JP2023180913A - Massage machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a massage machine capable of giving a kneading massage to a calf part or a foot part, which is made compact with the reduced thickness, and can be stored even in a narrow space, with a configuration in which a driving motor for operating a kneading massage member is placed in a low position, and the height of a case body is lowered so that the position of the kneading massage member is switched between the positions corresponding to the foot part and the calf part.SOLUTION: A massage machine 1 includes: a driving motor 21 whose output shaft 21a is directed in a horizontal direction and generates rotation driving force; a transmission shaft 24 whose shaft center is directed in a back and forth direction and is rotated by the rotation driving force; a sole massage member 30 for giving a sole massage by the rotation driving force of the transmission shaft 24; a kneading massage member 34 for giving a pressure massage to a treatment part of the foot part F or the calf part C by the rotation driving force of the transmission shaft 24; and a lower case body 5 which stores the driving motor 21 and is equipped with a placing surface 12 on which the foot part F can be placed. The driving motor 21 is disposed at a position lower than the placing surface 12 of the lower case body 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a lower limb massage machine that applies a kneading massage action to a user's lower limb from the calf to the foot, and also provides a kneading massage or a pressure massage action to the sole of the foot.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there have been commercially available lower limb massage machines that can massage the lower limbs from the calves below the knees to the feet. For example, a massage machine for lower limbs disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a boot-like shape when viewed from the side, and extends along the lower limb from the calf to the foot. Further, this massage machine has a vertical massage mechanism that massages the calf and a horizontal massage mechanism that massages the foot.

Patent No. 5912548

Now, the massage machine for lower limbs disclosed in Patent Document 1 is capable of applying a sufficient pressure massage operation to the lower limbs connecting from the calf to the foot, and can obtain a high massage effect. . Moreover, this massage machine can also massage the treatment areas of the soles and arches of the feet.
However, since the boot-shaped massage machine has a tall case body, it is difficult to find a storage location. In other words, in order to store this massage machine, a space that is not only spacious but also has a certain height is required.

However, in reality, storage space is often limited because multiple items such as beds and furniture are placed in a room. Examples include the space under the bed (long horizontal space) and the space between furniture (long vertical space). If there is only such space, a tall boot-shaped massage machine cannot be accommodated.
The inventor of the present invention considered the size of the massage machine for users who believe that such a narrow space that is long horizontally or vertically can be secured as a storage space.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention lowers the height of the case body by arranging the drive motor for operating the kneading massage member at a lower position, and also moves the kneading massage member closer to the foot. By having a configuration that can be switched between a position corresponding to the calf and a position corresponding to the calf, the device can be made thin and compact so that it can be stored in a narrow space. The purpose is to provide a massage machine that can perform massage.

In order to achieve the above object, the following technical measures were taken in the present invention.
The massage machine according to the present invention includes a drive motor whose output shaft faces in the horizontal direction and generates rotational driving force, a transmission shaft whose shaft center faces in the front-rear direction and rotates by the rotational driving force, and the transmission shaft. The rotational driving force is transmitted through the foot massage member that massages the sole of the foot, and the rotational driving force is transmitted through the transmission shaft to the foot or calf treatment area. a kneading massage member that imparts a pressure massage; and a lower case body housing the drive motor and having a mounting surface on which the foot can be placed; It is characterized in that it is placed at a position lower than the above-mentioned placement surface of the case body.

Preferably, a first drive shaft is disposed at the front part of the lower case body, with its axis facing in the left-right direction, and a first drive shaft is located at the rear part of the lower case body, with its axis facing in the left-right direction. a second drive shaft, the transmission shaft distributes and transmits the rotational driving force to the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft, and the transmission shaft transmits the rotational driving force to the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft. It is preferable that it is disposed above the shaft and inclined so that the front end side is on the lower side and the rear end side is on the upper side when viewed from the side.

Preferably, the foot sole massage member is for massaging the sole of the foot by the rotational driving force of the first drive shaft, and the kneading massage member is configured to massage the sole of the foot by the rotational driving force of the second drive shaft. The drive motor is provided with one drive motor, the output shaft is inserted into a gear case, and the transmission shaft is provided in a direction perpendicular to the output shaft. good.

Preferably, a first worm gear is formed at a front end of the transmission shaft, a first worm wheel is attached to the first drive shaft, and a first worm wheel is attached to the transmission shaft below the first worm wheel. The first worm gear and the first worm wheel are in mesh with each other, and the front end side of the transmission shaft is sandwiched between the first worm wheel and the output shaft in the front-rear direction of the massage machine. Good to have.

Preferably, a second worm gear is formed at the rear end of the transmission shaft, a second worm wheel is attached to the second drive shaft, and below the second worm wheel, the transmission A second worm gear of the shaft and the second worm wheel may be engaged with each other, and the second worm wheel may be disposed above the first worm wheel.

