JP2011030983A - Pneumatic massage device and compressed air supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compressed air supply device for a pneumatic massage device with a compact conduit structure. <P>SOLUTION: The compressed air supply device includes: a housing including first and second air supply port sets 34 and 36 having the same number of air supply ports; an air pump 40; a first downstream pipe set 50 having a plurality of downstream pipes 50a-50f connected and communicating with the respective air supply ports of the first air supply port set; a second downstream pipe set 52 having a plurality of downstream pipes 52a-52f connected and communicating with the respective air supply ports of the second air supply port set; upstream pipes 56a-56f for receiving compressed air from the air pump to feed the compressed air to the downstream pipes; and branched pipes 60 each of which has one air intake 60a communicating with one upstream pipe, and first and second air outlets communicating with one downstream pipe of the first downstream pipe set and one downstream pipe of the second downstream pipe set respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a plurality of pneumatic expansion chambers set in contact with a required position of the body, and periodically expands and contracts the pneumatic expansion chamber by supplying and discharging compressed air to and from the pneumatic expansion chamber. The present invention relates to a pneumatic massage apparatus having a pneumatic inflation bag that gives a massage effect to a required position of the body, and in particular, a pneumatic massage having two pneumatic inflation bags set around both arms and legs. Relates to the device.

  Various pneumatic massage devices including two pneumatic inflation bags set around both arms and legs have been developed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In the massage device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the left and right air pressures of a pair of pneumatic inflation bags set around the left arm and the left leg and a pair of pneumatic inflation bags set around the right arm and the right leg Each pair of pneumatic inflation bags has the same number of pneumatic inflation chambers from the proximal side to the distal side of the arms and legs. This massage apparatus has an apparatus main body including a housing that houses an air pump that supplies the compressed air, and the housing includes a plurality of units for supplying compressed air to the pneumatic expansion chambers of the pair of left and right pneumatic expansion bags. Air supply port. In this massage apparatus, the arm and leg are in contact with each other, such as a pneumatic expansion chamber that is in contact with the base end of the leg on each side and a pneumatic expansion chamber that is in contact with the base end of the arm. Two pneumatic expansion chambers, that is, four pneumatic expansion chambers in total on the left and right sides, communicate with one of the air supply ports of the apparatus main body so as to expand and contract simultaneously. Specifically, an air hose is connected in communication with this one air supply port, branched into two left and right hoses, and compressed air is supplied from each branch hose to the pneumatic expansion chamber around the left or right arm and leg. It is supposed to be.

  Since the air hose connected to the air supply port is branched to the left and right in the middle as described above, there is a drawback that the hose divided to the left and right is tangled and difficult to handle. In addition, since the left and right pneumatic expansion chambers receive compressed air from the same air supply port, compressed air is supplied to both pneumatic expansion chambers when massaging only one of the left and right sides. There is a waste and it is difficult to handle.

  In the massage apparatus of Patent Document 2, the compressed air from the air pump is divided into two inside the apparatus main body, and the air supply ports are prepared separately for the left and right pneumatic inflation bags. In this apparatus, there is no problem as described above in Patent Document 1, but an electromagnetic valve for controlling the opening and closing of each air supply port must be provided for each air supply port, which is costly and increases in size. .

Japanese Patent No. 4059956 Japanese Patent No. 4214012

  In view of the above points, the present invention provides a massage device and a compressed air supply device capable of controlling compressed air with a small number of solenoid valves while facilitating handling by extending the left and right hoses separately. The purpose is to do.

In the present invention,
A housing including first and second air supply port sets each including a plurality of air supply ports of the same number;
An air pump housed in the housing;
A first downstream pipe set having a plurality of downstream pipes provided in the housing and connected to each air supply port of the first air supply port set;
A second downstream pipe set having a plurality of downstream pipes provided in the housing and connected to each air supply port of the second air supply port set;
Upstream pipes of the same number as the air supply ports in each air supply port set for receiving the compressed air from the air pump and supplying the compressed air to the downstream pipes;
The same number of branch pipes as the upstream pipes, each having one air inlet communicating with one of the upstream pipes, and one downstream pipe and one second downstream pipe set of the first downstream pipe set A compressed air supply device for a pneumatic massage device, comprising: a branch pipe having first and second air outlets communicated with a downstream pipe.

