JP2007136013A - Sole massaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sole massaging machine for applying a massage to the soles of a user with a group of vertically movable acupressure protrusions. <P>SOLUTION: The group of many acupressure protrusions 8 vertically movably inserted and held on supporting plates 7 facing the soles of the user inserted to pocket parts 4. Under the supporting plates, driving plates 14 rotated by driving mechanisms 15 are arranged. The driving plates 14 form cam surfaces 27 having projecting parts 25 and recessed parts 26 waving in a rotation direction. When the driving plates 14 are rotated, the projecting parts 25 of the cam surfaces 27 press up following parts 8b to weld acupressure parts 8c to the soles of the user with pressure, and the recessed parts 26 of the cam surfaces 27 face the following parts 8b to release welding of the soles by the acupressure parts 8c with pressure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sole massage machine in which massage is performed on a user's sole by a group of acupressure protrusions that move up and down.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is known that a large number of acupressure protrusion groups are fixed on the upper surface of a flat plate and a user can perform foot massage by performing a stepping exercise on the acupressure protrusion groups. However, the user does not like it because it requires a stepping exercise.

Therefore, a massage machine has been proposed in which a foot massage is performed by moving the acupressure protrusion group up and down with power while the user puts his / her foot on.
JP-A-11-253525 JP 2002-298382 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-230088

However, in a configuration in which a large number of acupressure protrusion groups are moved up and down by a link mechanism of a linear actuator as in Patent Document 1, the structure is complicated and causes a high cost as well as a failure.

  In addition, in the configuration in which a large number of acupressure protrusion groups are projected and retracted by an airbag as in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the structure is simple, but it is difficult to individually design the vertical movement stroke of each protrusion of the acupressure protrusion group. There is a simple acupressure action with little change, and a massage effect individually adapted to the acupoints on the soles cannot be obtained.

The present invention provides a sole massage machine having a high massage effect, with a simple structure and a low risk of failure, and in addition, each protrusion of the acupressure protrusion group adapts to the acupoints of the sole and performs individual acupressure. It is.

Therefore, the present invention is configured as means, a support plate facing the sole of the user, and acupressure means comprising a large number of acupressure protrusion groups penetrating the support plate and being held vertically movable, A drive plate having a drive surface facing the lower surface of the support plate; and a drive mechanism for driving and rotating the drive plate about a vertical axis, the drive surface having a convex portion and a concave portion that undulate in the rotation direction of the drive plate. A cam surface is formed, and the protrusion is formed at the shaft portion inserted and held in the support plate, a driven portion formed at the tail end of the shaft portion and facing the cam surface, and formed at the tip of the shaft portion. And when the drive plate is rotated, the convex portion of the cam surface pushes the driven portion so that the acupressure portion is pressed against the sole of the user and the concave portion of the cam surface Is configured to release the pressure contact of the sole by the acupressure part by facing the driven part Located in.

In the present invention, the acupressure protrusions constituting the acupressure means comprising a large number of acupressure protrusion groups are formed so that the length of the shaft portion differs according to the acupuncture points on the sole, and the shape of the acupressure portion is different. Is formed.

The massage machine includes a casing that constitutes an outer shell, and the casing forms a pocket portion that allows a user's foot to be inserted toward the upper side of the support plate, and the foot of the foot inserted inside the pocket portion. An airbag including an upper bag that faces the upper part and side bags that face both sides of the foot is disposed, and an air supply mechanism that allows air to be freely supplied to the airbag is provided.

The pocket portion is provided with a flexible bag-like fixing cover that extends from the opening to the back end portion facing the toe of the foot inserted into the pocket portion and defines the inner surface of the pocket portion, and is inserted into the fixing cover. A replacement cover having a sole sheet corresponding to at least the sole of the user's foot is provided on the inside of the fixed cover, and the replacement cover is detachably attached to the fixed cover.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the structure is simple and the possibility of failure is low, and each protrusion 8 of the acupressure protrusion group performs an individual acupressure operation adapted to the acupuncture points on the sole. A foot massage machine can be provided.