Preferably, it includes a swinging support part that supports the kneading massage member so as to be swingable around an axis facing in the left-right direction.
Preferably, the swing support section swingably supports the proximal end side of the kneading massage member via a swing shaft pointing in the left-right direction, and the swing shaft and the second drive shaft are on the same axis. It is good if it consists of the body.

According to the present invention, in addition to lowering the height of the case body by arranging the drive motor for operating the kneading massage member at a low position, the kneading massage member is positioned at a position corresponding to the foot and at a position corresponding to the calf. By having a configuration that can be switched to a corresponding position, the device can be made thin and compact and can be stored even in a narrow space, and it is also possible to perform a kneading massage for treatment of the calf or foot.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the massage machine of the present invention (first position). It is a perspective view showing an outline of a massage machine of the present invention (the 2nd position). FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the massage machine of the present invention (first position). It is a sectional view of the massage machine of the present invention (second position). FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the massage machine of the present invention (first position). FIG. 2 is a side view showing a first position and a second position of the massage machine of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a massage machine 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Note that the embodiment described below is an example of embodying the present invention, and the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the specific example. Furthermore, in order to make the drawings easier to read, some components are omitted or drawn using virtual lines.
Further, the directions such as front and back and left and right of the massage machine 1 are as shown in the drawings. This corresponds to the direction seen from the user who has inserted the lower leg L into the massage machine 1 and is seated on a chair or the like. In the following description, the directions shown in the drawings will be used to describe the massage machine 1 of the present invention.

In this specification, the part of a person's lower leg L from below the knee to the ankle K will be referred to as a "calf C." Furthermore, the region from the ankle K to the tip of the foot S will be referred to as the "foot region F." Note that other parts of the lower limb L will be explained as appropriate. Furthermore, in the following description, the "foot F" may be referred to as a "first treatment section" and the "calf C" may be referred to as a "second treatment section." Furthermore, the "sole U/arch A" is sometimes referred to as the "third treatment section."

The position shown in the left drawings of FIGS. 3 and 6, that is, the massage position in which the kneading massage mechanism 2 is oriented substantially horizontally so as to correspond to the foot F is referred to as a "first position." In this first position, the lower limb massage machine 1 has a flat shape in the left-right direction (width direction) in order to massage the foot F (first treatment part).
Further, the position shown in the right figures of FIGS. 4 and 6, that is, the massage position in which the kneading massage mechanism 2 is turned slightly rearward from the vertical so as to correspond to the calf C, is defined as a "second position". In this second position, the lower limb massage machine 1 is elongated in the vertical direction (height direction) in order to massage the calf C (second treatment area).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a massage machine 1 according to the present invention is a lower limb massage machine that can massage a lower limb L, which is a treatment area. The lower limb massage machine 1 of the present embodiment switches the position of the kneading massage mechanism 2 so as to correspond to the foot F or calf C of the lower limb L. It is possible to apply a sufficient pressure massage action. The lower limb massage machine 1 is also capable of massaging the treatment areas of the sole U and arch A of the foot.

Furthermore, in the lower limb massage machine 1 of the present invention, by switching the massage position to the "first position", the height of the device is reduced (thickness is reduced), and a narrow space that is long horizontally or vertically becomes a storage space. Even if there is, it can be stored.
The lower limb massage machine 1 of this embodiment applies a kneading massage operation to the lower limbs L such as the left and right feet F (first treatment part) or calves C (second treatment part) of the user. It has a kneading massage mechanism 2 and a sole massage mechanism 3 that applies a pressure massage operation to the sole U and arch A (third treatment section). The kneading massage mechanism 2 is built into the upper case body 4. Further, the sole massage mechanism 3 is built into the lower case body 5.

The upper case body 4 is an elongated member in the front-rear direction, and is provided so as to protrude forward in a convex shape when viewed from the first position, for example. Specifically, the upper case body 4 is provided with three protrusions 4a protruding in the same direction, and the protrusions 4a are arranged at equal intervals left and right. A treatment recess 6 is provided between the protrusions 4a. That is, the upper case body 4 is a "mountain"-shaped member in which both left and right ends and the center in the left and right direction protrude forward in plan view.

Further, the upper case body 4 (protruding portion 4a) has a curved tip so that it can be grasped by the user. Furthermore, the user can switch the upper case body 4 to the second position by grasping and lifting the tip of the case body 4. The inside of the upper case body 4 is hollow, and the kneading massage mechanism 2 and the like are stored in the hollow (space).
In the upper case body 4, a pair of left and right treatment recesses 6 into which the user's left and right feet F or calves C can be inserted are arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other. The space between the fork shapes in the upper case body 4 serves as a treatment recess 6. Although not shown, a lining material having elasticity, flexibility, and appropriate air permeability is provided in the pair of left and right treatment recesses 6.

