JP2851832B2 - Infrared therapy device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an infrared treatment apparatus capable of obtaining a therapeutic effect by irradiating an affected part with infrared rays, particularly far infrared rays. More specifically, the present invention relates to an infrared therapy apparatus in which a guard panel for protecting a heating element is provided in a direction in which infrared rays are emitted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional infrared treatment apparatus 70 has an infrared irradiation section 73 provided with a heating element 71.
5, supported at a predetermined height with respect to the base 77,
The angle of the infrared irradiation unit 73 can be freely adjusted via the support 75. In the infrared irradiation section 73,
The reflecting plate 7 is provided behind the heating element 71 so that the infrared rays from the heating element 71 can be appropriately irradiated toward the affected part located in front.
4, the heating element 71 and the reflector 7
4 is housed in a housing 76 having an opening at the front.

[0003] In such an infrared therapy apparatus 70, a heating effect is obtained by supplying electric power to the heating element 71 and heating it, and then irradiating a predetermined amount of infrared rays toward the affected part. At the time of infrared irradiation, the heating element 71
Since the heating wire becomes hot due to the heat generated by the heating wire, a guard panel 80 is attached to the opening 76a of the housing 76 to prevent the user from directly touching the heating element 71 and getting burned.

[0005] As shown in FIG.
Is a ring-shaped guard panel body 81 and a net-like guard net 82 held on the inner surface of the guard panel body 81.
And a cylindrical ring stopper 83 for holding the guard net 82 on the inner surface of the guard panel main body 81. As shown in an enlarged manner in FIG.
Has a cylindrical fitting portion 84 that is fitted and fixed in the opening 76 a of the housing 76, and the entire guard panel 80 is connected to the opening 7 of the housing 76 through the fitting portion 84.
6a. Guard net 82
Is held on the front surface of the ring stopper 83, and the ring stopper 83 is fitted into the inner surface of the fitting portion 84 while holding the guard net 82. Further, the ring stopper 83 is connected to the fitting portion 8.
4 has a portion 85 extending toward the inside of the housing 76 along the inner surface of the housing 4.
Is the shield part. The opening edge 79 of the housing 76 is a portion that is likely to be heated to a high temperature because it serves as an outlet for heated air in the housing 76, and is further exposed to radiant heat from the heating element 71. For this reason, the above-mentioned shield part 85 prevents heat from being transmitted to the opening edge part 79 of the housing 76, thereby avoiding a rise in temperature at that part.

[0005]

In the infrared treatment apparatus, the heating element 71 has a high output so that a large amount of infrared rays can be irradiated from the heating element 71 to the affected part, so that a high therapeutic effect can be obtained in a short time. Tends to. As shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 5, in the conventional infrared therapy apparatus 70, the portion near the opening of the housing 76 has a cross-sectional shape that expands frontward and narrows rearward for installation of the guard panel 80. Has become. For this reason,
The tip portion 85a of the shield portion 85 and the inner surface 76b of the housing 76 may come into contact due to assembly tolerance. When the distal end portion 85a of the shield portion 85 and the inner surface 76a of the housing 76 come into contact with each other, heat is easily transmitted from the contact portion, and further, the circulation of air between the shield portion 85 and the housing 76 is hindered. Therefore, in the conventional infrared therapy apparatus 70 in which the shield part 85 and the housing 76 may come into contact due to assembly tolerance,
When a heating element with a high output is used, the surface temperature of the portion of the housing 76 (opening edge 79) facing the shield portion 85 abnormally rises, and the standard for the safety of the housing 76 (the surface temperature of the housing 76). May not be maintained.

In order to lower the surface temperature, the shield 8
It is conceivable that the position of No. 5 is set at the center position of the guard panel 80 (in the direction approaching the reflector 74). However, in this case, it is not possible to sufficiently secure a space for circulating air outside the reflection plate 74 where the heat load is most likely to be highest. As a result, when a high-power heating element is employed, the temperature inside the housing 76 increases, which causes the surface temperature of the entire housing to increase. On the other hand, the size of the housing 76 is increased so that the reflection plate 74 and the opening edge 79 of the housing 76 are formed.
It is conceivable to secure a sufficiently large space between them to secure a sufficient air circulation and to suppress a rise in the temperature of the surface of the housing 76. However, increasing the size of the housing 76 is not preferable because the size of the infrared therapy apparatus increases.

In view of the above, the present invention provides an infrared therapy apparatus capable of suppressing an increase in the surface temperature of the opening and other parts of the housing even if a high-power heating element is employed without increasing the size of the housing. The purpose is.