  In this compressed air supply device, since two individual air supply port sets are provided, two hose bundles consisting of hoses connected to the air supply port and receiving the compressed air are separately prepared and necessary. Accordingly, it can be connected to the air supply port set, and therefore, in the above-described conventional massage device, it is branched from one connection portion connected to one air supply port into two hose bundles. Compared to the case, the use of compressed air is less wasteful and the handling of the hose bundle becomes easier. In this specification, terms such as “up and down”, “left and right”, “horizontal” and the like are used, but these are for representing the relative positional relationship between the parts. It is not an absolute positional relationship.

  Specifically, an electromagnetic valve is provided between the pump and each upstream pipe, and the supply of compressed air from the pump to each upstream pipe can be controlled by the electromagnetic valve. By doing in this way, unlike the above-mentioned conventional massage apparatus, it is not necessary to prepare the number of electromagnetic valves according to the air supply port, and the cost can be reduced.

More specifically,
The first and second air supply port sets have the air supply ports arranged side by side at equal intervals in the horizontal direction, and the first and second supply port sets are horizontal with respect to each other. Are arranged side by side,
The downstream pipes of the first and second downstream pipe sets extend linearly in the horizontal direction from the air supply ports of the first and second air supply port sets inward of the housing, and are arranged side by side in parallel with each other. And the lengths of the downstream pipes in the order corresponding to each other in the side-by-side direction in the first and second downstream pipe sets are the same,
First and second air outlets of each branch pipe are provided at one end of the branch pipe and opposite ends thereof, respectively, and upstream ends of the corresponding downstream pipes in the first and second downstream pipe sets, respectively. In communication with the opening, the air inlet of each branch pipe may be provided at a position between the first and second air outlets.

  By arranging the downstream pipe in the above-described arrangement and length and arranging the branch pipe, the pipe structure can be made compact.

  Specifically, the first and second downstream pipe sets in which the branch pipes connected to the upstream end openings of the downstream pipes in the order corresponding to each other in the first and second downstream pipe sets are located between both ends thereof. A straight portion that passes through an upper position or a lower position of the downstream pipe and extends in a direction orthogonal to the downstream pipe in a plan view, and the first and second downstream pipe sets corresponding to the first and second downstream pipe sets that extend from both ends of the straight section. And a bent portion reaching the first and second air outlets connected to the upstream end opening of the downstream pipe.

As a more specific example,
Each of the first and second air supply port sets has a plurality of air supply ports arranged in two upper and lower stages,
The first and second downstream pipe sets of the branch pipes connected to the downstream pipes connected to the upper air supply ports of the first stage and the second air supply port set respectively corresponding to the upper stages. A straight portion passes through the upper position of the downstream pipe connected to the upper air supply port between both ends thereof;
In the first and second downstream pipe sets, the branch pipes connected in communication with the downstream pipes connected to the lower order air supply ports in the first and second air supply port sets, respectively. A straight portion is passed through the lower position of the downstream pipe connected to the lower air supply port between both ends thereof;
The upstream pipe may be disposed so as to enter between the branch pipes extending in the upper position and the lower position, and communicated with the branch pipe.

  By doing so, the pipeline structure can be made more compact.

  In addition, all the branch pipes have the same size and shape, and the air inlet of the branch pipe is positioned closer to one end than the center of the straight line portion, and is connected to the upper air supply port. The branch pipe connected to the downstream pipe is connected to the upstream pipe set so that its air inlet faces downward, and connected to the downstream pipe connected to the lower air supply port. The branch pipe is set so that its air inlet faces upward, and the positions of the first and second air outlets are connected to the downstream pipe connected to the upper air supply port. The first and second air outlets can be reversed in the left-right direction.

  It is possible to reduce the cost by making the pipe line structure compact and using the same branch pipe.

The present invention also provides
First and second pneumatic inflation bags each having a plurality of pneumatic expansion chambers in contact with a required part of the body, the same number as the number of air supply ports of each air supply port set;
First and second hose bundles each comprising a hose extending from each pneumatic expansion chamber of the first and second pneumatic expansion bags;
The compressed air according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein compressed air is supplied to the pneumatic expansion chambers of the first and second pneumatic expansion bags via respective hoses of the first and second hose bundles. A compressed air supply device, wherein the air supply ports of the first and second air supply port sets are connected to the hoses of the first and second hose bundles, respectively,
There is provided a pneumatic massage device.

1 is a schematic view of a pneumatic massage apparatus according to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the compressed air supply apparatus in the pneumatic massage apparatus of FIG. 1, and has shown except the upper half part of the housing. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the compressed air supply device of FIG. 2 during assembly. It is a cross-sectional top view of the air supply port set in the compressed air supply apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of the branch pipe used by the pipe line in the compressed air supply device of FIG. It is a top view of the pipe line in the compressed air supply apparatus of FIG. It is a front view of the same pipeline. It is a side view of the same pipe line.

