JP2006122136A - Massage chair - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a massage chair excellent in the safety and comfort, with massage effects maintained and improved by allowing a user to use the massage chair in the seated posture facing backward with raised legs. <P>SOLUTION: This massage chair comprises a chair base body with an oscillation means for oscillating a seat part for massage, interposed between a pedestal put on a floor surface and the seat part for the user to be seated, and a backrest part disposed on the pedestal for receiving the back of the user seated on the seat part normally facing forward. The backrest part has a back receiving part above a base part which is fixed to the pedestal to extend upward. The back receiving part is pivotally supported to the base part in such a way as can be fixed to the base part, and can be tilted backward. The back receiving part is characterized by a leg-rest with a rising part. The rising part receives both legs of the user seated on the seat part facing backward with the back receiving part in the backward tilted state, and prevents falling of the legs put on the rising part by rising from both sides of the back receiving part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a massage chair that promotes blood circulation and relaxes muscle stiffness to restore fatigue by giving a seated user a stimulus by swinging.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, massage chairs that give a mechanical stimulus to a user seated on a chair, such as a vibration type using a motor and an air type that inflates and contracts an air bag, are used. And in order to raise a massage effect, as shown in FIG. 12, it comprises the seat part a, the backrest b of the rear part of this seat part a, and the footrest f of the front part of the seat part a, These seat parts a A massage chair has been proposed in which the vibration means or the like is provided on the back b and the footrest f to massage the whole body (for example, see Patent Document 1). Furthermore, using the microcomputer, the control which linked the operation | movement of the stimulation means e of each site | part is performed, and the device which makes the massage effect last is made | formed.

JP 2003-93463 A

  However, the user during the massage cannot change the posture while sitting forward, and even when the reclining mechanism is provided on the backrest b, the user can only change the inclination of the upper body. Therefore, as described above, even if the operation of the plurality of stimulating means e is controlled by the microcomputer and the stimulus is changed, the posture of the user remains positive, so that the body part where the massage effect is obtained can be obtained. In addition to being limited, there is a problem that the massage effect gradually decreases because the sensation gets used to the stimulus when it is continuously used.

  The present invention is based on the formation of a leg rest that prevents both legs of a user sitting on a seat portion in a rearward direction and prevents the legs from falling off, and can be used in a rearward sitting posture with the legs lifted. Therefore, it is an object to provide a massage chair that can maintain and improve the massage effect and is excellent in safety and comfort.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the seat is swung and massaged between a pedestal placed on the floor and an upper seat where the user sits. Provided on the base of the chair with the swinging means and the pedestal, and provided with a backrest for receiving the back of the user who normally sits forward on the seat, and the backrest is fixed to the pedestal An upper portion of the base portion extending upward is provided with a back support portion that is pivotally supported by the base portion and can be tilted backward, and the back support portion is seated rearward in the rearward tilt state of the back support portion. In addition to receiving both legs of a user sitting on the back part, a leg rest having a rising part that prevents the legs placed on both sides of the back receiving part from falling off is formed.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the leg rest includes the rising portions on both sides rising up in a curved shape, and in the invention according to claim 3, the swinging means is vertically expanded and contracted on the base. A vertical rocking plate via a lower spring, a horizontal rocking plate via a rocking spring that can swing horizontally on the vertical rocking plate, and a first rocker that is attached to the pedestal and moves up and down. A swing motor and a second swing motor attached to the vertical swing plate and swinging the horizontal swing plate are included.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the seat portion is provided on the horizontal swing plate, and further includes a vibrator that vibrates the seat portion. In the invention according to claim 5, the vertical swing plate is The first swing motor causes vertical movement with a single amplitude of 2 to 10 mm, and the horizontal swing plate generates horizontal movement with a single amplitude of 2 to 10 mm by the second swing motor, and the vertical movement The frequency of horizontal motion is 90 to 300 times per minute.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the back support part of the backrest part receives both legs of the user seated on the seat part in the rearward direction, and the two legs that are placed by rising on both sides of the back support part are removed. In order to have a leg rest that has a rising part to prevent falling, perform swing massage in a posture that sits forward and in a rearward position with both legs supported high by the leg rest while applying an appropriate load on the abdominal muscles Is possible. Therefore, the postures of the front and rear can be changed as appropriate, and various nerves and joints in the whole body extending from the upper body to the legs can be stimulated to recover from fatigue and the circulation of the whole body can be promoted. Furthermore, during backward massage, muscle training centering on the abdominal muscles can be performed simultaneously. Moreover, since both legs are stably supported by the leg receiving portion having the rising portion, safety during use is ensured, a relaxed posture is maintained, and comfort is obtained.