[0008]

For this purpose, an infrared treatment apparatus according to the present invention comprises a heating element capable of irradiating an infrared ray toward an affected part, and a reflecting element for reflecting infrared light from the heating element toward the affected part. A plate, a housing housing the heating element and the reflection plate, the opening of which is irradiated with infrared rays, and a guard panel installed at an opening of the housing to protect the heating element. A ring-shaped fitting part for fitting the panel body into the opening of the housing, and a cylindrical shield part that protrudes from the fitting part toward the inside of the housing and inhibits heat transfer to the housing. And the shield portion is supported by the fitting portion such that a predetermined gap is formed between the shield portion and the inner surface of the housing.

In the conventional infrared therapy apparatus, there is no concept of forming a predetermined gap between the shield and the housing, and the opening edge of the housing is directly exposed to radiant heat from a heating element or a reflector. In order to avoid this, only a shield part is provided. Therefore, as described above, the shield portion comes into contact with the housing depending on the assembly tolerance. On the other hand, in the infrared therapy apparatus of the present invention, a predetermined gap is intentionally provided between the housing and the shield part so that the gap is always formed between the housing and the shield part. That is, even when the parts are assembled using the parts having the maximum allowable assembly tolerance, the shield part is prevented from contacting the housing. Therefore, in the infrared therapy apparatus of the present invention, the opening of the housing can be prevented from being directly exposed to the radiant heat by the shield part, and the heat is transmitted from the contact part between the shield part and the housing to the side of the housing. In addition, the air between the shield part and the housing can be efficiently circulated, so that the opening part of the shield part and the housing is sufficiently cooled by the air. Therefore, heat transfer to the opening edge of the housing can be sufficiently inhibited by the shield portion provided as in the present invention. For this reason, a rise in the surface temperature of the opening of the housing can be suppressed.

It is sufficient that the gap between the shield portion and the housing can prevent heat transfer and ensure a certain amount of air circulation. Therefore, the value may be set in consideration of the assembly tolerance. In consideration of assembly tolerance, a gap that does not substantially affect the space between the shield part and the reflector may be formed. For this reason, the position of the shield part hardly approaches the reflection plate, so that a sufficient space outside the reflection plate can be secured, the air circulation efficiency is good, and the surface temperature of other parts as well as the opening of the housing rises. Can also be avoided.

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a high-output heating element is employed, the transmission of heat to the opening edge of the housing can be sufficiently inhibited by the shield portion.
The rise in surface temperature at that portion can be kept below a specified value. Therefore, even if the heating element has a high output, the housing can be miniaturized, and a safe and inexpensive infrared therapy apparatus can be realized which has a high therapeutic effect without abnormally increasing the surface temperature of the housing.

A predetermined gap can be formed by providing a spacer between the shield and the housing. further,
Further, a shield portion that narrows toward the inside of the housing may be formed.

In the infrared therapy apparatus, when the angle of the housing is adjusted slightly downward, the thermal load particularly at the opening edge of the housing becomes high, and that portion tends to become high in temperature. By providing the shield part of the present invention, an increase in the surface temperature of the housing can be suppressed even when the housing is inclined. Therefore, the infrared therapy apparatus having the shield according to the present invention is suitable for an infrared therapy apparatus that can treat an affected part located below by changing the angle of the housing.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an infrared therapy apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an infrared irradiation unit. As shown in FIG. 1, the infrared therapy apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is supported at a predetermined height by a base 3 installed on the floor surface and a support 5 partially having a flexible arm 5a. The infrared irradiating section 10 is provided. In the infrared treatment apparatus 1 of the present example, the direction and height of the infrared irradiation of the infrared irradiation section 10 can be freely changed by operating the flexible arm 5a by bending or twisting. .

The infrared irradiating section 10 of this embodiment includes a concave housing 11 connected to the upper portion of the column 5 and having an opening in the direction of irradiating infrared rays.
Heating element 12 capable of irradiating infrared rays toward the affected area inside
Further, a reflection plate 13 for appropriately reflecting infrared rays from the heating element 12 toward the affected part is housed.

As shown in FIG. 2, inside the housing 11, a reflecting plate 13 having a rearwardly convex shape (when the affected part is directed forward) protrudes from the inner surface 11b of the housing 11 in the direction of irradiation with infrared rays. It is held away from the inner surface 11b of the housing 11 by the reflector collar 13a. A support rod 12a is provided in front of the reflection plate 13.
The heating element 12 is held apart by this. Heating element 1
No. 2 is a disk-shaped one coated with a heat-resistant paint containing an infrared radiator capable of emitting infrared rays centering on far infrared rays when heated.