According to the present invention, when the drive plate 14 is driven and rotated by the drive mechanism 15 using an electric motor or the like as the drive source 22, the cam surface 27 of the drive plate 14 moves the many acupressure protrusion groups 8 up and down, so Massage. At this time, the cam surface 27 is configured to repeat a convex portion 25 and a concave portion 26 that undulate in the rotational direction of the drive plate 14. Accordingly, in the large number of acupressure protrusion groups 8 facing the sole, only the acupressure protrusion 8 in which the driven portion 8b is pushed up by the convex portion 25 of the cam surface 27 presses the acupressure portion 8c against the sole, and the concave portion of the cam surface 27 The acupressure protrusion 8 where 26 faces the driven portion 8b releases the pressure contact of the sole by the acupressure portion 8c. For this reason, with the simple configuration of appropriately designing the raised shape of the convex portion 25 of the cam surface 27, the pressing amount and pressing time for the acupuncture points of the soles by the respective protrusions 8 of the acupressure protrusion group become the optimum conditions. Can be configured.

In this case, according to the second aspect of the present invention, each of the acupressure protrusions 8 constituting a large number of acupressure protrusion groups is formed so that the length of the shaft portion 8a differs according to the pressure points on the sole of the human body. Therefore, among the acupressure protrusions 8 moved up and down by the cam surface 27 of the drive plate 14, the acupressure protrusion 8 having a long shaft portion 8a has a large upward movement stroke and a strong pressing force against the acupuncture points on the sole. The short acupressure protrusion 8 of the shaft portion 8a has an advantage that the upward movement stroke is small and the pressing force against the acupoint on the sole is weak, and the strength of the pressing force according to the acupoint can be set freely. Moreover, each acupressure protrusion 8 is formed so that the shape of the acupressure part 8c differs depending on the acupoints on the sole, so that the acupressure part 8c has a rounded shape or a sharp shape. By changing it, there is an advantage that the intensity of stimulation for the acupoints on the sole can be freely set.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the user receives massage treatment of the sole with the foot inserted into the pocket portion 4, the air is supplied from the air supply mechanism to inflate the airbag 10. By doing so, the foot is fixedly held from above and from the side inside the pocket portion 4, so that the sole can be positioned at a predetermined position facing the acupressure protrusion group 8 and the sole is pressed by the upward movement of the acupressure protrusion 8. In this case, it is possible to receive a shiatsu massage properly without moving the foot upward.

Further, according to the present invention, the flexible bag-like fixing cover 30 is provided inside the pocket portion 4, so that the drive system or the like comes into contact with the foot inserted into the pocket portion 4 and is injured. The foot massage by the upward movement of the acupressure protrusion 8 has a fixed cover 30 between the protrusion 8 and the sole. There is no risk of injury to the skin. At this time, the replacement cover 31 that is detachably attached to the inside of the fixed cover 30 has the sole sheet 31a corresponding to at least the sole that is easily soiled. No hygiene can always be maintained. The contaminated replacement cover 31 can be replaced with another replacement cover 31 and can be easily washed while being removed from the fixed cover 30.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the following explanation, unless it is clarified that the meanings of words such as “up”, “down”, “horizontal”, and “vertical” are different meanings, a foot massage machine is installed on a horizontal floor surface. Please understand that the meaning is based on the state.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foot massage machine 1 forms an outer shell by joining and fixing a lower casing 2 and an upper casing 3 to face each other, and a pair of left and right pocket portions on the front side of the upper casing 3. 4 and 4 are formed. Therefore, the user can receive foot massage by turning on the power switch with both feet inserted into the pockets 4 and 4 respectively. The power switch 5 is provided on a panel 6 attached near the top of the upper casing 3, but is also provided on a remote controller (not shown). In addition to the power switch, the panel 6 and the remote controller include a switch for controlling the rotational speed of the drive plate 14 to be described later or switching the forward / reverse rotational direction, and for adjusting the pressure followed by the airbag 10. There are provided a switch for controlling the air supply, a switch for automatically performing such control and switching in accordance with a program, and the like.

