JP2024054740A - Leg massage device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a leg massage device that can inject air into an airbag to massage while simultaneously applying sufficient force to correct bow legs, bowed legs, etc. The leg massage device of the present invention to solve the above problem is characterized in that it is equipped with an external fixing device that binds both legs and attaches and fixes them from the periphery at the part where the leg airbag presses, and can simultaneously apply sufficient force to promote correction of the lower leg shape while massaging. [Selected drawing] Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a device for leg massage treatment that provides pressure stimulation to the legs to promote and improve blood and lymph flow, and massages the legs to recover from fatigue, relieve muscle stiffness, reduce swelling, and slim the body for health and beauty purposes, while also serving the purpose of improving the shape and balance of the lower limbs, such as bow legs and knock-knees.

The lower limbs of the human body, especially the calves, ankles and feet, are the furthest from the heart and need to return blood to the heart against gravity, but blood circulation is inhibited and blood is easily stagnated. In particular, when working standing up for long periods of time or when wearing shoes or socks, lymphatic fluid also tends to stagnate, leading to swelling of the legs and chills in winter.
Bow legs refer to a physique in which gaps tend to form between the thighs, knees, and calves, forming a literal O-shape. On the other hand, bow legs refer to a physique in which both knees are bent inward, and even if the insides of the knees are aligned, gaps tend to form between the ankles and ankles.
Conventionally, there are household massage devices that aim to improve blood flow by intermittent air compression. Known devices are those that supply air to a bag-shaped air chamber (hereinafter referred to as an airbag) wrapped around various parts of the body, and provide massage stimulation to various parts of the body by intermittently compressing and releasing the pressure by repeating pressure and pressure reduction.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes an air massage device that has multiple airtight bags that expand with air inside a boot-shaped air boot that is worn on the legs, and air is supplied from an air inlet to provide a massage by pressurizing and depressurizing.

JP 2003-079688 A

In addition to the air boots that use air pressure to massage the area below the knees, Patent Document 1 also describes an air belt made of a sealed bag material that expands when air is injected into it, which is shaped like a belt. The air belt is usually wrapped around the thighs of each leg, but it can also be wrapped around the waist or around the circumference of both knees together to correct bow legs or pelvic distortion.
When air is injected into the airbags in the air boots wrapped around the legs to perform a massage, the airbags inflate, causing the gap between the legs to widen. Even if the legs are fixed and restrained with the air belt, the airbags arranged from the calves to the inside of the shins inflate, causing the legs to widen from below the knees to the toes, and spaces tend to form around the knees. This is particularly noticeable when the user has bow legs or bowed legs, and there is a problem that the force applied to the legs in the inward direction to correct the shape of the legs is insufficient when the air belt is wrapped around the waist, thighs, knees, etc.

The present invention aims to provide a leg massage device that can inject air into an airbag to massage the legs while simultaneously applying sufficient force to correct the shape of the legs.

As a result of thorough research into the above-mentioned problems, we discovered that by providing a leg massage device with an external fixation device that bundles both legs and wraps around them to secure them in place at the pressure point where the leg airbag presses against them, we could provide a device that applies sufficient force to correct the shape of the lower limbs, and thus completed the present invention.
That is, the present invention provides a leg massage device comprising the following external fixing device.

In order to solve the above problems, the leg massage device of the present invention comprises a cover part which covers one leg, a pressing part which presses the leg against the cover part, and an external fixing device which bundles both legs together and fixes them from around the circumference, and the external fixing device fixes both legs from around the circumference at the position of the pressing part.
By using this leg massage device, both legs are fixed at the position of the pressing part, so the spreading of the feet from below the knees due to the pressing force of the pressing part is suppressed. This makes it possible to suppress bow legs or knock legs caused by massage. In addition, when the pressing part presses, a force is applied in the inward direction of both legs, and if the lower limbs of the person being treated are bow legs or knock legs, it is expected to have an effect of promoting the correction of the shape by acting on the twists of the legs and joints, etc.

In addition, in order to solve the above problems, the leg massage device of the present invention comprises a cover portion that covers one leg, a pressing portion that presses the leg against the cover portion, and an external fixing device that bundles both legs and attaches and fixes them from around the legs, and is characterized in that the external fixing device fixes both legs at two or more non-pressed points, one above the pressing portion and one below the pressing portion.
When using this massage device, both legs are fixed at the upper and lower positions of the pressure part, which prevents the feet from spreading out from below the knees due to the pressure of the pressure part, and prevents bow legs or knock-knees caused by massage.

In one embodiment of the leg massage device of the present invention, the pressing portions to which the external fixing devices are attached are the calf portions of both legs.
According to this feature, since the area around the largest muscle below the knee is fixed, the force applied in the inward direction of both legs when pressed by the pressing part is maximized, which further enhances the effect of correcting bow legs/knees.