A guard panel 30 is provided in front of the heating element 12, that is, at an opening 11 a of the housing 11 so that a user does not directly touch the heating element 12. As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, this guard panel 30
An annular guard panel body 31, a net-like guard net 32 held on the inner surface of the guard panel body 31,
A ring-shaped ring stopper 33 is fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the guard panel main body 31 while the guard net 32 is held on the front surface. The guard panel main body 31 is entirely formed of heat-resistant plastic, and has a ring-shaped guard portion 34 located at the foremost side, and an opening 11 a of the housing 11 which projects from the outer peripheral edge of the guard portion 34 in a cylindrical shape. And a fitting portion 35 to be fitted into the.

On the other hand, a portion near the opening of the housing 11 has a guard panel mounting portion 21 extending rearward in a cylindrical shape so as to form an opening 11a, and a rearward direction from the guard panel mounting portion 21. And a tapered portion 22 extending so as to be narrowed.

The outer diameter of the fitting portion 35 of the guard panel main body 31 is set to be substantially the same as the inner diameter of the guard panel mounting portion 21 of the housing 11. , The entire guard panel 30 is fixed to the opening 11 a of the housing 11.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the ring stopper 33 of this embodiment includes a ring stopper main body 36 fitted on the inner surface of the fitting portion 31b, and extends from the ring stopper main body 36 toward the inside of the housing 11. And a shield portion 37 that inhibits transmission of heat to the opening edge 24 of the housing 11. The ring stopper 33 of this embodiment is replaced with a ring stopper body 36.
When the is mounted inside the fitting portion 35 of the guard panel main body 31, the shield portion 37 behind the ring stopper main body 36 projects from the fitting portion 35 into the housing 11. At this time, the ring stopper main body 36 also has a function as a spacer 38, and a sufficient gap 40 is secured between the guard panel mounting portion 21 of the housing 11 and the shield portion 37.

Here, the conventional infrared therapy apparatus 70 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 simply has the opening edge 7 of the housing 76.
9 is merely provided with a shield portion 85 in order to avoid being directly exposed to radiant heat from the heating element 71 and the reflection plate 74.
5 The possibility of contact with the housing 76 was high. On the other hand, in the infrared therapy apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the predetermined gap 40 is always formed between the housing 11 and the shield part 37 by providing the spacer part 38. That is, the shield portion 37 is prevented from coming into contact with the housing 11 even when assembling using components whose assembly tolerance is the maximum allowable value. For this reason, in the infrared therapy apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the opening portion 24 of the housing 11 can be prevented from being directly exposed to radiant heat by the shield portion 37, and the shield portion 37 and the housing 11 have no contact portion. The heat of the shield part 37 is not transmitted to the housing 11 side. Further, since there is a gap 40 between the shield portion 37 and the housing 11, sufficient air circulation efficiency can be secured, and the shield portion 3
The circulation of air to the opening 7 and the opening edge 24 of the housing 11 is also sufficient, and it is possible to prevent the temperature of the housing 11 from rising due to high air temperature. Further, since the air circulates, the cooling by the air is efficiently performed. Therefore, by providing the shield portion 37 so that the gap 40 is formed between the shield portion 37 and the housing 11, heat transfer to the opening edge 24 of the housing 11 can be sufficiently inhibited. Therefore, an increase in the surface temperature of the opening edge 24 of the housing 11 can be suppressed.

The gap 40 between the shield part 37 and the housing 11 is sufficient if heat transfer can be prevented and a certain amount of air circulation can be ensured. Good. For example, in the case of the infrared treatment apparatus 1 of a class in which the outer diameter around the edge of the reflector 13 is about 160 mm and the inner diameter of the opening of the housing 11 is about 200 mm, the gap 40 is considered in consideration of a normal assembly tolerance. It is sufficient to secure about 1 to 5 mm. Further, in this case, the gap 40 is about 2
By securing about 3 mm, parts having a large assembly tolerance can be dealt with, and the space between the reflection plate 13 and the housing 11 is hardly affected without excessively opening the gap 40. In other words, the shield part 37
The gap 40 can be ensured with the position of the light emitting device hardly approaching the reflection plate 13. For this reason, the circulation efficiency of air in the space outside the reflection plate 13 can be sufficiently ensured.
The surface temperature of the other portions except the opening edge portion 24 as well as the opening edge portion 24 does not rise abnormally.

As described above, in the infrared therapy apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, even if the high-power heating element 12 is adopted, the shielding section 37 is used.
As a result, the transfer of heat to the opening edge portion 24 of the housing 11 can be sufficiently inhibited, so that the rise in surface temperature at that portion can be kept below a specified value. Therefore, the heating element 12
Even if the power of the housing 11 is increased, the housing 11 does not need to be large, the size does not increase, or the housing 11 can be relatively reduced in size. A highly safe and inexpensive infrared therapy device can be realized. Thereby, the infrared therapy apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can be used with confidence at home or the like, and a high therapeutic effect can be easily obtained.