As shown in a disassembled state in FIG. 2, a support plate disposed inside the upper casing 3 so as to face the soles from below the pocket portions 4, 4 with the feet inserted into the pocket portions 4, 4. 7, 7 and airbags 10 and 10 arranged so as to face the legs from above and from the side of the pockets 4 and 4 are assembled. Although not shown in the figure for this assembly, a large number of ribs are formed on the inner surface of the upper casing 3, and the support plate 7 and the airbag 10 are fixed in place by screws or other fixing means.

The support plate 7 is provided with acupressure means 9 including a large number of acupressure protrusion groups 8 that are inserted through and held by the support plate 7 so as to be movable up and down. Although the details of the acupressure protrusion 8 will be described later, the peripheral contour of the acupressure means 9 constituted by the protrusion group is formed to have a shape corresponding to the sole of the human body. , The size of the protrusions 8 and the like are set.

The airbag 10 includes an upper bag 10a facing the back of the foot and side bags 10b and 10b facing both sides of the foot with the foot inserted into the pocket portion 4, and the upper bag 10a and the side. The part bags 10b and 10b are communicated with each other. The air bag 10 inflates when air is supplied from the air supply mechanism, and holds the foot inserted into the pocket portion 4 so as not to move upward and laterally. As shown in FIG. 3, the air supply mechanism 2 supplies air through an air supply source 12 such as a pump or a compressor attached to the lower casing 2 and air distribution means such as a manifold (not shown) from the air supply source 12. Each of the airbags 10 and 10 includes supply pipes 13 and 13. The branch pipes 13 a and 13 a branched from the supply pipes 13 are connected to the side bags 10 b and 10 b of each airbag 10. Accordingly, the air supplied from the air supply source 12 expands the side bags 10b and 10b and restrains the foot from both sides, and then the upper bag 10a expands and presses and holds the foot downward. The disassembled state shown in FIG. 2 is shown in a state in which the support plate 7 and the airbag 10 are deviated from each other for convenience of explanation, but the upper bag 10a is supported by the upper casing 3 in the assembled state. It should be understood that the acupressure means 9 of the plate 7 is disposed above the side bags 10b, 10b above the side edges of the support plate 7.

As shown in a disassembled state in FIG. 3, in the lower casing 2, in addition to the air supply mechanism including the air supply source 12, a disk-shaped drive plate 14 and the drive plate 14 are driven to rotate about the vertical axis. The driving mechanism 15 is assembled.

The drive plate 14 is configured such that a boss portion 17 penetrating through the center of the drive plate 14 is rotatably inserted on a columnar support shaft 16 erected on the substantially central portion of the bottom portion of the lower casing 2. Is supported by the support means 18. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the support means 18 has a configuration in which a rotatable ball 20 is provided at the tip of a cylindrical column 19 erected from the bottom of the lower casing 2, and the lower surface of the drive plate 14. The ball 20 is slidably brought into contact with a support groove 21 that is concentrically provided around the rotation shaft, and the drive plate 14 is rotatably supported from below. As shown in FIG. 4, in the case of the illustrated example, two grooves 21 and 21 are provided concentrically on the lower surface of the drive plate 14, and a pair that supports the two grooves 21 and 21, respectively. Means 18, 18 are provided as a plurality of sets at intervals in the circumferential direction.

The drive mechanism 15 includes a drive source 22 such as an electric motor, a pinion 23 that is rotationally driven around the vertical axis by the drive source 22, and a ring gear 24 that is provided on the lower surface of the drive plate 14 so as to be concentric with the rotary shaft. The center boss portion 17 of the drive plate 14 is extrapolated to the support shaft 16 and the support grooves 21 and 21 of the drive plate 14 are fitted to the balls 20 and 20 of the support means 18 and 18. The ring gear 24 is meshed with the pinion 23. Thereby, when the pinion 23 is rotationally driven, the drive plate 14 is driven and rotated. In the illustrated example, the outer teeth are formed by the ring gear 24 and the pinion 23 is engaged from the outer periphery, but the inner teeth may be formed by the ring gear 24 and the pinion 23 may be engaged from the inner periphery. In the illustrated example, since the drive source 22 is installed laterally with respect to the lower casing 2, as shown in FIG. 4, a worm gear is provided between the drive shaft of the drive source 22 and the shaft of the pinion 23. However, the power transmission means can be freely configured in addition to the illustrated example.

