JP2010162253A - Foot massage unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foot massage unit for sufficiently stretching the side in a wide range from the calf to the toe. <P>SOLUTION: In flank air-bags disposed on left and right sides of respective recessed parts of a pair of left and right calf massage units, one of the flank air-bags, left or right, is expanded. In a flank air-bag 50 disposed on left and right side walls of the respective recessed parts of a pair of left and right toe massage unit, the flank air-bag 50 whose left and right sides are opposite to the expanded flank air-bag of the calf massage unit is expanded to stretch the side from the calf to the toe around the heel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a foot massage unit that massages calves and toes.

  2. Description of the Related Art A foot massage unit that massages a toe and a calf of a user is known.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a user inserts a calf and inserts a calf massage unit for receiving a massage, and a sole and a foot instep (hereinafter referred to as “toe”) for receiving a massage. A massage unit is integrally formed and supported on the base so as to be tiltable back and forth, and the user is shown a foot massage unit that can receive massage not only on a chair but also lying down ing.

  In Patent Document 2, a calf massage unit in which a user inserts a calf and receives a massage and a foot massage unit in which a toe is inserted and receives a massage are configured separately, and the chair seat A foot massage unit connected in front of the part is shown. And with the calf fixed, the toes can be moved alternately to the left and right to stretch the side from the calf to the ankle.

JP 2008-136534 A JP 2006-6579 A

  The foot massage unit of Patent Document 1 does not disclose a technique for stretching from the calf to the side of the foot.

  The foot massage unit of Patent Document 2 is designed to stretch on the side from the calf to the ankle, but because the calf is fixed, it is closer to the left and right pivotal movement in the ankle rather than stretching It is not possible to apply sufficient stretch to a wide range of sides from calves to toes.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a foot massage unit that can sufficiently stretch a wide range of side surfaces from a calf to a toe.

The foot massage unit of the present invention has a pair of left and right recesses into which a calf of a user is inserted, and a side airbag for calves to which compressed air is supplied and exhausted on the left and right side surfaces of each recess. A calf massage unit that massages the calf of the user by inflation and contraction of the airbag,
There is a pair of left and right recesses into which the foot of the user is inserted, and a side airbag for the foot is provided on the left and right side walls of each recess, and compressed air is supplied and exhausted. A toe massage unit for massaging the toes of the user;
A control unit for controlling expansion and contraction of the side airbags of the calf massage unit and the foot massage unit;
The control unit inflates one of the left and right side airbags in the side airbag in each recess of the calf massage unit, and in the side airbag in each recess of the foot massage unit, the calf massage unit The side air bag on the opposite side to the inflated side air bag is inflated, and stretched around the heel from the calf to the side surface of the toe.

    The stretch from the calf to the side of the toes is centered on the heel, and the side airbags in the recesses of the calf massage unit and the toe massage unit are inflated alternately left and right, and stretched alternately left and right It is preferable to apply.

According to the present invention, while inflating the left and right side airbags of each concave portion of the calf massage unit, the side airbag inflated of the calf massage unit of the side airbag of each concave portion of the toe massage unit By inflating the side airbag opposite to the left and right sides of the bag, the calf and the toes try to move in opposite directions with respect to the heel, and as a result, against a wide range of sides from the calf to the toes, Stretch centered on the heel can be applied sufficiently.

    And by inflating the side airbags of each recess of the calf massage unit and the foot massage unit to be inflated alternately left and right, the left and right sides from the calf to the toes are alternately centered on the heel. Can be stretched.

It is the perspective view which looked at the massage unit for legs of the present invention from diagonally forward in the state where the massage main body stood up. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the user inserted the part below a knee into the foot massage unit. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which follows the dent of the massage unit for legs. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3 and shows the direction of the force acting on the calf when the first airbag and the second airbag are inflated. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the foot massage unit showing a state in which the acupressure of the acupressure means is projected to perform acupressure massage with the acupressure. It is explanatory drawing which shows the piping of an air pump and an airbag, and the electrical connection of a control part. It is the figure which looked at the massage unit for legs from the front, and shows the place where all the airbags are contracting. It is the figure which looked at the massage unit for legs from the front, and shows the appearance of the airbag when performing stretching on the inner side surface from the calf to the toes. It is the figure which looked at the massage unit for legs from the front, and shows the appearance of the airbag when stretching is performed on the outer side surface from the calf to the toes. The state of the right foot in the state of FIG. 8 is shown. The state of the right foot in the state of FIG. 9 is shown. The state of the right foot in the state of FIG. 10 is shown.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the foot massage unit (10) according to the present invention as seen obliquely from the front with the massage main body (11) standing, and FIG. 2 shows the foot massage unit (10) according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the usage example in which a user sits down on a chair etc. and inserts the leg part below the knee (collectively refers to a calf and a toe) and receives massage. In FIG. 2, the leg portion is indicated by a thick solid line. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the foot massage unit (10) taken along the recess (17) into which the user inserts the leg portion, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 2, hereinafter, the direction in which the toe faces in the state where the user inserts the leg portion below the knee into the foot massage unit (10) is referred to as “front”.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the foot massage unit (10) includes a calf massage unit (20) in which a user inserts a calf and receives massage, and the user receives a foot and a back of a foot. It comprises a massage body (11) in which a foot massage unit (60) for inserting (toe) and receiving massage is integrally formed, and a base (14) for supporting the massage body (11). As shown in FIG. 3, the massage main body (11) and the base (14) are fitted on the roller (15) provided on one side so that the arc-shaped rail (12) provided on the other side can roll, A configuration in which the main body (11) is tiltable back and forth with respect to the base (14) can be exemplified. With this configuration, the user can receive a massage by tilting the massage body (11) backward not only in a state of sitting on a chair but also lying down.