For example, when the treatment recess 6 is in the first position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, it is provided in an open shape toward the front, upward, and downward. In addition, when in the second position shown in FIGS. 2, 4, etc., it is provided in an open shape toward the top, front, and rear.
The upper case body 4 is supported by a swing support portion 40 so as to be able to swing in the front-rear direction with respect to the lower case body 5. In other words, the upper case body 4 is capable of swinging in conjunction with the swinging of the built-in kneading massage mechanism 2 about the axis facing in the left-right direction.

A base body 7 that supports the kneading massage mechanism 2 is attached inside the upper case body 4. This base body 7 is swingably supported by a swing support section 40 . Further, shaft support portions 8 whose shaft centers are oriented in the left-right direction are provided at both left and right ends of the base body 7 . This shaft support section 8 constitutes the swing support section 40, and rotatably supports both left and right end portions of the second drive shaft 33.

Further, on the lower side and in the center of the upper case body 4, an upwardly concave recess 9 is formed. This recessed portion 9 accommodates a cap body 15 provided at the center of the lower case body 5 when the massage position is at the "first position".
Inwardly concave recesses 10 are formed on the left and right sides of the upper case body 4. This recessed portion 10 enters inside side wall portions 17 that are erected on the left and right sides of the upper part of the lower case body 5. By fitting the recessed part 10 inside the side wall part 17 of the lower case body 5, the upper case body 4 is housed in a lower position, and the overall height of the lower limb massage machine 1 is lowered, making it compact in the height direction. be able to.

Further, a switch 11 for driving or stopping the lower limb massage machine 1 is provided at the tip of the upper case body 4.
By holding both the left and right sides of the upper case body 4, the massaging position can be changed by swinging the kneading massage mechanism 2 in the front-back direction and stopping it at a predetermined position. That is, the left and right feet F can be fitted into the left and right treatment recesses 6, for example, when in the "first position" shown in FIGS. 1, 3, etc. Further, when in the "second position" shown in FIGS. 2, 4, etc., the left and right calves C, knees, etc. can be fitted.

The lower case body 5 has an upper surface that is flat in the horizontal direction. The flat upper surface serves as a placement surface 12 on which the foot portion F can be placed. The lower case body 5 is formed in a shape that bulges downward from the mounting surface 12.
The inside of the lower case body 5 is a space, and the foot massage mechanism 3, the drive motor 20 (drive part 19), etc. are housed in the space. Note that leg portions 5a are provided on the lower surface side of the lower case body 5 to allow it to be placed on the floor.

A hole 13 that communicates with the inside of the lower case body 5 is opened in the mounting surface 12 . The holes 13 are formed in pairs on the left and right at a predetermined interval. The holes 13 are provided at positions corresponding to the inner sides of the left and right treatment recesses 6. A pair of holes 13 are provided so as to correspond to the left and right soles U (archs A).
A foot massage member 30 of the foot massage mechanism 3 is provided to protrude upward from the hole 13. Moreover, a pressing protrusion 14 for pressing the front and rear of the sole U is provided at the front and rear of the hole 13. In this embodiment, a plurality of pressing protrusions 14 are provided.

A bulging-shaped cap body 15 is formed at the center of the mounting surface 12 . The cap body 15 is formed to stand up from the mounting surface. The cap body 15 is accommodated in the recess 9 provided at the center of the upper case body 4 when the massage position is in the "first position".
Inside the cap body 15, a swing support part 40, a rear end 24b of the transmission shaft 24 (second worm gear 31), a second drive shaft 33, a second worm wheel 32, etc., which will be described later, are housed. Further, the cap body 15 is accommodated so as to cover the swing support section.

An opening 16 communicating with the inside is formed in the rear part of the cap body 15 of this embodiment. From this opening 16, the rear end 24b (second worm gear 31) of the transmission shaft 24, the second worm wheel 32, etc. are exposed.
Side wall portions 17 are erected at both left and right ends of the upper portion of the lower case body 5. The inside of the side wall portion 17 is a space, and a shaft support portion 8 that rotatably supports both ends of the second drive shaft 33 is built in the space. Further, in the present embodiment, the left and right side wall portions 17 are erected so as to extend around the rear portion of the lower case body 5 and to be connected thereto. That is, the side wall portion 17 of this embodiment is provided like a folding screen. The upper case body 4 is provided inside this side wall portion 17 so as to fit therein.

