint (22) of the belt (20) described above is provided in the left-right direction of the back surface of the acupressure element (60). ) Is aligned with the seam (22), and the pressing piece (64) is interposed so as to sandwich the belt (20), and the acupressure element (60) is attached to the belt (20) by screwing (65). The other acupressure element (70) is similarly provided with a recess (73) (see FIG. 7), and is attached to the belt (20) by screwing with a pressing piece (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the acupressure elements 60 and 70 are preferably attached to the belt 20 at equal intervals, that is, so that the phases are shifted from each other by 180 degrees. This is because by arranging the acupressure elements (60) and (70) at equal intervals, the acupressure elements (60) and (70) pass through the affected part at a fixed timing when the belt (20) rotates.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the massage unit (10) having the above configuration is used with a cushion cover (12) and a lower cover (13) attached thereto.

  When the user sits on the chair type massage machine (90) and the massage unit (10) is tilted and positioned until it is level with the seat (92) as shown in FIG. The calf is placed on the massage unit (10).

  In this state, when the drive means (50), that is, the motor (51) is driven, the rotational force of the motor (51) is transmitted to the drive shaft (33) via the speed reduction mechanism (52), and the drive shaft (33 ) Rotates. The rotation of the drive shaft (33) causes the roller (30) fitted to the drive shaft (33) to rotate integrally with the drive shaft (33), and the belt (20) suspended from the rollers (30) and (40). Go around. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the acupressure elements (60) and (70) provided on the belt (20) sequentially hit the affected area (calf) of the user.

  The acupressure element (60) having the groove-shaped recess (62) moves while sandwiching the calf between the recesses (62). On the other hand, the flat acupressure element (70) pushes and stretches the calf pressed by the depression (62) of the acupressure element (60). While the massage operation is repeated while the belt (20) circulates, the calf of the user can receive a massage like a pinching by a person.

  In addition, as for the circumference | surroundings direction of a belt (20), it is desirable to make a treatment finger | toe (60) (70) move to the calf side from the heel side like the arrow of FIG. Thereby, the blood flow of the affected part can be directed toward the heart.

  By changing the shape of the acupressure element (60) (70) attached to the belt (20), the massage operation does not become monotonous, and it is possible to apply massage that repeats pinching and stretching as described above. The treatment effect can be enhanced.

  It should be noted that a position detecting means for detecting the position of the acupressure element (60) (70) is provided, and when the acupressure element (60) or (70) comes to the front and rear portions of the belt (20) by this detecting means, the belt If the movement of (20) is stopped and the massage is terminated, the shiatsu (60) (70) will not get in the way when resting with the calf on the massage unit (10). Examples of the position detection means include a configuration in which a magnet is provided in the acupressure elements (60) and (70) and detection is performed by a reed switch.

  In the above embodiment, the two acupressure elements (60), (70) are arranged on the belt (20). However, as shown in FIG. 10, the three acupuncture elements (60), (70), (80) are arranged. Also good. Also in this case, when the acupressure elements (60), (70), and (80) having at least two kinds of shapes are used, the massage is not monotonous and the treatment effect can be improved. The acupressure elements (60), (70), (80) are arranged on the belt (20) at equal intervals so that the phases are shifted by 120 °. The illustrated acupressure element (80) is an acupressure element having a depression (82) having a depth different from that of the depression (62) of the acupressure element (60) (in this example, the depth of the groove is shallow).

  When the acupressure element (60) having the groove-shaped recess (62) is adopted, the affected part is the part of the acupressure element (60) that is not sandwiched by the recess (62). Since it is stretched by force or the like, even if only one acupressure element (60) is provided on the belt (20) or a plurality of the same shape is provided, an excellent treatment effect can be obtained.