When the lower casing 2 and the upper casing 3 are joined to each other in a state where the predetermined parts and the predetermined mechanism as described above are assembled, the support shaft 16 and the central boss portion 17 are paired with the pair of support plates 7. , 7, and both sides of the upper surface of the drive plate 14 are arranged facing the lower surfaces of the support plates 7, 7, respectively. In addition, in order to fix both casings 2 and 3 in a joined state, screw holes 28 are provided inside the lower casing 2 as shown in FIG. 3, and screws inserted from predetermined locations in the upper casing 3 are inserted into the screws. It is configured to be screwed into the hole 28. Therefore, when the user inserts his / her feet into the pockets 4 and 4 and turns on the power switch 5, first, air is supplied to the airbag 10, and the feet are fixedly held on the support plates 7 and 7 and simultaneously driven. The drive plate 14 is rotated by the source 22 and the acupressure group of the support plate 7 is moved up and down to massage the soles with acupressure. The mechanism in which the acupressure protrusion 8 of the support plate 7 is moved up and down in response to the rotation of the drive plate 14 is configured as follows.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cam surface 27 having a convex portion 25 and a concave portion 26 undulating in the rotation direction of the drive plate is formed on the upper surface of the drive plate 14, and the acupressure protrusion 8 is formed by the cam surface 27. The drive surface which pushes up is comprised. In the example shown in the figure, the convex portions 25 are formed radially, so that the concave portions 26 are formed between the adjacent convex portions 25, 25. However, the convex portions 25 and the concave portions 26 are waved in the rotational direction of the cam surface 27. You may form continuously. The convex portion 25 is preferably provided so that a plurality of types having different protruding lengths and protruding heights in the rotation direction are mixed. For example, in the case of the illustrated example, the convex portion 25 is formed in a circular arc shape so as to rise gradually with respect to the rotation direction, and the largest first convex portion 25a and the smallest second height with respect to the raised height and the raised length. A plurality of types such as a convex portion 25b and a third convex portion 25c having an intermediate size are provided, and a plurality of types of convex portions 25a, 25b, and 25c are repeated in the rotation direction across the concave portion 26.

As shown in FIG. 4, the acupressure protrusion 8 includes a shaft portion 8 a that is inserted and held in the through hole of the support plate 7, a driven portion 8 b that is formed at the tail end of the shaft portion 8 a and faces the cam surface 27, and a shaft portion. The acupressure part 8c which is formed at the tip of 8a and faces the sole of the user inserted into the pocket part 4 is integrally formed. Therefore, when the drive plate 14 is rotated, when the convex portion 25 of the cam surface 27 faces the driven portion 8b, the acupressure portion 8c is pressed against the sole of the user by pushing up the driven portion 8b. At this time, as described above, if a plurality of types of protrusions 25a, 25b, and 25c are used, even if the same acupressure protrusion 8 is used, the pressure amount and the pressure applied to the sole depends on the type of the protrusions 25 facing each other. Since the time is different, a variety of shiatsu is possible. On the other hand, when the concave portion 26 of the cam surface 27 faces the driven portion 8b, the pressure contact of the sole by the acupressure portion 8c is released. In the illustrated embodiment, the acupressure protrusion 8 having the concave portion 26 of the cam surface 27 facing the driven portion 8b is pushed downward toward the concave portion 26 because the acupressure portion 8c is pressed downward by the sole. However, a spring or the like that urges the driven portion 8b to always contact the cam surface 27 may be provided so that the acupressure protrusion 8 is automatically moved downward.