  The massage body (11) is formed with a pair of left and right substantially L-shaped recesses (17) on the front side. Each recess (17) includes a recess (21) for inserting the calf of the user and a recess (61) for inserting a foot tip extending forward from the lower end side of the recess (21).

  The recess (21) has a bottom surface (22) at the rear end, and side surfaces (26) and (26) standing upright from the left and right of the bottom surface (22). When the calf is inserted into the recess (21), the back side of the calf hits the bottom surface (22), and the left and right sides of the calf face the side surfaces (26) and (26).

  As will be described later, the left and right side surfaces (26), (26) of the recess (21) are respectively provided with calf side airbags (30), (30), and the bottom surface (22) has one or a plurality of side airbags. Acupressure protrusions (24) and (24) are provided. The acupressure protrusion (24) can be exemplified by a triangular prism shape (see FIGS. 3 and 4) that is wide in the left-right direction of the recess bottom surface (22) and has a diameter reduced toward the front.

  The concave portion (61) includes a bottom wall (62) continuously extending forward from the bottom surface (22) of the concave portion (21) and side surfaces (26) and (26) of the concave portion (21). It has side walls (66) and (66) extending continuously. When the foot tip is inserted into the concave portion (61), the sole touches the bottom wall (62), and the side surface of the foot tip or the instep faces the side walls (66) (66).

  On the bottom wall (62) of the recess (61), a known acupressure means (70) for projecting and retracting the acupressure element (72) (see FIG. 6) for acupressure massage on the sole is rotated by the driving force of a motor not shown. It is deployed so that it can move in the front-rear direction along the sole of the foot due to the screw thrust of the threaded shaft (74) .The side airbags (50) are provided on the side walls (66) and (66), respectively. ing. The acupressure element (72) can be brought in and out by an air bag, a motor or the like. In the embodiment, the air bag (76) (see FIG. 7) is used. The acupressure element (72) appears and disappears from a long hole (not shown) provided in the bottom wall (62) extending in the front-rear direction, and moves in the front-rear direction along the long hole.

  The base (14) is connected to the air pump (18) for supplying compressed air to the airbag (30), (50), (76), or the air pump (18) and the airbag (30) (50) (76). Solenoid valves (91) to (97) (see FIG. 7) are provided. The base (14) is also provided with a control unit (80) (see FIG. 7) for performing various controls of the foot massage unit (10), based on the operation of the operation unit (82) (see FIG. 1). Then, massage the calf and toes by controlling the inflation and deflation of the airbag (30), (50), (76), or drive the acupressure means (70) to apply the acupressure massage to the soles. Can do.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the side airbags for calves (30) and (30) include a first airbag (31) disposed on the bottom surface (22) side of the side surface (26), and a side surface (26). It can comprise from the 2nd airbag (37) arrange | positioned by the recessed part (21) opening side. The first airbag (31) and the second airbag (37) can each be produced by blow molding, and in order to enhance the pressing effect at the time of inflation, as shown in FIG. Portions (32) and (38) are formed.

  The first airbag (31) and the second airbag (37) are provided with ear pieces (33) and (39) for mounting in the recesses (21), respectively. ) (39) can be attached to the recess (21) by screwing it into the recess (21). Compared to the case where the airbag (31) (37) is directly attached to the recess (21), the airbag (31) (37) is inflated and contracted by screwing with the ear piece (33) (39). Can increase the degree of freedom.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each first airbag (31) attached to the left and right side surfaces (26) and (26) of the recess (21) has one airbag along the longitudinal direction of the recess (21). A plurality of chambers (34a), (34b), and (34c) can be divided and configured. In each of the chambers (34a), (34b), and (34c), adjacent chambers communicate with each other through the communication passages (35) and (35) so that air can be supplied to each other. It is connected. The air flow path (36) is connected to an air hose (not shown) and extends to the base (14) side, and each of the first airbags (31) (31) is a solenoid valve (91) (92) (see FIG. 7) to the air pump (18).