  As in the invention according to claim 2, when the leg rest is provided with the rising portions on both sides rising up in a curved shape, the pressure on both legs is reduced, so that the comfort is further improved. If the swinging means is composed of the vertical swing plate, the horizontal swing plate, and the first and second swing motors as in the invention according to the invention, the seat portion can be reliably swinged in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Because it can be moved, the massage effect is enhanced.

  If the seat portion is provided with a vibrator as in the invention according to claim 4, it is possible to give effective stimulation to the terminal nerve by vibration in addition to the swing, and the invention according to claim 5 As described above, the vertical swing plate generates vertical movement with a half amplitude of 2 to 10 mm, and the horizontal swing plate generates horizontal movement with a single amplitude of 2 to 10 mm, and the frequency of the vertical and horizontal movements. By making it 90 to 300 times per minute, a reliable massage effect can be obtained, and it can be used safely even in a posture where both legs are lifted.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the massage chair 1 includes a chair base 5 on which a user U sits and massages, and a backrest provided on the side of the chair base 5 to receive the back of the user U. Part 6. Furthermore, the chair base 5 includes a pedestal 2 placed on the floor surface F, a seat 3 disposed above the pedestal 2 for the user U to sit on, and a pedestal for swinging the seat 3. 2 and a swinging means 4 provided between the seat portion 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pedestal 2 is for stably placing the massage chair 1 on the floor surface F. In this embodiment, the main elliptical tube is bent into a U shape in plan view. A frame 21, a joint frame 22 spanning the rear end of the main frame 21, a pair of auxiliary frames 23, 23 spaced in parallel with the joint frame 22, and the main frame 21 and the auxiliary frame 23 The substrate 24 is configured to include the substrate 24 fixed to the substrate. The main frame 21 has a plurality of rubber feet 25 attached to the lower surface thereof, and a safety cap 26 fitted on the rear end. The pedestal 2 can be formed in a plate shape in addition to the frame-like configuration.

  The swinging means 4 is provided on the pedestal 2 as shown in FIGS. The swing means 4 of this embodiment includes a substantially horizontal vertical swing plate 12 disposed above the substrate 24, a lower spring 11 that supports the vertical swing plate 12, and an upper portion of the vertical swing plate 12. In the figure, a substantially horizontal horizontal rocking plate 14 disposed on the horizontal rocking plate 14 and a rocking spring 13 that supports the horizontal rocking plate 14 are illustrated.

  The lower spring 11 can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction, and in this embodiment, the lower spring 11 is formed by a substantially vertical compression coil spring 11A using spring steel, hard steel wire, piano wire or the like. The compression coil springs 11 </ b> A are disposed at four positions distributed between the front and rear and the left and right between the substrate 24 and the vertical swing plate 12. Further, the vertical swing plate 12 and the substrate 24 are formed with columnar projections 27U and 27D that face each other, and the compression coil spring 11A is attached by fitting the upper and lower ends thereof to the projections 27U and 27D, respectively. . In this way, the vertical swing plate 12 is supported by the compression coil spring 11A so as to be movable up and down.

  The compression coil spring 11A has a coil diameter of, for example, about 25 to 100 mm, 48 mm in this embodiment, a pitch of, for example, about 8 to 35 mm, 16 mm in this embodiment, and a wire diameter of, for example, about 2.5 to 11 mm, in this embodiment. It is set to 5.5 mm. The lower spring 11 may be a plate spring, a disc spring, an air spring, a rubber spring or the like in addition to the compression coil spring 11A.