  A massage apparatus 10 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes boot-type pneumatic inflatable bags 14 and 16 attached to the left and right legs of a user, and compressed air to the pneumatic inflatable bags 14 and 16. And a compressed air supply device 13 for supplying air.

  The pneumatic expansion bags 14 and 16 each include six pneumatic expansion chambers 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, and 14f that are expanded by supplied compressed air; 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, and 16f. ing.

  Hose 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f extends from each pneumatic expansion chamber of the first pneumatic expansion bag 14, and the tip portions thereof are gathered to form a first hose bundle 18. Further, hoses 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 20 d, 20 e, and 20 f extend from the respective pneumatic expansion chambers of the second pneumatic expansion bag 16, and their tip portions are gathered to form the second hose bundle 20. Yes.

  The tips of the first and second hose bundles are plugs (male pipe joints) 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24f attached to the tips of the respective hoses, respectively; 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, The first and second collective plugs 24 and 26 are formed by integrating the unit 26f. In the example shown in the figure, the plugs of the collective plugs 24 and 26 are arranged in two upper and lower stages, and three plugs are set side by side horizontally at equal intervals in each stage.

  The compressed air supply device 13 has a housing 38 with first and second air supply port sets 34, 36 in the form of collective sockets into which the first and second collective plugs 24, 26 are respectively fitted. The first and second air supply port sets 34 and 36 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and the plugs 24a, 24b, 24c, which are arranged in two stages above and below the first and second assembly plugs 24 and 26, respectively. 24d, 24e, 24f; air supply ports 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, 34f as sockets into which 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f are inserted and connected; 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f. (See Figs. 4 and 7)

  As shown in FIG. 4, the air supply ports 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, 34f of the first air supply port set 34 are provided with spring-biased opening / closing valves 34g, and the first collective plug By inserting 24 plugs 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24f, the open / close bubble 34 is pushed against the spring biasing force, and the air supply port is opened. This open / close valve 34g has a silicon valve body 34h formed into a spherical shape on a stem-like member that is displaceable in the axial direction of the air supply port. The silicon valve body 34 is connected to the outside of the valve seat portion. The state shown in FIG. 4 can be set simply by pushing inward. A similar on-off valve is also provided in the air supply ports 36 a to 36 f of the second air supply port set 36.

  In the housing 38, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an air pump 40, an air tank 42 for receiving compressed air from the air pump, a manifold 43 communicated with the air tank, and each of the manifolds arranged in a row in the manifold. Solenoid valves 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d, 44e, and 44f attached to the branch path, and manifolds and air supply ports 34a, 34b, and 34c of the first and second air supply port sets 34 and 36 through the respective solenoid valves. , 34d, 34e, 34f; 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f. Each solenoid valve is operable between an open position where compressed air from the air pump 40 passes through the pipe line 46 and an exhaust position where the pipe line communicates with the atmosphere. When the solenoid valve is in the open position, compressed air is supplied to the pneumatic expansion chamber of the pneumatic expansion bag associated with the solenoid valve and inflated, and when in the release position, the compressed air in the pneumatic expansion chamber is compressed. Air is discharged to the atmosphere to contract the pneumatic expansion chamber. Since the operation and configuration of such a solenoid valve are widely known to those skilled in the art, the details are omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 6 to 8, the pipe 46 is connected to and communicated with the air supply ports 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, and 34e of the first air supply port set 34. The first downstream pipe set 50 having the pipes 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e, 50f (FIG. 4) and the air supply ports 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f of the second air supply port set 36 A second downstream pipe set 52 having a plurality of downstream pipes 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, and 52f connected to each other and the same number of air supply ports in each of the air supply port sets 50 and 52 (6 in the illustrated example). Upstream pipes 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, 56e, 56f for receiving the compressed air from the air pump 40 supplied via the solenoid valve and supplying it to the downstream pipe 5 a, 56b, 56c, 56d, 56e, 56f, the same number of branch pipes 60 as the upstream pipes, one air inlet 60a communicating with one of the upstream pipes, and the first downstream pipe set A branch pipe having first and second air outlets 60b and 60c communicated with one downstream pipe of 50 and one downstream pipe of the second downstream pipe set 52.