The present invention provides a leg massage device that injects air into an airbag to massage the legs while simultaneously applying sufficient force to correct the shape of the legs.

1 is a schematic external view of a cover portion (boot cuff) of a leg massage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where the cover portion (boot cuff) is attached to a person's lower leg. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the arrangement of a pressing portion (airbag) inside a cover portion (boot cuff) of a leg massage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of an external fixing device of a leg massage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic external view showing a state in which an external fixing device is attached to a leg massage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a leg being pressed with an external fixing device of the leg massage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention attached thereto. FIG. 11 is a schematic external view of a leg massage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention (an example in which an external fixation device is integrally formed with a boot cuff). 13A and 13B are schematic explanatory diagrams of a leg massage device according to a third embodiment of the present invention (an example in which the external fixing devices are fixed at positions above and below the pressing portion).

The leg massage device equipped with an external fixation device of the present invention is characterized by its ability to massage the legs by applying pressure to stimulate them, promoting and improving blood and lymph flow, and providing a massage to relieve fatigue and reduce swelling, while at the same time applying sufficient force to correct the shape of the lower limbs.
It can also be suitably used for the purpose of improving and treating the shape and balance of the lower limbs, such as bow legs and knock-knees.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a leg massage device having an external fixing device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The leg massage device described in the embodiment is merely an example for explaining the leg massage device according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[First embodiment]
The leg massage device 1A of the first embodiment is an apparatus for providing massage stimulation and treatment by supplying or discharging pressurized air to an airbag wrapped around the legs, thereby repeatedly increasing and decreasing pressure, thereby intermittently compressing and relaxing the legs.
1 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a leg massage device 1A of the present invention. The leg massage device 1A includes boot cuffs 2a, 2b (exterior covers) for the left and right legs, airbags 3a to 3g (pressure units; see FIG. 2) arranged inside the boot cuffs 2a, 2b, an air supply source (not shown) that supplies air to the airbags 3a to 3g, a control unit (not shown) that controls the amount of air supplied from the air supply source, and an operation unit (not shown) that operates the control unit.

<Cover>
The cover part is a member that covers one leg, and in the leg massage device of the first embodiment, it is a boot-shaped boot cuff 2a, 2b. The boot cuffs 2a, 2b are usually manufactured to have a structure that matches the shape of the leg, and are opened with a zipper or the like, and the left and right legs are inserted and closed to form a three-dimensional structure that fits the shape of the leg. Airbags 3a to 3g (see FIG. 2) are arranged inside the boot cuffs.

The material of the boot cuff is not particularly limited, but examples include cloth, resin sheet, and pulp sheet. From the viewpoint of increasing the pressing effect of the airbag, it is preferable for the material to limit the expansion and contraction in the radial direction when attached to the leg. Also, from the viewpoint of excellent wearing properties such as a good fit, it is preferable for the boot cuff to be made of cloth or resin sheet.

<Pressing part>
The pressing portion is a means for applying pressure to the surface of the leg. Fig. 2 shows airbags 3a to 3g which are the pressing portion of the leg massage device 1A of the first embodiment. The airbags 3a to 3g are disposed inside the boot cuffs 2a and 2b, respectively, and can be inflated to apply pressure to the skin surface by supplying air to the airbags. The airbags have a simple device configuration and can easily supply or discharge fluid, and the inflation or deflation of the bags can be easily controlled.

In the first embodiment, an airbag is used as the pressing portion, but any means capable of pressing the surface of the leg may be used. For example, instead of air, a fluid bag may be used that supplies a fluid such as water, oil, or gel. When using a fluid such as water, oil, or gel, the pressing portion may be heated. Alternatively, a power device such as a piston may be used to apply pressure.

The airbag is a belt-shaped bag material that is inflated or deflated by supplying or discharging compressed air. The arrangement of the airbag is not particularly limited, but for example, a plurality of airbags are arranged at appropriate positions on the skin surface side of the leg within the boot cuff where massage should be performed.
2 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing an example of the arrangement of airbags inside the leg massage device of the present invention, and 3a to 3g represent the airbags arranged at predetermined positions on the legs. Airbag 3a is a sole pressing part that presses the sole (arch) of the foot, airbag 3b is an instep pressing part that presses the instep (base of the toes), airbag 3c is an ankle pressing part that presses the ankle from both sides (airbags on both sides 3c are integrally formed), airbags 3d and 3f are Achilles tendon pressing parts that press the inner side (3d) and outer side (3f) of the Achilles tendon in the lower calf from both sides, and airbags 3e and 3g are gastrocnemius pressing parts that press the inner side (3e) and outer side (3g) of the gastrocnemius in the upper calf from both sides. In the illustrated example, seven airbags are arranged on one leg from the toes to the calf, but the number may be more or less, and pressing parts may be arranged to press other positions such as above the knee or on the thigh.