Here, the infrared treatment apparatus 1 of this embodiment can adjust the angle of the housing 11. In the infrared therapy apparatus in which the angle of the housing 11 can be adjusted as described above, when the angle of the housing 11 is adjusted slightly downward, the thermal load on the opening edge 24 of the housing 11 tends to be the highest. Temperature rise tends to be remarkable. However, in the infrared therapy apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the heat transfer to the opening edge 24 of the housing 11 can be sufficiently reduced by the shield part 37,
Even if the housing 11 is inclined downward, an increase in the surface temperature of the housing 11 can be suppressed. Thus, the housing 1
It is very effective to provide the shield part 37 as in the present invention for an infrared treatment apparatus capable of treating an affected part located below by changing the angle of the first part.

[Other Embodiments] FIGS. 3B and 3C show a ring stopper 33 different from that shown in FIG. 3A.
Is shown using a cross section. 3 (B) and 3 (C), the same reference numerals are given to portions common to the members shown in FIG. 3 (A). As shown in FIG. 3 (B), instead of providing a shield portion 37 protruding from the inner peripheral edge of the ring stopper main body 36 with substantially the same diameter, the housing 1
It is also possible to provide a shield portion 37 which is narrowed (inclines inward) toward the inside of 11. In this case,
It is desirable that the shield part 37 be protruded at an angle that does not unnecessarily reduce the space between the shield part 37 and the reflector 14. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (C), it is not always necessary to integrally form the spacer portion 38 with the ring stopper main body 36, and the space between the ring stopper main body 36 and the inner surface of the fitting portion 35 of the guard panel main body 31 is formed. Of course, a spacer 38 of a predetermined thickness made of a separate member may be interposed.

[0027]

According to the present invention, a predetermined gap is intentionally provided between the housing and the shield portion instead of simply providing a shield portion for preventing the opening edge portion of the housing from being exposed to radiant heat. By doing so, even when assembling using parts having an assembly tolerance that is the maximum allowable value, by ensuring that a gap is always formed between the housing and the shield part, heat transfer can be more effectively suppressed,
A certain amount of air circulation is ensured.
Therefore, since the housing and the shield for protecting the opening edge from the radiant heat are prevented from coming into contact with each other, the heat transfer from the shield can be extremely reduced. Further, since the circulation of the air between the shield and the housing can be sufficiently ensured, the temperature of the air between the shield and the housing can be prevented from becoming high. Further, in the present invention, since a slight gap is always ensured between the shield part and the housing, the space between the reflector and the housing is hardly reduced, and the air circulation inside the housing is reduced. Can be secured. For this reason, even if a heating element with a high output is employed, the rise in the surface temperature of the opening edge of the housing can be kept below a specified value. This makes it possible to provide a safe and inexpensive infrared therapy apparatus with a high therapeutic effect, in which the surface temperature does not rise abnormally even if the housing is small, without increasing the size of the housing even when a high-power heating element is used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an exploded guard panel of an infrared therapy apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an infrared irradiation section of the infrared treatment apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged part of an opening edge of a housing of the infrared therapy apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example different from FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example different from FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional infrared therapy apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an infrared irradiation unit of the infrared treatment apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 infrared treatment apparatus 10 infrared irradiation section 11 housing 11 a opening (of housing) 11 b inner surface of (housing) 12 heating element 13 reflector 30 guard panel 31 guard panel main body 32 guard net 33 ring stopper 34 guard section 35 fitting section 36 Ring stopper body 37 Shield part 38 Spacer part 40 Clearance

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A heating element capable of irradiating an infrared ray toward an affected part, a reflecting plate for reflecting infrared light from the heating element toward the affected part, and the heating element and the reflecting plate housed therein. And a guard panel installed in an opening of the housing to protect the heating element. The guard panel includes a guard panel main body and an opening of the housing. A ring-shaped fitting portion to be fitted into, and projecting from the fitting portion toward the inside of the housing,
A cylindrical shield portion for inhibiting heat transfer to the housing, wherein the shield portion extends from the fitting portion such that a predetermined gap is formed between the shield portion and an inner surface of the housing. An infrared therapy device characterized by being supported. 2. The infrared therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a spacer portion is provided between the fitting portion and the shield portion. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shield portion comprises:
An infrared treatment apparatus, wherein the infrared treatment apparatus protrudes so as to narrow toward the inside of the housing. 4. The infrared treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the housing is adjustable.