  The oscillating spring 13 can oscillate in the lateral direction. In this embodiment, a cylindrical rubber spring 13A is used, and the rubber spring 13A is disposed between the vertical oscillating plate 12 and the horizontal oscillating plate 14. Similar to the spring 11, the spring 11 is arranged at four locations dispersed in the front, rear, left and right. The upper and lower end portions of the rubber spring 13A are fixed to the horizontal swing plate 14 and the vertical swing plate 12 using an adhesive or a fixing tool (not shown). In this way, the horizontal swing plate 14 attached via the rubber spring 13A moves horizontally with respect to the vertical swing plate 12 by so-called shear deformation in which the rubber spring 13A shifts laterally against the spring property. Supported as possible. The swing spring 13 may be an air spring, a coil spring or the like in addition to the rubber spring 13A.

  The swinging means 4 includes a first swing motor M1 that moves the vertical swing plate 12 up and down and a second swing motor M2 that swings the horizontal swing plate 14 sideways. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first swing motor M <b> 1 is fixed to the substrate 24 by an L-shaped bracket 29 in a posture in which the motor shaft is horizontal. The first swing motor M1 has a speed reducer 28 and an output shaft 32 that are unitized to adjust the rotational speed. A first bearing 31 is provided below the vertical swing plate 12 via a bracket 30, and an output shaft 32 of the first swing motor M 1 is provided via a first circular eccentric cam 33. Are supported by the first bearing 31.

  In this embodiment, the first circular eccentric cam 33 includes a short round bar-shaped cam base 33A and a cam protrusion 33B that is narrower and concentrically formed than the cam base 33A, and an end surface of the cam base 33A. The first circular eccentric cam 33 is provided with a mounting hole 34 that is displaced from the cam center axis Xc. The output shaft 32 is fitted into the mounting hole 34, and the cam protrusion 33 </ b> B is pivotally supported by the first bearing 31. With this configuration, when the output shaft 32 of the first swing motor M1 rotates, the cam projection 33B causes a circular motion around the output center axis Xp of the output shaft 32. Since the first bearing 31 supports the cam projection 33B, it causes a circular motion linked to the cam projection 33B. As a result, the first bearing 31 is fixed and the lower spring 11 is fixed. The vertical rocking plate 12 supported by the rocking rocks up and down with the circular motion.

  That is, when the first swing motor M1 is rotating, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the cam center axis Xc is horizontally aligned on the left side of the output center axis Xp in the drawing, the first bearing 31 and The vertical rocking plate 12 is at a reference height. When the clockwise rotation on the drawing of the first swing motor M1 proceeds, the cam center axis Xc rotates clockwise around the output center axis Xp, and as shown in FIG. When the output shaft 32 rotates 90 °, the cam center axis line Xc moves to a position directly above the output center axis line Xp and higher by a dimension h1 equal to the eccentric amount, whereby the first bearing 31 and the vertical swing plate 12 are moved. Increases by h1. When the rotation further proceeds, the cam center axis line Xc starts to descend, and as shown in FIG. 5C, when the output shaft 32 rotates to 180 °, the cam center axis line Xc is on the right side of the output center axis line Xp in the drawing. Since they are arranged horizontally, the first bearing 31 and the vertical swing plate 12 return to the reference height. As the rotation further proceeds, the first bearing 31 and the vertical swing plate 12 descend from the reference height, and when the output shaft 32 rotates to 270 ° as shown in FIG. Xc moves to a position just below the output center axis Xp and lower by a dimension h2 equal to the eccentricity, whereby the first bearing 31 and the vertical swing plate 12 are also lowered by h2 and reach the lowest position. When further rotated, the first bearing 31 and the vertically swinging plate 12 turn up again, and the output shaft 32 rotates 360 ° to return to the initial state shown in FIG. The bearing 31 and the vertical swing plate 12 also return to the reference height.