  Specifically, the downstream pipes 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e, 50f of the first and second downstream pipe sets 50, 52; 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f are the first and second supplies. The air supply ports of the mouth sets 34 and 36 extend linearly inward in the housing 38 in the horizontal direction, and have two upper and lower stages, and are arranged side by side in parallel with each other. In the upper stage of the first downstream pipe set 50, the lengths of the downstream pipes 50a, 50b, 50c sequentially arranged from right to left as viewed in FIG. In the upper stage of the set 52, the lengths of the downstream pipes 52a, 52b, and 52c sequentially arranged from right to left are set to be the same length as the downstream pipes 50a, 50b, and 50c, respectively, so that the lengths are increased.

  The lower downstream pipes 50d, 50e, 50f of the first and second downstream pipe sets 50, 52; 52d, 52e, 52f are arranged between the first and second downstream pipe sets 50, 52 in the same manner as the upper downstream pipe. Corresponding ones have the same length, but in the lower part, they are made to increase in length from left to right as seen in FIG.

  The branch pipe 60 includes a downstream pipe 50a and a downstream pipe 52a, a downstream pipe 50b and a downstream pipe 52b, a downstream pipe 50c and a downstream pipe 52c, a downstream pipe 50d and a downstream pipe 52d, a downstream pipe 50e and a downstream pipe 52e, and a downstream pipe 50f, respectively. And the downstream pipe 52f are connected in communication. Each branch pipe 60 that connects the corresponding upstream pipes in the upper stage of the first and second downstream pipe sets contacts the upper downstream pipes of the first and second downstream pipe sets between both ends thereof. In addition, the branch pipe 60 connecting the lower pipes corresponding to each other in the lower stage passes under the lower pipes in the lower stage of the first and second downstream pipe sets between the both ends so as to be in contact with the plane. A straight portion 60d extending perpendicularly to the downstream pipe as viewed, and upstream ends of corresponding downstream pipes of the first and second downstream pipe sets connected to the branch pipes extending from both ends of the straight section And bent portions 60e and 60f connected to the opening to reach the first and second air outlets. Therefore, the bent portions 60e and 60f in the branch pipe connecting the upper downstream pipes of the first and second downstream pipe sets are bent downward from both ends of the straight section, and the lower sections of the first and second downstream pipe sets are The bent portions 60e and 60f in the branch pipe connecting the downstream pipe are bent downward from both ends of the straight portion 60d.

  5 shows the downstream pipe 50a and the downstream pipe 52a, the downstream pipe 50b and the downstream pipe 52b, and the branch pipe 60 connecting the downstream pipe 50c and the downstream pipe 52c in the air supply apparatus 13 shown in FIG. Show. That is, the bent portions 60e and 60f at both ends are bent downward from the straight portion 60d, and the air outlet 60a is provided close to the one bent portion 60e. By arranging the air outlet 60a in this way, it is possible to collect the upstream pipes 56a, 56b and 56c connected to the air outlet 60a on the first air supply port side between the first and second air supply port sets. . FIG. 3 shows that the downstream end openings 56a ′, 56b ′, 56c ′ of the upstream pipes 56a, 56b, 56c thus made are connected upward to the downwardly directed air inlet 60a. The state is shown.

  On the other hand, the direction of the branch pipe 60 connecting the lower downstream pipes of the first and second downstream pipe sets is opposite to that of FIG. If it does so, the air inlet 60a will be arrange | positioned upwards and rightward. In this way, the upstream pipes 56d, 56e, and 56f can be collected on the right side of the upstream pipes 56a, 56b, and 56c, and the downstream end openings that are directed downward of the upstream pipes 56a, 56b, and 56c are directed upward. The air inlet 60 can be connected in communication.

  The upstream pipe extends between the straight part of the branch pipe 60 connecting the upper downstream pipes of the first and second downstream pipe sets and the straight part of the branch pipe 60 connecting the lower downstream pipes. Are connected to these branch pipes.

  The embodiment of the massage device according to the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in order to accurately perform maintenance of the massage apparatus according to the present invention without depending on the user's memory, although not shown, the frequency and time of use of the solenoid valve that is most likely to cause failure It is also preferable to be able to store information related to the occurrence of errors such as hose disconnection, hose breakage, sensor check error, and sensor failure.