  11 to 14 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, a hard protrusion is assumed as the acupressure element (60) (70) (80), but in the second embodiment, an elastic protrusion is assumed. is there. Here, the same components as those in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The acupressure elements (61) and (71) are made of an elastic material such as foamed urethane resin, and are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the belt so as to cross the belt (24). ) Has a width that protrudes from the left and right. The acupressure element (61) has a flat upper surface as shown in FIG. 13, but the acupressure element (71) has a groove-like shape that sandwiches the calf, like the acupressure element (60) described in the previous embodiment. A depression (72) is formed. A nylon resin material is used for the belt (24), and a urethane film coating (25) is provided on the back side of the belt (24) in contact with the rollers (30) and (40).

  The acupressure elements 61 and 71 are covered with cloth covers 66 and 76. Specifically, the acupressure elements (61) and (71) are covered with covers (66) and (76) except for end faces (both left and right end faces) in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the belt (24). It is preferable to use a highly stretchable material for the covers (66) and (76). And the acupressure element (61) (71) is made by sewing (67) (77) both ends of the cover (66) (76) in the direction parallel to the traveling direction of the belt (24) to the belt (24). Attached to the belt (24).

  With this configuration, a flexible touch massage can be obtained by the elastic acupressure elements (61) (71) and the cloth covers (66) (76). Also, since the acupressure element (61) (71) and the fabric cover (66) (76) are easily deformed, the acupressure element (61) (71) can easily pass through the roller (30) (40) part. The belt (24) can be moved smoothly.

  Further, the acupressure elements (61) and (71) have both left and right ends, and can be easily pulled out from the covers (66) and (76), and can be easily exchanged with other acupressure elements. At this time, even if the shape and size of the acupressure element to be replaced are slightly different from those of the original acupressure element, the belt (24) can be easily used by using a highly elastic material for the cover (66) (76). Can be attached to.

  Also, since the urethane film coating (25) is applied to the side that contacts the rollers (30) and (40) on the back side of the belt (24), the belt (24) and the rollers (30) and (40) The belt (24) can be moved more smoothly by preventing slippage.

  Note that portions protruding from the belt (24) at both left and right ends of the acupressure elements (61) (71) may not be covered with the covers (66) (76). If it does in this way, when pulling out the acupressure element (61) (71) from the cover (66) (76), it is easy to hold and can be taken out easily.

  FIG. 15 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. Components similar to those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, as the cover (68) covering the acupressure element (61), the same nylon material as the belt (24) is used, and the belt (24) is in contact with both ends of the belt (24) in the traveling direction of the cover (68). Each of the surfaces (S) is coated with a urethane film coating (69) (26). The acupressure element (61) is attached to the belt (24) by welding the contact surface.

  Here, the belt (24) is coated with urethane film coatings (25) and (26) on the entire surface in contact with the rollers (30) and (40) and the contact portion with the cover (68), and the cover (68) A urethane film coating (69) is applied to the entire surface in contact with the acupressure element (61).

  With this configuration, the belt (24) and the rollers (30) (40) can be prevented from slipping and the belt can be moved more smoothly, and the cover (68) is attached to the belt (24). In addition, the urethane film coatings (69) and (26) applied to both materials can be used as they are, and the assemblability can be improved. The acupressure element may be a hard one that does not have elasticity. Although only one acupressure element (61) has been described, the same applies to the other acupressure elements (71), and thus the drawing is omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the massage unit (10) for massaging the calf of the user. For example, it is used as a massage unit for massaging the thigh, sole, arm, neck, back, waist, etc. Of course you can.

  Moreover, although the massage unit (10) of the present invention is provided in the chair type massage machine (90), the massage unit (10) can be used alone.

  The present invention is useful as a massage unit in which massage is not monotonous and has a high therapeutic effect.

It is a side view of the chair type massage machine carrying the massage unit of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the state which removed the cushion cover and lower cover of the massage unit of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. It is a left view of the massage unit of FIG. It is an enlarged view of a drive means, Comprising: It is a figure which removes the cover of a deceleration mechanism and shows. It is the figure which looked at the acupressure element which has a groove-shaped dent from the arrow B direction of FIG. It is the figure which looked at the flat acupressure from the arrow B direction of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the junction part of an acupressure element and a belt. It is a cross-sectional view along line CC in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the massage unit which provides three acupressure elements. It is a front view which shows the state which removed the cushion cover and lower cover of the massage unit of the other Example of this invention. It is arrow sectional drawing which follows the line AA of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which shows attachment of the acupressure element (61) in FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which shows attachment of the acupressure element (71) in FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the other attachment state of an acupressure element.