That is, the lower case body 5 includes a horizontal portion 18 having a placement surface 12 on which a foot can be placed, and a hole provided in the horizontal portion 18 for disposing the foot sole massage member 30 so as to protrude therefrom. 13, a cap body 15 that is formed at the center of the horizontal part 18 so as to rise (bulge out) from the mounting surface 12, and a shaft support part 8 that allows the upper case body 4 to swing freely in the front and rear directions. It has a side wall portion 17 that is supported by the side wall portion 17 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, grip portions 19 that can be gripped by a user are provided at the lower portions of the left and right side surfaces of the lower case body 5. By inserting the user's hand into this grip portion 19, the lower limb massager 1 can be held and moved.
The grip portion 19 is formed in a concave shape on the inside in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the grip portion 19 is formed in a groove shape that is long in the front-rear direction. In this way, by cutting out the grip part 19 into a concave shape and a long groove shape, the lower case body 5 visually appears to be thinner, so that the overall height of the lower limb massager 1 is reduced. It feels low.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a drive unit 20 is housed inside the lower case body 5. As shown in FIGS. The drive unit 20 has an output shaft 21a oriented in the horizontal (left and right) direction, and includes a drive motor 21 that generates rotational driving force, and a gear case 22 that reduces the rotational driving force to a predetermined speed.
In this embodiment, the drive unit 20 includes one drive motor 21 with an output shaft 21a facing in the left-right direction. This drive motor 21 is arranged approximately at the center (approximately near the center) of the lower case body 5 .

The drive motor 21 has an output shaft 21a disposed approximately at the center inside the lower case body 5, and a main body portion 21b disposed slightly to the right. The output shaft 21a is arranged so that its axial center faces leftward. This output shaft 21a is arranged to intersect with the transmission shaft 24. Further, the output shaft 21a is provided with a worm gear.
The drive motor 21 is arranged at a position lower than the mounting surface 12 (the upper surface of the horizontal portion 18) provided on the lower case body 5. In this embodiment, the drive motor 21 is arranged on the bottom side of the horizontal portion 18 of the lower case body 5. Moreover, in this embodiment, in order to arrange the drive motor 21 at a lower position, a concave groove 23 is formed in the bottom surface of the lower case body 5. The main body portion 21b of the drive motor 21 is fitted into the groove portion 23.

In this embodiment, one drive motor 21 is provided, and the output shaft 21a is inserted into the gear case 22. The gear case 22 is disposed on the left side of the main body portion 21b and above the output shaft 21a. A worm wheel 22a is housed in the gear case 22. The worm wheel 22a is attached to the front side of the transmission shaft 24 midway in the longitudinal direction, and meshes with the output shaft 21a (worm gear) disposed below. The worm wheel 22a is attached to the transmission shaft 24 and rotates together with the transmission shaft 24. In other words, the gear case 22 houses the transmission shaft 24.

The gear case 22 also houses a first worm wheel 27 that meshes with the front end 24a of the transmission shaft 24, and a second worm wheel 32 that meshes with the rear transmission shaft 24b of the transmission shaft 24. Therefore, the gear case 22 of this embodiment is a case body that is elongated in the front-rear direction. This gear case 22 is housed within the cap body 15. Furthermore, the gear case 22 constitutes a swing support section 40 that will be described later. The swing support section 40 supports the kneading massage member (upper case body 4) so as to be swingable around an axis facing in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the transmission shaft 24 is an elongated shaft member, and is provided so that its axial center faces in the front-rear direction. The transmission shaft 24 is rotated by the rotational driving force of the drive motor 21. The transmission shaft 24 distributes and transmits the rotational driving force output from the drive motor 21 to a first drive shaft 28 disposed on the front side of the lower case body 5 and a second drive shaft 33 disposed on the rear side. It is something to do. That is, the transmission shaft 24 distributes and transmits the rotational driving force to the sole massage member 30 and the kneading massage member 34.

In this embodiment, the transmission shaft 24 is housed within the gear case 22 and is arranged above the output shaft 21a. Further, the transmission shaft 24 is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the output shaft 21a on the front side of the midway portion in the longitudinal direction.
Furthermore, the transmission shaft 24 is arranged so as to be inclined so that the front end 24a side (front transmission shaft 24a) is on the lower side and the rear end 24b side (rear side transmission shaft 24b) is on the upper side. Note that, in side view, the front transmission shaft 24a of the transmission shaft 24 and the output shaft 21a are at approximately the same height (distance from the bottom surface of the lower case body 5 is approximately the same). The transmission shaft 24 is disposed so as to protrude rearward and upward from the opening 16 of the cap body 15.

Specifically, in a side view, the front transmission shaft 24a side of the transmission shaft 24 is disposed on the bottom surface side of the horizontal portion 18 of the lower case body 5, and the rear transmission shaft 24b side is disposed inside the cap body 15 (cap body 15 It is arranged in a manner that protrudes rearward and upwardly from the opening 16 of the.
In this embodiment, a concave groove 25 is formed in the bottom surface of the lower case body 5 in order to arrange the transmission shaft 24 at a lower position. The front portion of the gear case 22 (the front transmission shaft 24a side of the transmission shaft 24) is fitted into the groove portion 25.