The acupressure protrusion 8 constituting the acupressure means 9 composed of a large number of acupressure protrusion groups has a different length of the shaft portion 8a or a different shape of the acupressure portion 8c corresponding to the point on the sole of the human body. It is preferable to prepare different types. For example, the acupressure protrusion 8 shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B) has the acupressure part 8c sharply formed, but the acupressure protrusion 8 shown in FIGS. 5 (C) and 5 (D) has a spherical acupressure part 8c. Is formed. Also, in the acupressure protrusion 8 in which the acupressure part 8c is sharply formed, the acupressure protrusion 8A shown in FIG. 5A forms an angle θ1 of the sharp end of the acupressure part 8c to about 90 degrees and the shaft part 8a. Whereas the acupressure protrusion 8B shown in FIG. 5B is formed longer, the sharp end angle θ2 of the acupressure part 8c is formed at about 70 degrees, and the shaft part 8a is formed shorter. Also, in the acupressure protrusion 8 in which the acupressure part 8c is formed into a spherical shape, the acupressure protrusion 8C shown in FIG. 5C has a large radius of curvature of the spherical surface of the acupressure part 8c and a long shaft part 8a. On the other hand, the acupressure protrusion 8D shown in FIG. 5D has a small radius of curvature of the spherical surface of the acupressure part 8c and a short shaft part 8a. Then, in the case of the illustrated example, the shaft portion 8a of each acupressure protrusion 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and the shaft portion p1 of the plug-like cap 8p is inserted from the tail end, A driven portion 8b is formed by the bulging portion p2 of the cap 8p. Therefore, the bulging portion p <b> 2 constitutes a retaining means for preventing the acupressure protrusion 8 from dropping from the through hole of the driving plate 7, and also constitutes a wear-resistant means when being in sliding contact with the cam surface 27 of the driving plate 7.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, a large number of acupressure protrusion groups arranged following the shape of the sole include the acupressure protrusions 8 corresponding to the toe portions and the corresponding portions of the arch portion of the sole of the human body. A suitable acupressure protrusion is selected from among the several types of acupressure protrusions 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D as described above between the acupressure protrusion 8 and the acupressure protrusion 8 corresponding to the heel portion. These acupressure protrusions are individually or in combination to form acupressure protrusion groups at various locations. As a result, among the acupressure protrusions that are moved up and down by the cam surface 27 of the drive plate 14, the acupressure protrusions 8A and 8C having a long shaft portion 8a have a large upward movement stroke and a strong pressing force against the acupuncture points on the sole. Thus, the acupressure projections 8B and 8D having a short shaft portion are set so that the upward movement stroke is small and the pressing force against the acupoint on the sole is weak, and the strength of the pressing force according to the acupuncture is the optimum condition. In addition, the shape of the acupressure part 8c is also changed to the sharp acupressure protrusions 8A and 8B or the rounded acupressure protrusions 8C and 8D so that the strength of stimulation to the acupuncture points on the sole becomes the optimum condition. Is set.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the pocket portions 4, 4 of the massage machine 1 are of a size that allows the user's feet to be inserted from the opening 29 toward the upper side of the support plate 7. A flexible bag-like fixed cover 30 is provided which extends from the opening 29 to the back end facing the toes of the foot and defines the inner surface of the pocket portion 4. The fixed cover 30 is formed of a woven fabric such as a woven fabric or a knitted fabric, and a bag opening edge is fixed to an inner portion of the opening 29 of the pocket portion 4. Therefore, the airbag 10 has the upper bag 10a disposed above the fixed cover 30, and the side bags 10b and 10b disposed on both sides of the fixed cover 30. When the airbag 10 is inflated, the fixed cover 30 is disposed. The foot is fixedly held so as not to move with respect to the support plate 7 via the.

Furthermore, a replacement cover 31 is provided inside the fixed cover 30 so as to overlap. The replacement cover 31 is also formed into a bag shape from a woven fabric such as a woven fabric or a knitted fabric, and is detachably attached to the fixed cover 30. In the case of the illustrated example, in a state where the replacement cover 31 is overlapped with the inside of the fixed cover 30, the snap means 32 is detachably fixed below the opening 29, and the surface fastener 33 is detachable above the opening 29. However, the attachment / detachment means is not limited to this. In the case of the illustrated example, the replacement cover 31 is formed in a bag shape similar to the fixed cover 30, but does not necessarily have to be in a bag shape, and corresponds to at least the sole of the foot inserted into the pocket portion 4. What is necessary is just the thing provided with the sole sheet | seat 31a to perform. Therefore, for example, the replacement cover 31 is formed by a belt-like sheet composed only of the sole sheet 31a, and is detachably fixed to the fixed cover 30 by the snap means 32 at the portion corresponding to the heel portion, and the surface at the portion corresponding to the toe. The fastener 33 can be detachably fixed to the fixed cover 30.