Explanation of symbols

(10) Massage unit
(20) Belt
(30) Roller
(40) Roller
(50) Drive means
(60) Acupressure
(62) Recess
(70) Acupressure
(80) Acupressure
(82) dent
(24) Belt
(61) Acupressure
(71) Acupressure
(66) Cover
(67) Suture part
(76) Cover
(77) Suture part
(68) Cover
(25) Urethane film coating surface
(26) Urethane film coating surface
(69) Urethane film coating surface
(90) Chair type massage machine

Claims (10)

A rotatable roller (30) connected to the driving means (50), a roller (40) arranged in parallel with the roller (30) at a predetermined interval, and the rollers (30) (40) In a massage unit comprising a suspended annular belt (20), and a shiatsu that projects from the outer peripheral surface of the belt (20) and massages the affected area of the user,
The outer peripheral surface of the belt (20) includes a plurality of acupressure elements (60) (70),
The acupressure element (60), (70) is a massage unit characterized in that it has at least two different shapes.   The massage unit according to claim 1, wherein the acupressure elements (60), (70) are arranged at equal intervals in the traveling direction of the belt (20).   The massage unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one acupressure element (60) has a groove-shaped recess (62) that sandwiches the affected area of the user.   The belt (20) is constituted by connecting both ends of a flexible rectangular material, and one acupressure element is arranged so as to cover the joint (22) of the belt (20). The massage unit according to any one of the above. A rotatable roller (30) connected to the driving means (50), a roller (40) arranged in parallel with the roller (30) at a predetermined interval, and the rollers (30) (40) In a massage unit comprising a suspended annular belt (24), and a shiatsu (61) (71) projecting on the outer peripheral surface of the belt (24) to massage the affected area of the user,
The acupressure element (61) (71) has elasticity and is covered with a cloth cover (66) (76), and the end of the cover is sewn (67) (77) to the belt (24), thereby (61) A massage unit characterized by mounting the (71) on the belt (24). The acupressure elements (61) and (71) are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the belt traveling direction so as to cross the belt (24), and the covers (66) and (76) are made of highly stretchable fabric and (61) The massage unit according to claim 5, wherein the acupressure element is covered except for an end face on a side orthogonal to the traveling direction of (71). A rotatable roller (30) connected to the driving means (50), a roller (40) arranged in parallel with the roller (30) at a predetermined interval, and the rollers (30) (40) In a massage unit comprising a suspended annular belt (24) and an acupressure element (61) projecting on the outer peripheral surface of the belt (24) to massage the affected area of the user,
The belt (24) is made of a synthetic resin material, coated with a urethane film (25) on the side in contact with the roller (30), and the acupressure element (61) is covered with a cover (68) made of the same material as the belt (24). The contact surface (S) of the belt (24) and the cover (68) is coated with a urethane film (26) (69), and the contact surfaces are welded to attach the acupressure element (61) to the belt. A massage unit characterized by that.   The massage unit according to claim 7, wherein the belt (24) and the cover (68) are made of a nylon material. A rotatable roller (30) connected to the driving means (50), a roller (40) arranged in parallel with the roller (30) at a predetermined interval, and the rollers (30) (40) In a massage unit comprising a suspended annular belt (20), and a shiatsu that projects from the outer peripheral surface of the belt (20) and massages the affected area of the user,
The acupressure element (60) has a groove-shaped recess (62) that sandwiches the affected area of the user. A rotatable roller (30) connected to the driving means (50), a roller (40) arranged in parallel with the roller (30) at a predetermined interval, and the rollers (30) (40) In a massage unit comprising a suspended annular belt (20), and a shiatsu that projects from the outer peripheral surface of the belt (20) and massages the affected area of the user,
The belt (20) is configured by connecting both ends of a flexible rectangular material, and the acupressure element is disposed so as to cover the joint (22) of the belt (20).