Note that, for example, another transmission shaft may be interposed between the drive motor 21 (output shaft 21a) and the transmission shaft 24. Specifically, the output shaft 21a is arranged in the front-rear direction, and the transmission shaft 24 is arranged in the front-rear direction so as to be parallel to the output shaft 21a, so that the output shaft 21a and the transmission shaft 24 are bridged. A configuration in which another transmission shaft is disposed in the left-right direction (orthogonal direction) is also possible.

A first worm gear 26 is formed at the front end 24a of the transmission shaft 24 (front transmission shaft 24a). This first worm gear 26 includes a first worm wheel 27? They match. The first worm wheel 27 is disposed above the front transmission shaft 24a of the transmission shaft 24 in the gear case 22.
The first worm wheel 27 is attached to the first drive shaft 28 midway in the longitudinal direction. The first worm wheel 27 rotates together with the first drive shaft 28 .

The first worm gear 26 (front transmission shaft 24a of the transmission shaft 24) is arranged below the first worm wheel 27, and the output shaft 21a is arranged behind the first worm gear 26.
The first drive shaft 28 (roller drive shaft 28) is disposed in the front part of the lower case body 5 with its axis facing in the left-right direction (width direction). The first drive shaft 28 is rotatably supported at both left and right ends by support members 29 provided at the left and right ends inside the lower case body 5 via bearings. Further, a longitudinally intermediate portion of the first drive shaft 28 is supported by the lower front portion of the gear case 22 . That is, the first drive shaft 28 is provided so as to pass through the lower front portion of the gear case 22 in the left-right direction.

A first worm wheel 27 is attached to a longitudinally intermediate portion of the first drive shaft 28 . Below the first worm wheel 27, the first worm gear 26 of the transmission shaft 24 and the first worm wheel 27 are engaged.
In the front-rear direction of the lower limb massager 1, the front end 24a (first worm gear 26) of the transmission shaft 24 is disposed between the first worm wheel 27 and the output shaft 21a.

A sole massage member 30 is attached to the first drive shaft 28 for applying a pressure massage operation to the longitudinal center of the sole U (arch A). That is, the first drive shaft 28 rotates the sole massage member 30. The sole massage member 30 massages the sole U by transmitting the rotational driving force of the first drive shaft 28 via the transmission shaft 24.

The foot massage member 30 is a rotatable cylindrical member whose axis is oriented in the left-right direction, and is attached to the first drive shaft 28 in a skewered manner. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the sole massage member 30, a plurality of treatment elements 30a facing radially outward are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction of the first drive shaft 28.
The foot massage member 30 (rotating roller 30) is attached to the first drive shaft 28 so as to be disposed at a position corresponding to the hole 13 of the lower case body 5. Further, the foot sole massage member 30 is disposed at a position sandwiched between a pair of left and right kneading massage members 34. That is, a pair of left and right foot massage members 30 are provided on the first drive shaft 28 so as to correspond to the sole U of the right foot F and the sole U of the left foot F.

On the other hand, a second worm gear 31 is formed at the rear end 24b of the transmission shaft 24 (rear transmission shaft 24b). This second worm gear 31 includes a second worm wheel 32? They match. The second worm wheel 32 is disposed above the rear transmission shaft 24b of the transmission shaft 24 in the gear case 22.
The second worm wheel 32 is attached to the middle part of the second drive shaft 33 (kneading drive shaft 33) in the longitudinal direction. The second worm wheel 32 rotates together with the second drive shaft 33. The second worm gear 31 (the rear transmission shaft 24b of the transmission shaft 24) is arranged below the second worm wheel 32.

The second drive shaft 33 is disposed in the rear part of the lower case body 5 with its axis facing in the left-right direction (width direction). The second drive shaft 33 is rotatably supported at both left and right ends by shaft support portions 8 provided on the left and right side walls 17 of the lower case body 5 via bearings. Further, a longitudinally intermediate portion of the second drive shaft 33 is supported by the rear upper portion of the gear case 22 . That is, the second drive shaft 33 is provided so as to pass through the rear upper part of the gear case 22 in the left-right direction.

A second worm wheel 32 is attached to a longitudinally intermediate portion of the second drive shaft 33 . Below the second worm wheel 32, the second worm gear 31 of the transmission shaft 24 and the second worm wheel 32 are engaged. The second worm wheel 32 is arranged above the first worm wheel 27 in side view.
As shown in FIG. 1, a switch 11 provided at the tip of the upper case body 4 is operated to drive the lower limb massager 1. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, an activation command is transmitted from the control section 42 to the drive section 20. The drive motor 21 outputs rotational driving force from an output shaft 21a whose axial center faces leftward. Inside the gear case 22, a worm wheel 22a that meshes with an output shaft 21a (worm gear) rotates.