  As described above, the vertical rocking plate 12 is supported by the lower spring 11 and is vertically rocked by the first rocking motor M1, so that a reliable massage stimulation can be given to the user U. . In this embodiment, the single amplitude of the vertical swing is determined by the eccentric distance between the output center axis Xp and the cam center axis Xc. For example, about 2 to 10 mm, preferably 3 to 8 mm, and 5 mm in this embodiment. It is said. If it is less than 2 mm, stimulation due to vertical swinging is insufficient, so a sufficient massage effect cannot be obtained. Conversely, if it exceeds 10 mm, the user U may feel uncomfortable due to excessive vertical movement and safety. There is a risk of damage.

  The frequency of vertical movement is, for example, about 90 to 300 times, preferably 145 to 225 times per minute. If it is less than 90 times, sufficient stimulation cannot be obtained. On the other hand, if it exceeds 300 times, the swinging becomes excessively strong, which may impair safety and comfort. The first swing motor M1 of this embodiment is exemplified by a motor using a speed change motor whose rotation speed can be adjusted by a controller (not shown). Specifically, the rotation speed of the output shaft 32 is 145 revolutions per minute for the first speed, 165 revolutions per minute for the second speed, 185 revolutions per minute for the standard speed, and 185 revolutions per minute for the fourth speed. 205 rotations and 5th speed can be adjusted in 5 steps of 225 rotations per minute. Therefore, the vertical rocking plate 12 of this embodiment moves up and down under the control of the rotational speed changing in the five stages.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second swing motor M2 is fixed to the lower portion of the vertical swing plate 12 with an L-shaped bracket 35 and a fixing bracket 36 in a posture in which the motor shaft is vertical. Has been. Similar to the first swing motor M1, the second swing motor M2 has a speed reducer 37 and an output shaft 38. Further, a second bearing 40 is provided below the horizontal swing plate 14 via a mounting plate 39, and the output shaft 38 extending upward is provided via the second circular eccentric cam 41. 2 is supported by the bearing 40 of the bearing.

  The second circular eccentric cam 41 has substantially the same configuration as the first circular eccentric cam 33, and the output shaft 38 is inserted into the mounting hole 42 formed eccentrically from the cam center axis Yc. The cam projection 41B is inserted into the through hole 51 of the vertical swing plate 12 and is pivotally supported by the second bearing 40. Accordingly, when the second swing motor M2 rotates, the cam protrusion 41B and the second bearing bearing 40 that pivotally supports the cam protrusion 41B make a circular motion around the output center axis Yp of the output shaft 38.

  That is, due to the rotation of the second swing motor M2, the cam center axis Yc is shifted to the left of the output center axis Yp in the drawing at a distance d1 as shown in FIG. 6 (A). As shown, it moves to the distance of d2 on the output center axis Yp. Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (C), when the output shaft 38 rotates to 180 °, the cam center axis Yc moves to a position separating the distance d3 to the right of the output center axis Yp, and further to FIG. 6 (D). As shown in the figure, when the output shaft 38 rotates 360 ° after moving to the distance d4 below the output center axis Yp, the initial position shown in FIG. Thus, when the output shaft 38 makes one rotation, the cam center axis Yc rotates on the circumference with the eccentric distance (d1 to d4) as the radius around the output center axis Yp, and as a result, the second bearing. The horizontal oscillating plate 14 to which the bearing 40 is fixed and supported by the oscillating spring 13 can repeatedly roll according to the circular motion to give the user U an effective massage stimulus. In this embodiment, the horizontal swing half amplitude is set by the eccentric distance between the output center axis Yp and the cam center axis Yc. For example, about 2 to 10 mm, preferably 3 to 8 mm. 5 mm. If it is less than 2 mm, stimulation due to horizontal swinging is insufficient, so a sufficient massage effect cannot be obtained. Conversely, if it exceeds 10 mm, the user U may feel uncomfortable due to excessive roll and safety. There is a risk of damage.