  The two upper chambers (34a) and (34b) of the first airbag (31) are arranged so as to massage the back side from the side of the calf of the user, the most of the first airbag (31) The lower chamber (34c) is arranged so as to massage the ankle from the ankle of the user.

    Thus, when compressed air is supplied to the first airbag (31) and the chambers (34a) (34b) (34c) are inflated, as shown in FIG. An effective pressure massage is applied to the portion, and an effective pressure massage is also applied to the vicinity of the ankle. A portion indicated by a circle in the recess (21) in FIG. 5 indicates a calf.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second airbag (37) can have an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the recess (21).

  By inflating the second airbag (37), the front side can be massaged from the side of the user's calf. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, due to the expansion of the second airbag (37), the calf is pressed against the bottom surface (22) of the recess (21), so that the back side of the calf is a shiatsu protrusion (24) (24) You can apply a shiatsu massage to the back of your calf.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, by maintaining the inflated state of the second airbag (37), the user's calf can be held without being lifted from the recess (21). When the first airbag (31) is inflated, the pressing force by the first airbag (31) is transmitted to the calf without escaping, and the pressing massage effect can be further enhanced.

  The second airbag (37) is connected to an air hose (not shown) via an air flow path (36 ') and extends to the base (14) side, and the left and right side surfaces (26) ( Each of the second airbags (37) and (37) attached to 26) is connected to the air pump (18) via a solenoid valve (93) (94) (see FIG. 7).

  It is desirable that the first airbag (31) and the second airbag (37) are arranged so as to partially overlap as shown in the figure. Thus, when the first airbag (31) and the second airbag (37) are inflated at the same time, effective calf massage from different directions, such as wrapping with both airbags (31) and (37) by hand. Can be applied.

  When the side airbags (50) for the toes deployed on the left and right side walls (66), (66) of the recess (61) are inflated, they can massage by pressing the side and back of the user's toes. it can. Also, by holding the inflated state, the toes can be held without lifting from the recess (61), so the finger pressure from the acupressure means (70) can be transmitted to the sole without escaping, and the acupressure effect Can be further increased.

  Each foot airbag (50) is also connected to an air pump (18) via an air hose (not shown) and solenoid valves (95) (96) (see FIG. 7).

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the electrical connection between the piping of the air pump (18) and the airbags (91) to (97) and the control unit (80). The left and right first airbags (31) and (31) are connected to an air pump (18) via solenoid valves (91) and (92), respectively, and the left and right second airbags (37) and (37) are respectively connected to solenoid valves ( 93) (94) is connected to the air pump (18), and the left and right foot side airbags (50), (50) are connected to the air pump (18) via the solenoid valves (95) (96), respectively. The airbag (76), which is a finger pressure means, is connected to the air pump (18) via the electromagnetic valve (97). Each solenoid valve (91) to (97) opens and communicates each airbag with the air pump (18) to inflate and close the airbag, thereby allowing each airbag to communicate with the atmosphere. Exhaust and contract.

    The operations of the air pump (18) and the solenoid valves (91) to (97) are controlled by a control unit (80) constituted by a microcomputer. An input signal from the operation unit (82) is input to the control unit (80). In FIG. 7, the solid line indicates the piping system, and the broken line indicates the electric circuit system.

  By opening and closing each solenoid valve based on the signal of the control unit (80), the corresponding airbag is inflated and deflated, and massage is performed by pressing the side and back of the calf and toes, or acupressure means (70) Operate and apply shiatsu massage to the soles.

  The feature of the present invention is that it is applied from the calf to the toes by devising the operation of the side airbag (30) of the calf massage unit (20) and the side airbag (50) of the toe massage unit (60). A wide range of side surfaces are made to be sufficiently stretched around the heel, and will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a view of the foot massage unit as viewed from the front, and schematically shows a state where all the airbags are contracted.

  From this state, the first airbag (31) arranged outside the left and right first airbags (31), (31) of the calf massage unit (20) as shown in FIG. Of the left and right side airbags (50), (50) of the foot massage unit (60), and the outer airbag 1 (31) inflated by the calf massage unit (20) Opens the solenoid valve (96) and inflates the side airbag (50) arranged on the opposite side, that is, inside.

  As a result, the side of the calf above the heel of the left and right leg portions receives an inward force (indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 12), and the side of the toe below the heel is an outward force (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 12). (Shown by B), it is possible to sufficiently stretch the center of the heel on the wide side surface from the calf to the toes as a whole. 11 and 12 show the state of the right foot, and FIG. 11 shows the state when all the airbags are deflated. On the other hand, FIG. 12 shows a state in which the airbag is inflated as shown in FIG. 9 and a stretch centered on the heel is applied to the wide side surface from the calf to the toes. .