As the worm wheel 22a rotates, the transmission shaft 24 rotates. The transmission shaft 24 is arranged at an angle so that the axis thereof faces in the front-rear direction and the front transmission shaft 24a is at a low position. This transmission shaft 24 distributes and transmits rotational driving force to a front transmission shaft 24a and a rear transmission shaft 24b.
The front transmission shaft 24a is located below the mounting surface 12 of the lower case body 5 and at a low position on the bottom side. A first worm gear 26 is formed on the front transmission shaft 24a.

The first worm gear 26 meshes with a first worm wheel 27 and rotates the first worm wheel 27. As the first worm wheel 27 rotates, rotational driving force is transmitted, and the first drive shaft 28 (roller drive shaft 28) rotates. The sole massage member 30 attached to the first drive shaft 28 rotates. This sole massage member 30 massages the sole U.

The rear transmission shaft 24b is located at a high position above the mounting surface 12 of the lower case body 5. A second worm gear 31 is formed on the rear transmission shaft 24b.
The second worm gear 31 meshes with the second worm wheel 32 and rotates the second worm wheel 32. As the second worm wheel 32 rotates, rotational driving force is transmitted, and the second drive shaft 33 (kneading drive shaft 33) rotates. The rotation of the second drive shaft 33 is converted into a rocking motion by the converter 35, causing the pair of kneading massage members 34 to move toward and away from each other. A kneading massage is performed on the foot F or the calf C by the kneading massage member 34 .

According to the massage machine 1 of the present invention, in addition to lowering the height of the lower case body 5 by arranging the drive motor 21 (drive unit 20) for operating the kneading massage member 34, the transmission shaft 24, etc. By adopting a configuration in which the position of the kneading massage member 34 can be switched between a position corresponding to the foot F and a position corresponding to the calf C, the entire thickness of the massage machine 1 can be made thin and compact, and it can be stored even in a narrow space. At the same time, the treatment area of the foot F or calf C can be kneaded and massaged.

Next, the outline of the configuration of the kneading massage mechanism 2 will be explained.
The kneading massage mechanism 2 includes a drive section 20, a transmission shaft 24, a second drive shaft 33, and a kneading massage member 34. Note that the drive unit 20, transmission shaft 24, and second drive shaft 33 are as described above.
The kneading massage member 34 imparts a pinching and kneading massage (pressure massage) to the treatment area of the foot F or calf C by transmitting the rotational driving force of the second drive shaft 33 via the transmission shaft 24. It is something to do.

The kneading massage members 34 are members provided on the side of the base body 7, and are arranged as a pair spaced apart from each other on the left and right so that a treatment area such as the foot F or the calf C can be sandwiched therebetween. The massaging member 34 is a plate member having approximately the same length as the foot F. Note that an elastic member (foamed urethane, etc.) is provided inside the kneading massage member 34 to soften the contact between the hard plate member and the treatment section.

When the kneading massage member 34 is switched to the "first position" shown in the left diagram of FIGS. 1, 3, and 6, the distal end thereof protrudes forward, and the massaging member 34 is placed in the foot F (first treatment part). A massage action is applied to the object.
Furthermore, when the kneading massage member 34 is switched to the "second position" shown in the right figures of FIGS. ) and the sides of the knees.

A converting section 35 is provided on the proximal end side of the kneading massage member 34. A second drive shaft 33 (kneading drive shaft 33), which is disposed so that its axis faces in the horizontal direction, is disposed so as to penetrate through the conversion portion 35 in the left-right direction.
A pair of massaging members 34 for sandwiching and massaging the foot F are provided in the left and right treatment recesses 6 of the upper case body 4, respectively. By moving the pair of left and right kneading massage members 34 toward and away from each other in an undulating rocking motion, an effective pinching massage is applied to the treatment area of the foot F or calf C.

The conversion part 35 includes a rotary boss part 36 that rotates integrally with the second drive shaft 33, and an annular fitting part that is provided on the base end side of the kneading massage member 34 and externally fits onto the rotary boss part 36 in a relatively rotatable state. 37, and a regulating portion 38 that regulates the massaging member 34 from rotating together with the second drive shaft 33.
The rotary boss portion 36 has a cam surface 36a on its outer peripheral surface that is inclined with respect to the second drive shaft 33, and rotates at an angle with respect to the axis of the second drive shaft 33. The rotation boss portions 36 (cam surfaces 36a) are inclined in opposite directions between the left and right kneading massage members 34. Note that the rotating boss portion 36 may be eccentric with respect to the axis of the second drive shaft 33 and rotate eccentrically. The rotating boss portion 36 may rotate only at an angle, only at an eccentric angle, or rotate at an angle and at an eccentric angle, for example.

The annular fitting part 37 is provided at the base end of the massaging member 34 and has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the rotary boss part 36. The annular fitting portion 37 externally fits the rotary boss portion 36 via a bearing.
The regulating portion 38 is provided on the base end side of the annular fitting portion 37, and is provided on the base body 7 with a regulating pin 39 provided on the annular fitting portion 37, and the regulating pin 39 is slidable. It has a regulation groove (not shown) that fits into the regulation groove.