  Further, the frequency of horizontal movement is set in the same range as the frequency of vertical movement in order to enhance the massage effect and maintain safety. Furthermore, it is preferable to set the vibration frequency of the horizontal movement and the vertical movement to substantially the same value in that a high massage effect can be obtained by balancing both swings. The rocking means 4 is covered with a cylindrical cover 52 extending from the horizontal rocking plate 14 to the base 2 to ensure safety and improve the appearance.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the seat portion 3 is formed on the horizontal swing plate 14 and continuously covers the seat substrate 3A, the cushion portion 3B, and the upper surface and side surfaces of the cushion portion 3B. It consists of a cover layer 3C. The seat substrate 3 </ b> A has an elliptical shape that is longer than the horizontal swing plate 14 and is laminated and fixed on the horizontal swing plate 14. The cushion portion 3B is formed on the seat substrate 3A using urethane foam, polyethylene foam or the like with a thickness of about 50 mm to 200 mm.

  Further, a space 43 is formed in a substantially central lower portion of the cushion portion 3B, and a small vibrator 15 is provided in the space 43. The vibrator 15 of this embodiment includes a small motor 15A fixed to the seat substrate 3A and an eccentric weight 15B attached to the motor shaft, and vibration is generated in the seat substrate 3A due to high-speed rotation of the eccentric weight 15B. . In the seat part 3 of this embodiment, in addition to the vertical and horizontal swinging by the swinging means 4, short-period vibrations are generated, so that the peripheral nerve of the user U is stimulated to recover fatigue and promote blood circulation. Is preferable in that it can be further increased.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the backrest portion 6 includes a base portion 7 that is fixed to the pedestal 2 and extends vertically, and a backrest portion 8 that is attached to the upper portion of the base portion 7 using a tilting support means 44. As shown in FIG. 10, the back of the user U seated forward on the seat 3 is supported. The base portion 7 includes a lower frame 7A that is fixed to the base 2 and rises substantially vertically, a lower cushioning material 7B such as a sponge that covers the lower frame 7A, and a lower cover 7C that covers the surface of the lower cushioning material 7B. The back receiving portion 8 covers the back frame 8A, the back cushioning material 8B that covers the back frame 8A and continues to the lower cushioning material 7B, the surface of the back cushioning material 8B, and the lower cover 7C is on the upper side. The back cover 8C extends continuously.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the tilting support means 44 has a pivot 44A that pivotally attaches the lower frame 7A and the back frame 8A, and is pivotally supported by the pivot 44A and rotates integrally with the back frame 8A. A ratchet gear 44B having a plurality of ratchet teeth 45 spaced apart and projecting sideways 46, and a claw pivotally supported by the lower frame 7A and biased toward the ratchet gear 44B by a spring 47 A known mechanism including a body 44D and a cam 44E having first and second stopper surfaces S1 and S2 that are pivotally supported by the pivot 44A and abut against the protrusion 46 is used.

  When the tilting support means 44 is operated, the claw body 44D and the ratchet gear 45 spaced apart by the ratchet gear 44B are sequentially engaged by rotating the back frame 8A tilted rearward. The back frame 8A can be supported with an arbitrary inclination. When the back frame 8A is tilted to the maximum forward, the protrusion 46 abuts against the first stopper surface S1, whereby the cam 44E rotates counterclockwise in the drawing, and as a result, the pawl body 44D becomes a spring force. Push up against the ratchet teeth 45 to release. When the back frame 8A is tilted backward again, the protrusion 46 comes into contact with the second stopper surface S2, whereby the cam 44E rotates clockwise, and the engagement between the claw body 44D and the ratchet teeth 45 is restored. The tilt adjustment operation can be repeated.

  In this way, the back support 8 is configured to be tiltable and fixed rearward at an arbitrary angle, and as shown in FIG. 9, the user seats rearward by the back support 8 fixed in the rearward tilt state. A leg rest 10 for receiving both legs is formed. In addition, the leg rest 10 includes a rising portion 9 that rises on both sides of the back support portion 8 in a rearward tilt state. Therefore, even if the seat portion 3 swings, the rising portion 9 prevents the legs of the user U from falling off, and it is not necessary for the user U to prevent the legs from falling off. Can be massaged in a lifted position. Further, the rising portion 9 of the present embodiment is formed in a curved short arm shape that spreads upward on both sides of the back support portion 8 in a rearward tilted state, and therefore softly receives both legs of the user U moving outward by swinging. In order to prevent falling off, it is preferable in that it can be used comfortably without giving a feeling of pressure to the legs.