  Compressed air supply device 13; Pneumatic expansion bags 14, 16; Pneumatic expansion chambers 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f; 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f; Hose 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f; first hose bundle 18; hose 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f; second hose bundle 20; plug (male pipe joint) 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24f; 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f; first and second aggregate plugs 24, 26; first and second air supply port sets 34, 36; air supply ports 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d , 34e, 34f; 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f; open / close valve 34g; silicon valve body 34h; Air pump 40; Air tank 42; Solenoid valves 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d, 44e, 44f; Pipe 46; Downstream pipes 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e, 50f; First downstream pipe set 50; 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f: second downstream pipe set 52; upstream pipes 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, 56e, 56f; downstream end openings 56a ′, 56b ′, 56c ′; air inlet 60a; First and second air outlets 60b, 60c; straight portion 60d; bent portions 60e, 60f

Claims (7)

A housing including first and second air supply port sets each including a plurality of air supply ports of the same number;
An air pump housed in the housing;
A first downstream pipe set having a plurality of downstream pipes provided in the housing and connected to each air supply port of the first air supply port set;
A second downstream pipe set having a plurality of downstream pipes provided in the housing and connected to each air supply port of the second air supply port set;
Upstream pipes of the same number as the air supply ports in each air supply port set for receiving the compressed air from the air pump and supplying the compressed air to the downstream pipes;
The same number of branch pipes as the upstream pipes, each having one air inlet communicating with one of the upstream pipes, and one downstream pipe and one second downstream pipe set of the first downstream pipe set A compressed air supply apparatus in a pneumatic massage apparatus, comprising: a branch pipe having first and second air outlets communicated with a downstream pipe.   The compressed air supply device according to claim 1, wherein an electromagnetic valve is provided between the pump and each upstream pipe, and the supply of compressed air from the pump to each upstream pipe is controlled by the electromagnetic valve. The first and second air supply port sets have the respective air supply ports arranged at equal intervals in the horizontal direction, and the first and second air supply port sets are horizontal to each other. Are arranged side by side,
The downstream pipes of the first and second downstream pipe sets extend in a straight line in the horizontal direction from the air supply ports of the first and second air supply port sets to the inside of the housing, and are arranged side by side in parallel with each other. And the lengths of the downstream pipes in the order corresponding to each other in the side-by-side direction in the first and second downstream pipe sets are the same,
First and second air outlets of each branch pipe are provided at one end of the branch pipe and opposite ends thereof, respectively, and upstream ends of the corresponding downstream pipes in the first and second downstream pipe sets, respectively. The compressed air supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air inlet of each branch pipe is provided at a position between the first and second air outlets in connection with the opening.   The branch pipes connected to the upstream end openings of the downstream pipes in the order corresponding to each other in the first and second downstream pipe sets are above the downstream pipes of the first and second downstream pipe sets located between both ends thereof. A straight portion passing through the position or the lower position and extending in a direction orthogonal to the downstream pipe in plan view, and an upstream end of the corresponding downstream pipe of the first and second downstream pipe sets extending from both ends of the straight portion The compressed air supply device according to claim 3, further comprising a bent portion reaching the first and second air outlets connected to and communicated with the opening. Each of the first and second air supply port sets has a plurality of air supply ports arranged in two upper and lower stages,
The first and second downstream pipe sets of the branch pipes connected to the downstream pipes connected to the upper air supply ports of the first stage and the second air supply port set respectively corresponding to the upper stages. A straight portion passes through the upper position of the downstream pipe connected to the upper air supply port between both ends thereof;
In the first and second downstream pipe sets, the branch pipes connected in communication with the downstream pipes connected to the lower order air supply ports in the first and second air supply port sets, respectively. A straight portion is passed through the lower position of the downstream pipe connected to the lower air supply port between both ends thereof;
The compressed air supply device according to claim 4, wherein the upstream pipe is disposed so as to enter between the branch pipes extending in the upper position and the lower position, and is connected in communication with the branch pipe.   All the branch pipes have the same size and shape, and the air inlet of the branch pipe is located closer to one end than the center of the straight portion, and is connected downstream to the air supply port in the upper stage. The branch pipe connected to the pipe is set so that its air inlet faces downward, and is connected to the upstream pipe, and is connected to the downstream pipe connected to the lower air supply port. The first of the branch pipes that are set so that the air inlet faces upward and the positions of the first and second air outlets are connected to the downstream pipe that is connected to the upper air supply port. The compressed air supply device according to claim 5, wherein the compressed air supply device is opposite to the left and right sides of the second air outlet. First and second pneumatic inflation bags each having a plurality of pneumatic expansion chambers in contact with a required part of the body, the same number as the number of air supply ports of each air supply port set;
First and second hose bundles each comprising a hose extending from each pneumatic expansion chamber of the first and second pneumatic expansion bags;
The compressed air according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein compressed air is supplied to the pneumatic expansion chambers of the first and second pneumatic expansion bags via respective hoses of the first and second hose bundles. A compressed air supply device, wherein the air supply ports of the first and second air supply port sets are connected to the hoses of the first and second hose bundles, respectively,
Pneumatic massage device having.

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