Although not shown, the device is equipped with an air supply source that supplies air to the airbags 3a to 3g, a control unit that controls the amount of air supplied from the air supply source, and an operation unit that operates the control unit.
The air supply source is usually an electrically driven air pump, which is connected to the air bag by an air tube to inject air.
The control unit controls the injection/exhaust of pressurized air into/from each airbag by opening and closing an electromagnetic valve or the like, and is equipped with a program that appropriately controls the pressure of each airbag to be increased or decreased over time.
The operation unit includes an operation screen, button switches, and the like that can be used to operate the control unit.
The control of the air injection/exhaust to the airbag may be automatically controlled by a program, or the air injection/exhaust may be controlled by an operating unit.

<External Fixation Device>
The external fixation device is a member that aligns both legs and fixes them from their periphery, and is a member that fixes both legs so that they do not separate when pressure is applied to the surface of the legs by the pressing part.
The external fixation device makes it possible to apply sufficient force in the medial direction of both legs to correct the bow-legged/knocked lower limb shape, and is expected to have the effect of promoting the correction of the bow-legged/knocked lower limb shape.
Furthermore, by wrapping the material around both legs and fixing them in place, when the pressing part presses against the surface of the legs, the loss of pressing force due to the movement of the legs can be suppressed, thereby shortening the time it takes for the pressing force to increase.

Fig. 3 shows an example of an external fixation device, a belt (external fixation device 4A) that wraps around both legs to fix and restrain them. The external fixation device 4A has a hook-and-loop fastener 5 at its end, so that the wrapped belt can be fixed.
Moreover, a state in which the external fixing device 4A is attached is shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the external fixing device 4A is characterized in that it is fixed from the periphery at the position of the pressing portion.

The external fixation device 4A is usually a cloth belt made of elastic synthetic or natural fibers such as polyurethane fiber, and is preferably equipped with hook-and-loop fasteners or buttons at the ends so that the length can be adjusted appropriately. However, it is not limited to this, and as long as it is a belt-like or string-like fixation device that has sufficient strength and rigidity to fix both legs, it is not limited to the above in terms of structure, material, shape, dimensions (length, width, thickness), etc.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the legs are bound together and fixed with the external fixation device 4A wrapped around them from above the boot cuffs 2a, 2b at the position of the pressure parts (airbags 3e, 3g) that press on the gastrocnemius muscles in the upper calves. This fixes the legs so that they are in close contact with each other, and the knees are pressed inward. The position at which the external fixation device 4A is attached is not limited to the above, and it can be any position where the pressure parts of the airbags are located. Fixing the positions above and below the knees is particularly preferable for correcting bow legs and knock-knees, and it is particularly preferable to fix the legs at the calves, where there is a large space between the legs, to increase the force of restraining from the outside and pressing on the inside.

In addition, although the external fixing device 4A in the first embodiment is a belt separate from the boot cuffs 2a, 2b, the external fixing device may be fixed to a cover portion of a boot cuff or the like, and the external fixing device and the cover portion may be formed as an integral structure.
When the external fixing device and the cover part are separate, there is an advantage that the position where the external fixing device is fixed can be selected freely, whereas when the external fixing device and the cover part are integrated, there are advantages such as the ability to smoothly fix the cover parts of both legs after attaching them to the legs, the number of parts being small, and the advantage that the parts can be easily put away together when storing the main body.

Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the leg part of the pressing part in the first embodiment. By attaching and restraining the external fixing device 4A from above the boot cuffs 2a, 2b of the airbags 3e, 3g (pressing parts), the force of the airbag 3e pressing both legs inwardly is exerted, bringing them closer together, and the pressing force on the surfaces of both legs increases due to the inflation of the airbags 3e, 3g.

In addition, by attaching the external fixing device 4A to the pressing portion, a desirable secondary effect is obtained in that the response time when the pressure rises to the target pressure is shortened. This is because the external fixing device 4A is used to restrain the airbag from the outside, reducing the volume inside the airbag, which in turn inhibits expansion and reduces the flow rate of compressed air.