    Contrary to this, among the left and right first airbags (31), (31) of the calf massage unit (20) as shown in FIG. 92) is opened and inflated, and among the left and right side airbags (50), (50) of the foot massage unit (60), the first airbag (31) inflated by the calf massage unit (20) ) Is inflated by opening the solenoid valve (95) on the side air bag (50) arranged on the opposite side, that is, outside.

    As a result, the side of the calf above the heel of the left and right leg portions receives an outward force (indicated by an arrow C in FIG. 13), and the side of the toe below the heel is an inward force (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 13). (Shown by D), the stretch on the heel can be sufficiently applied to a wide range of lateral sides from the calf to the toes as a whole. FIG. 13 shows the state of the right foot at this time, and shows a state in which a stretch centered on the heel is applied to a wide range of lateral sides from the calf to the toes.

    In FIG. 7, the left airbags (31), (37), (37), (37), (37), (50), and (50) shown in FIG. 50) is an airbag located on the outside, and the right airbags (31), (37) and (50) represent airbags located on the inside.

  In this way, by inflating the side airbag on the opposite side with the calf massage unit (20) and the toe massage unit (60), sufficient stretch is achieved for a wide range of sides from the calf to the toes. Can be applied.

  Each airbag is covered with a cloth cover (19) (see FIGS. 8 to 10), but this cover is omitted in FIGS.

  In the above embodiment, only the first airbag (31) of the side airbag (30) of the calf massage unit (20) is inflated when stretching is performed on a wide range of sides from the calf to the toes. However, the second airbag (37) may also be inflated. In this way, since a stronger pressing force is applied to the side surface of the calf, a stronger stretch can be applied.

  Further, the same stretch effect can be achieved by inflating the second airbag (37) instead of the first airbag (31) while the first airbag (31) is deflated.

  The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. In addition, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

  For example, the first airbag (31) is divided into a plurality of chambers (34a), (34b), and (34c) so that the chambers communicate with each other so as to expand and contract at the same time. Each can be expanded and contracted separately. In this case, the pressing force applied to the side of the calf can be adjusted depending on the number and position of the chambers to be expanded, and the strength of the stretch can be adjusted.

  Further, the longitudinal division of the dent (17) with respect to the airbag may be performed not only on the first airbag (31) but also on the second airbag (37) and the side airbag for the toe (50). . The stretch strength can be adjusted by changing the number and position of the divided chambers to be expanded.

  Alternatively, the first airbag (31) and the second airbag (37) may be communicated and simultaneously inflated and contracted. Of course, the first airbag (31) and the second airbag (37) can be combined into one large airbag. There is an advantage that it can be pressed.

  In addition, the foot massage unit (10) is configured integrally with the calf massage unit (20) and the foot tip massage unit (60), but may be of a separated type. The foot massage unit (10) may be used alone, or may be disposed in front of the seat portion of the chair as one of the components of the chair type massage machine.

(10) Foot massage unit
(20) Calf massage unit
(21) Recessed part where the calf is inserted
(30) Calf side airbag
(61) Recessed part where the foot is inserted
(50) Side airbag for toes
(60) Foot massage unit
(80) Control unit
(31) First airbag
(37) Second airbag

Claims (4)

There are a pair of left and right recesses into which the calves of the user are inserted, and a side airbag for calves is provided on the left and right side surfaces of each recess, and compressed air is supplied and exhausted. A calf massage unit that massages the calf of the user,
There is a pair of left and right recesses into which the foot of the user is inserted, and a side airbag for the foot is provided on the left and right side walls of each recess, and compressed air is supplied and exhausted. A toe massage unit for massaging the toes of the user;
A control unit for controlling expansion and contraction of the side airbags of the calf massage unit and the foot massage unit;
The control unit inflates one of the left and right side airbags in the side airbag in each recess of the calf massage unit, and in the side airbag in each recess of the foot massage unit, the calf massage unit A foot massage unit that inflates the side airbag on the opposite side of the side airbag, and stretches the calf from the calf to the side of the toes.   The side airbag of each recess of the calf massage unit is composed of a first airbag deployed on the bottom surface side of the recess side surface and a second airbag deployed on the opening side of the recess side surface, from the calf to the toes The foot massage unit according to claim 1, wherein at the time of applying the stretch around the heel to the side surface, at least one of the first airbag and the second airbag is inflated.   At least one of the first airbag or the second airbag is divided into a plurality of chambers in the longitudinal direction, and is divided in the longitudinal direction when the stretch from the calf to the side of the toes is applied to the side of the toes. The foot massage unit according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the chambers is expanded.     Stretching from the calf to the side of the toes, centering on the heel, stretches the side airbags in each recess of the calf massage unit and the foot massage unit alternately left and right, and stretches left and right alternately The foot massage unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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