  The width dimension W between the tips of the rising portions 9 is, for example, about 300 to 700 mm, preferably 400 to 600 mm, and 500 mm in this embodiment. If it is less than 300 mm, the user's leg may fall due to rocking during massage, and conversely if it exceeds 700 mm, it becomes too large and the handleability deteriorates.

  The rising portion 9 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the hemispherical convex portion projecting upward on both sides of the back-resting portion 8 in the rearward tilted state, and the backrest portion 8 in the rearward-tilting state It can also be formed by a rising piece whose both side edges are bent upward.

  Since the massage device of the present invention is configured as described above, in addition to the massage in the forward sitting posture shown in FIG. 10 and the reclining posture shown in FIG. 11, it is seated backward as shown in FIG. Oscillating massage can be performed in a posture in which both legs are supported by the leg holder 10 of the back support portion 8 of the back support section 8. Therefore, by changing the postures of both postures as appropriate, massage of all nerves and joints from the upper body to the tip of the leg, stimulation of the joints, and circulation of the whole body are promoted to recover from fatigue, and an appropriate load is applied to the abdominal muscles. A good training effect can be obtained at the same time.

  Note that the above description exemplifies an embodiment of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this.

It is a perspective view which illustrates one embodiment of the present invention. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view cut | disconnected in the front-back direction. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected in the horizontal direction. It is the principal part expansion perspective view. (A)-(D) are the schematic diagrams explaining the operation | movement of a rocking | fluctuation means up and down. (A)-(D) are the schematic diagrams explaining the operation | movement of the horizontal rocking | swiveling means. It is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the internal structure of the seat. It is a front view explaining the tilting support means of a backrest part. It is a side view explaining the use condition which the user sat backwards. It is a side view explaining the use condition which the user sat forward. It is a side view explaining the use condition which the user sat forward and reclining the backrest part. It is the schematic of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Massage chair 2 Base 3 Seat part 4 Oscillating means 5 Chair base body 6 Backrest part 7 Base part 8 Back support part 9 Standing part 10 Leg holder 11 Lower spring 12 Vertical rocking plate 13 Oscillating spring 14 Horizontal rocking plate 15 Vibration Device F Floor M1 First swing motor M2 Second swing motor U User

Claims (5)

Between the base placed on the floor and the upper seat where the user sits, the chair base is provided with a swinging means for swinging and massaging the seat, and provided on the base The seat includes a backrest portion for receiving a user's back seated normally forward.
The backrest portion includes a back support portion that is pivotally supported so as to be fixed to the base portion and can be tilted backward, on an upper portion of the base portion that is fixed to the base and extends upward.
The back receiving portion receives both legs of the user who is seated backward on the back receiving portion in the backward tilted state of the back receiving portion, and falls off both legs placed by standing up on both sides of the back receiving portion. A massage chair, characterized in that a leg rest having a rising portion for preventing the above is formed.   The massage chair according to claim 1, wherein the leg rest includes the rising portions on both sides rising up in a curved shape.   The swing means is attached to the pedestal via a vertical swing plate via a lower spring that extends and contracts in the vertical direction, a horizontal swing plate via a swing spring that can swing horizontally on the vertical swing plate, and the base. 2. A first swing motor that moves the vertical swing plate up and down and a second swing motor that is attached to the vertical swing plate and swings a horizontal swing plate. Or the massage chair of 2 description.   The massage chair according to claim 1, wherein the seat portion is provided on the horizontal swing plate and includes a vibrator that vibrates the seat portion. The vertical swing plate generates a vertical movement with a single amplitude of 2 to 10 mm by a first swing motor, and the horizontal swing plate generates a horizontal movement with a single amplitude of 2 to 10 mm by a second swing motor. And
The massage chair according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the frequency of the vertical movement and the horizontal movement is 90 to 300 times per minute.

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