It is a perspective view showing the whole appearance of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows an upper casing, the support plate assembled | attached to this upper casing, and an airbag in a decomposition | disassembly state. It is a perspective view which shows a lower casing and the drive plate assembled | attached to this lower casing in a disassembled state. It is a longitudinal section showing a massage machine concerning one embodiment of the present invention. The types of acupressure protrusions are shown. (A) is a cross-sectional view of the acupressure protrusion formed with a sharp acupressure part and a long shaft part. Cross-sectional view of the protrusion, (C) is a cross-sectional view of the acupressure protrusion in which the acupressure part is formed in a spherical shape and the shaft part is formed long, (D) is the acupressure part of the acupressure protrusion in which the acupressure part is formed in a spherical shape and the shaft part is formed short It is sectional drawing. It is a side view which shows the principal part in a cross section about the relationship between a fixed cover and a replacement cover.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Massage machine 2 Lower casing 3 Upper casing 4 Pocket part 7 Support plate 8 Acupressure part 8b Shaft part 8b Follower part 8c Acupressure part 9 Acupressure means 10 Air bag 10a Upper bag 10b Side bag 12 Air supply source 13 Air supply pipe 14 Drive Plate 15 Drive mechanism 16 Support shaft 17 Central boss 18 Support means 20 Ball 21 Support groove 22 Drive source 23 Pinion 24 Ring gear 25 Protrusion 26 Recess 27 Cam surface 29 Opening 30 Fixed cover 31 Replacement cover 31a Foot sheet 32 Snap means 33 face fastener

Claims (4)

A support plate (7) facing the user's sole, and acupressure means (9) comprising a large number of acupressure protrusion groups (8) penetrating through the support plate and held in a vertically movable manner, and the support plate A drive plate (14) having a drive surface facing the lower surface, and a drive mechanism (15) for driving and rotating the drive plate around a vertical axis,
The drive surface forms a cam surface (27) having a convex portion (25) and a concave portion (26) that undulate in the rotational direction of the drive plate (14), and the protrusion (25) is formed on the support plate (7). A shaft portion (8a) inserted and held in the shaft, a driven portion (8b) formed at the tail end of the shaft portion and facing the cam surface (27), and formed at the tip of the shaft portion on the sole of the user's foot With acupressure part (8a) facing
When the drive plate (14) is rotated, the convex portion (25) of the cam surface (27) pushes up the driven portion (8b), thereby pressing the acupressure part (8c) against the sole of the user, the cam surface A foot massage machine characterized in that the concave portion (26) of (27) faces the driven portion (8b) so that the pressure contact of the sole by the acupressure portion (8c) is released. Acupressure protrusions (8) constituting the acupressure means (9) composed of a large number of acupressure protrusion groups are formed so that the length of the shaft portion (8a) differs according to the pressure points on the soles, and the acupressure part ( The foot massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the foot massage machine is formed to have a different shape. A casing (2) (3) that constitutes the outer shell of the massage machine (1) is provided, and the casing has a pocket portion (4) that allows a user's foot to be inserted toward the upper side of the support plate (7). An airbag (10) formed and formed with an upper bag (10a) facing the back of the foot inserted inside the pocket portion and side bags (10b) (10b) facing both sides of the foot The foot massage machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an air supply mechanism that allows the air bag to freely supply air. A casing (2) (3) that constitutes the outer shell of the massage machine (1) is provided, and the casing has a pocket portion (4) that allows a user's foot to be inserted toward the upper side of the support plate (7). A flexible bag shape that defines the inner surface of the pocket portion (4) from the opening (29) of the pocket portion (4) to the back end portion facing the toe of the foot inserted into the pocket portion. And a replacement cover (31) having a sole sheet (31a) corresponding to at least the sole of the user's foot inserted into the fixed cover (30). The foot massage machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the replacement cover (31) is detachably attached to the fixed cover (30).

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