The regulation pin 39 is provided to protrude from the annular fitting portion 37 in the direction opposite to the massaging member 34 . The base body 7 facing the regulation pin 39 is provided with a regulation groove long in the left-right direction.
The restriction pin 39 swings from side to side in a substantially horizontal direction within the restriction groove, thereby restricting the annular fitting portion 38 from rotating with respect to the rotary boss portion 37 . Co-rotation is restricted by the restriction of the restriction part 38, and the kneading massage member 34 performs a rocking motion due to the eccentric rotation and oblique rotation of the rotary boss part 36 into which the annular fitting part 37 is fitted.

Moreover, it has the swing support part 40 which supports the kneading|massage massage member 34 (upper case body 4) so that it can swing about the axis which faces the left-right direction. The swing support section 40 swingably supports the base end side of the kneading massage member 34 (upper case body 4) via a swing shaft 41 facing in the left-right direction.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the swing support part 40 is provided at the upper part of the lower case body 5, and the tip side of the upper case body 4 can rise up via a swing shaft 41 facing in the left-right direction. In this way, the base end side of the upper case body 4 (kneading massage mechanism 2) is swingably supported.

The swing support section 40 rotates both left and right ends of the gear case 22 which stores the transmission shaft 24, the first worm wheel 27, the second worm wheel 32, etc. and is covered by the cap body 15, and the second drive shaft 33. It consists of a freely supported shaft support part 8 and a swing shaft 41 that extends through the base end (conversion part 35) of the kneading massage member 34. In this embodiment, the swing shaft 41 is made of the same shaft as the second drive shaft 33.

In other words, the swing support part 40 is supported by the second drive shaft 33 (swing shaft 41) is rotatably supported around the axis. With this three-point support, the swing support section 40 swingably supports the kneading massage mechanism 2 (upper case body 4).
Incidentally, the swing shaft 41 may be provided as a second shaft separate from the second drive shaft 33. In this case, for the swing shaft 41 that is the second shaft, for example, a shaft that faces in the left-right direction is provided in the swing support portion 40 in the same direction and parallel to the axis of the second drive shaft 33. Good.

Here, the "first position" and "second position" of the kneading massage member 34 (upper case body 4) will be explained.
As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the kneading massage member 34 is moved from the "first position (position with the tip facing forward so as to be approximately horizontal)" shown in the left diagram to the right diagram. It is possible to switch between the "second position (position with the tip facing upward in a substantially vertical direction)" shown in FIG.

That is, the kneading massage member 34 is placed at a "first position (approximately horizontal position)" where a kneading massage is performed on the foot F (first treatment part) and at a calf C (second treatment part). It is possible to switch to a "second position (substantially vertical position)" where a kneading massage is performed.
For example, in the "first position" shown in the left diagram of FIG. 6, the massaging member 34 is arranged so as to protrude substantially horizontally and forward. Note that the treatment recess 6 is in a state where the front, upper, and lower sides are open. Further, the cap body 15 of the lower case body 5 is accommodated in the recess 9 of the upper case body 4. Further, the recessed portion 10 of the upper case body 4 is accommodated inside the side wall portion 17 of the lower case body 5. That is, in the first position, the upper case body 4 is folded forward and the upper case body 4 is stacked on the lower case body 5.

In this first position, as explained in detail above, the drive motor 21, the transmission shaft 24, the first worm wheel 27, etc. are arranged at a low position in the lower case body 5, so that the lower limb massager 1. The overall height is low (thin).
The user inserts the foot F into the treatment recess 6 and places the foot F on the placement surface 12 on the lower case body 5. At this time, the arch A of the sole U is rubbed and placed on the massage member 34, and the front and rear of the sole U are placed on the pressing protrusion 14. In the "first position", the kneading massage member 34 has a front end side that covers the toe from the side, and a rear end side that covers the heel from the side.

By swinging the left and right pair of massaging members 34 toward and away from each other, the massaging motion of pressing the foot F from the tip of the foot to the heel from the outside can be effectively performed. Give. At the same time, the sole massage member 30 (rotating roller 30) rotates around the axis of the first drive shaft 28, so that the massage element 30a applies an effective pressure massage to the arch A of the sole U. .

Here, the user grasps the side of the distal end of the upper case body 4 and applies a constant force upwardly to the kneading massage mechanism 2 around the axis of the second rotation shaft 33 (swing shaft 41). When lifted, the lower limb massager 1 can be moved to the "second position".
In the "second position" shown in the right diagram of FIG. 6, the kneading massage member 34 is lifted upward and deployed in an upright state. Note that the treatment recess 6 is in a state where the upper, front, and rear sides are open. That is, in the second position, the upper case body 4 is placed upright on the lower case body 5.