How to use the leg massage device
Next, a method of using the leg massage device 1A will be described. Open the fasteners of the boot cuffs 2a and 2b of the leg massage device 1A, insert the left and right legs, adjust the leg positions so that there is as little gap as possible and then close the fasteners.
Each airbag 3a to 3g is connected to an air supply source, and the pressure of each airbag is increased or decreased according to a program stored in the control unit to provide a massage effect. The amount of pressure and the duration of pressure can also be selected.
The fixing position and tightening strength of the external fixation device 4A is determined by first wrapping it around and temporarily fastening it, and then operating the operating part to check the increase and decrease in pressure, and adjust it appropriately so that the pressure is appropriate for the person being treated.
By selecting appropriate conditions and programs, including the strength of pressure, pressure time, cycles, etc., both legs can be given a moderate massage effect while at the same time receiving repeated stimulation to improve the shape of the lower legs.

[Second embodiment]
6 is a schematic external view of the leg massage device 1B of the second embodiment. In this leg massage device 1B, the external fixation device 4B and the boot cuff 2b are integrally formed. Specifically, the external fixation device 4B, which is a cloth belt, is fixed to the boot cuff 2b by sewing. When fixing both legs, the belt is wrapped around the boot cuffs 2a and 2b and fixed with a hook-and-loop fastener 5.

In the above, it is sufficient that at least one location is fixed at the pressing portion. Therefore, two or more external fixing devices may be used to fix the airbag at two or more locations at the pressing portion, or one location may be fixed at the pressing portion and the other locations may be fixed at positions other than the pressing portion.

[Third embodiment]
7 is a schematic diagram of a leg massage device 1C according to a third embodiment. The leg massage device 1C includes, as the pressing parts, an Achilles tendon pressing part (airbags 3d, 3f) that presses the Achilles tendon in the lower part of the calf from both sides, and a gastrocnemius pressing part (airbags 3e, 3g) that presses the gastrocnemius in the upper part of the calf from both sides, and includes, as the external fixing devices, an external fixing device 4Ca that fixes both legs at a position above the two pressing parts, and an external fixing device 4Cb that fixes both legs at a position below the two pressing parts.

As shown in FIG. 7, by bundling both feet from above the boot cuffs and wrapping external fixation devices 4Ca and 4Cb around two points above the knees and ankles, respectively, both knees and ankles are fixed in close contact with each other, which prevents the feet from spreading out from below the knees due to the inflation of airbags 3d to 3g, and prevents bow legs and knock legs. Note that the positions fixed by the external fixation devices 4Ca and 4Cb in the third embodiment are not limited to the positions described above and shown in the figure, and may be fixed to the part of the calf where there is no airbag, the thigh, etc. When the user has knock legs, the ankles tend to move apart, so it is preferable to fix the ankles.

Next, an example using the leg massage device 1A of the first embodiment will be described below.
Air was sequentially supplied (pressurized) to the seven airbags 3a to 3g in Fig. 2, and after maintaining the pressure for a certain period of time, the air was repeatedly discharged (depressurized), for a total of 15 minutes of massage. Before and after the massage, the distance between the right and left feet of the subject standing upright was measured with a vernier caliper at a position 35 cm above the floor (where bow legs are easily noticeable).
In the example, massage was performed with the external fixing device 4A attached at the positions of the airbags 3e and 3g as shown in Fig. 4. In the comparative example, massage was performed in the same manner as in the example without attaching the external fixing device 4A.

As shown in Table 1, the leg spacing distance decreased in all three subjects in the Example, with an average effect of -8.0 mm. On the other hand, the average effect in the Comparative Example was +0.2 mm.

The above-mentioned embodiment is merely an example. The leg massage device equipped with an external fixation device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and the leg massage device equipped with an external fixation device according to the above-mentioned embodiment may be modified within the scope of the gist of the claims.

The leg massage device equipped with the external fixation device of the present invention is suitable for health and beauty purposes, as it applies pressure to the legs to promote and improve blood and lymph flow, massage to relieve fatigue and muscle stiffness, reduce swelling, and slim the body, and can also be used to improve the shape and balance of the lower limbs, such as bow legs and knock-knees.

1A, 1B, 1C Leg massage device 2a Boot cuff (for left foot), 2b Boot cuff (for right foot)
3a to 3g: Airbags 4A, 4B, 4Ca, 4Cb: External fixing device 5: Hook and loop fastener 6a: Cross-sectional view of left lower leg (shin and calf area), 6b: Cross-sectional view of right lower leg (shin and calf area)

Claims (3)

A cover part that covers one leg;
a pressing portion that presses the leg against the cover portion;
Equipped with an external fixation device that binds both legs and attaches around them,
A leg massage device, characterized in that the external fixing device is fixed from the periphery at the position of the pressing portion. A cover part that covers one leg;
a pressing portion that presses the leg against the cover portion;
Equipped with an external fixation device that binds both legs and attaches around them,
The leg massage device is characterized in that the external fixing device is fixed at two or more positions that are not pressed, the position being above the pressing portion and the position being below the pressing portion. 2. The leg massage device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portions to which the external fixing devices are attached are the calf portions of both legs.