The user inserts the calf C into the treatment recess 6 and places the foot F on the placement surface 12 on the lower case body 5. At this time, the arch A of the sole U is rubbed and placed on the massage member 34, and the front and rear of the sole U are placed on the pressing protrusion 14. Note that the kneading massage mechanism 2 is fixed by sandwiching the calf C. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the position of the kneading massage member 34 depending on the size of the user's calf C.

In the "second position", the kneading massage member 34 has an upper end side that covers the upper part of the calf C from the side, and a lower end side that covers the lower part of the calf C from the side.
A pair of left and right massaging members 34 swing toward and away from each other, thereby effectively imparting a massaging motion to the calf C so as to push it from the outside. At the same time, the sole massage member 30 (rotating roller 30) rotates around the axis of the first drive shaft 28, so that the massage element 30a applies an effective pressure massage to the arch A of the sole U. .

By performing the procedure described above in reverse, the massage position can be switched (returned) from the second position to the first position. Moreover, the massage positions of the first position and the second position in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not limited to the angles of the kneading massage member 34 (kneading massage mechanism 2) illustrated. In other words, the massage position may be set in multiple stages.
It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered restrictive. In particular, in the embodiments disclosed herein, matters not explicitly stated, such as operating conditions, operating conditions, dimensions and weights of components, etc., do not deviate from the scope of those skilled in the art and are within the ordinary skill of those skilled in the art. We have adopted matters that can be easily assumed by a business operator. For example, the length of the kneading massage member 34 provided in the kneading massage mechanism 2, the inclination angle of the kneading massage member 34 (the cam surface 36a of the rotary boss portion 36) with respect to the second drive shaft 33, the kneading massage members 34 on the left and right sides, etc. The distance between the two can be changed as appropriate in consideration of the treatment range.

1 Massage machine (lower limb massage machine)
2 Kneading massage mechanism 3 Sole massage mechanism 4 Upper case body 5 Lower case body 6 Treatment recess 7 Base body 9 Recessed part 12 Placement surface 13 Hole 14 Pressing protrusion 15 Cap body 16 Opening 17 Side wall 21 Drive motor 21a Output Shaft 22 Gear case 22a Worm wheel 24 Transmission shaft 24a Front end (front transmission shaft)
24b Rear end (rear transmission shaft)
26 First worm gear 27 First worm wheel 28 First drive shaft (roller drive shaft)
30 Foot massage member (rotating roller)
30a Treatment element 31 Second worm gear 32 Second worm wheel 33 Second drive shaft (kneading drive shaft)
34 Massage massage member 40 Swing support section 41 Swing axis L Lower leg F Foot C Calf U Sole A Arch

Claims (7)

A drive motor whose output shaft is oriented horizontally and generates rotational driving force;
a transmission shaft whose axis is oriented in the front-rear direction and rotated by the rotational driving force;
a foot massage member that massages the sole of the foot by transmitting the rotational driving force through the transmission shaft;
a kneading massage member that applies a pressure massage to a treatment area of a foot or calf by transmitting the rotational driving force through the transmission shaft;
a lower case body that houses the drive motor and includes a placement surface on which the foot portion can be placed;
The massage machine, wherein the drive motor is disposed at a position lower than the mounting surface of the lower case body. a first drive shaft disposed in the front part of the lower case body with its axis facing in the left-right direction;
a second drive shaft disposed at the rear part of the lower case body, the axis of which is oriented in the left-right direction;
The transmission shaft distributes and transmits the rotational driving force to the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft,
The massager according to claim 1, wherein the transmission shaft is arranged above the output shaft and inclined so that the front end side is the lower side and the rear end side is the upper side when viewed from the side. Machine. The sole massage member massages the sole using the rotational driving force of the first drive shaft,
The kneading massage member applies a pressure massage to the treatment section by the rotational driving force of the second drive shaft,
One drive motor is provided, and the output shaft is inserted into a gear case,
The massage machine according to claim 2, wherein the transmission shaft is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the output shaft. A first worm gear is formed at the front end of the transmission shaft,
A first worm wheel is attached to the first drive shaft,
A first worm gear of the transmission shaft and the first worm wheel are engaged with each other below the first worm wheel,
The massage machine according to claim 3, wherein the front end side of the transmission shaft is disposed between the first worm wheel and the output shaft in the front-rear direction of the massage machine. A second worm gear is formed at the rear end of the transmission shaft,
A second worm wheel is attached to the second drive shaft,
A second worm gear of the transmission shaft and the second worm wheel are engaged with each other below the second worm wheel,
The massage machine according to claim 4, wherein the second worm wheel is arranged above the first worm wheel. The massage machine according to claim 2, further comprising a swing support part that supports the kneading massage member swingably around an axis facing in the left-right direction. The rocking support part swingably supports the base end side of the kneading massage member via a rocking shaft pointing in the left-right direction,
The massage machine according to claim 6, wherein the swing shaft and the second drive shaft are made of the same shaft.

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