JP7313735B2 - massage equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a massage device utilizing neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy (EMS).

As a cushion used in physical therapy, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a back partial physical therapy device provided on the backrest of the pad body and a buttock physical therapy device provided on the floor cushion of the pad body. Such a back physiotherapy device and a buttocks physiotherapy device each comprise a plurality of spheres attached to a power plate that are connected to a power plug and controlled based on control signals from a control panel with temperature setting buttons and time control buttons. Each of the plurality of spheres has an upper housing and a lower case. A heating rod for adjusting the heating temperature is arranged in the interior formed by the upper housing and the lower case that come into contact with the human body, and mugwort moxibustion powder as a herbal medicine is arranged around the heating rod.

As a watch-type physical therapy device attachable to an arm or a leg, for example, a therapeutic device main body has been proposed as shown in Patent Document 2. The therapeutic device main body includes a first electrode sheet and a second electrode sheet for treating a user, a control board for supplying a predetermined pulse current to the first electrode sheet and the second electrode sheet, a rechargeable battery for supplying power to the control board, a charging interface for externally charging the battery, and the operation of the first electrode sheet and the second electrode sheet. The housing includes a push button as an operation unit for control.

Furthermore, a training device using EMS technology has been proposed, for example, as shown in Patent Document 3. Such a training device includes a first electrode pad, a second electrode pad, a third electrode pad, and a fourth electrode pad each having electrodes that come into contact with the user's skin, a controller operated by an operator to control pulse waves supplied to the electrodes of the first to fourth electrode pads, and a seat. Each of the first to fourth electrode pads is attached to the user's body with an adhesive sheet attached to the electrode. With the first electrode pad to the fourth electrode pad attached to the user's body in this way, the pulse wave is supplied to the electrodes of the first electrode pad to the fourth electrode pad by the controller, thereby electrically stimulating the muscles.

Chinese Utility Model No. 205359963 Chinese Utility Model No. 213884746 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-168270

In order to further enhance the effects of physical therapy, there is a demand for massage equipment that utilizes neuromuscular electrical stimulation (EMS) as described above, for example, to use the massage equipment in a bathtub during bathing.

However, the cushions and watch-type physiotherapy devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above are not supposed to be used in water, and are therefore difficult to use. In addition, the training device disclosed in Patent Document 3 does not consider the waterproof function of the power source, so it may be difficult to use the training device underwater.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a massage device that utilizes electrical neuromuscular stimulation (EMS) and that has a waterproof function and can be used underwater.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the massage device according to the present invention comprises: a face shell which holds at least one electrode made of conductive silicone rubber and a frame integrally formed with the electrode made of non-conductive silicone; the bottom shell has an operating portion on its outer shell; a bottom shell which is adhesively joined to the lower end of the face shell and forms an internal closed space in cooperation with the inner peripheral surface of the face shell; A circuit board that supplies a drive pulse control signal to the internal closed space, a rechargeable secondary battery that supplies power to the circuit board, and a counterweight that is placed in the internal closed space.and further comprising a silicone rubber pad having a honeycomb structure surface between the face shell and the bottom shell.

Further, a vibration motor may be provided which is controlled based on a drive signal generated by the circuit board according to the operation of the operation section and vibrates the face shell and the bottom shell. The operation unit may include a charging port with a waterproof plug to which a plug connected to a power supply is connected when the secondary battery is charged.

Furthermore, the bottom shell may have posts at positions corresponding to the connection terminals of the electrode portions. The operating section of the face shell may have a plurality of operating sections for adjusting the frequency level of the drive pulse supplied to the electrode section, and a power on/off operating section.

According to the massage device of the present invention, at least one electrode made of conductive silicone rubber and a frame integrally formed with the electrode made of non-conductive silicone hold an electrode part in the face shell, and have an operating part on the outer shell; a bottom shell is adhesively joined to the lower end of the face shell and forms an internal closed space in cooperation with the inner peripheral surface of the face shell; A circuit board, a rechargeable secondary battery arranged in an internal closed space for supplying power to the circuit board, and a counterweight arranged in the internal closed space,Further comprising a silicone rubber pad having a honeycomb structure surface between the face shell and the bottom shellTherefore, a massage device with a waterproof function can be used underwater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a top view which shows the external appearance of 1st Example of the massage apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A) is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the massage device shown in FIG. 1, and (B) is a partial cross-sectional view of the massage device shown in (A). 1. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of connection with the printed circuit board accommodated in the closed space between the electrode part of the massage apparatus shown by FIG. 1, and an upper case and a lower case. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing push buttons, a USB receptacle connector, and a vibration motor mounted on a printed circuit board, together with a lithium-ion battery; 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 1; FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an example of a drive pulse signal generation circuit formed on a printed circuit board; FIG. (A), (B), and (C) are diagrams provided for explaining the operation of the operation unit. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an exploded configuration of a second embodiment of a massage device according to the present invention; 9A and 9B are plan views showing the face shell and silicone rubber pad shown in FIG. 8, respectively; FIG.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the appearance of a first embodiment of a massage device according to the invention.

The massage device 10 includes, for example, a face shell 18 having electrode portions (conductive silicone rubber) 12A and 12B arranged to contact the skin of the body of the user using the massage device 10, a bottom shell 40 (see FIG. 5) bonded to the lower end of the face shell 18 and forming a closed space 42 having a waterproof structure, and a closed space 18CA formed between the face shell 18 and the bottom shell 40. The main components are a printed circuit board 22 (see FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4, and 6) that controls the operation of the silicone rubber) 12A and 12B, the operation control of the vibration motor 32 described later, and the charging control of the lithium ion battery 34, a counterweight 14 of a predetermined weight that is arranged in the concave portion formed in the face shell 18 to quickly submerge the massage device 10 in the water, and a lithium ion battery 34 that supplies power to the printed circuit board 22. is composed of

The face shell 18 includes, as shown in FIG. 2A, a generally fan-shaped frame portion 16 made of, for example, electrically insulating silicone rubber (hereinafter, also referred to as non-conductive silicone rubber), and electrode portions 12A and 12B made of conductive silicone rubber, which are placed in relatively large recesses formed in a substantially triangular shape on both sides of a connection portion 16P in which the lithium-ion battery 34 is placed in a concave portion on the inner surface of the frame portion 16 at the center of the frame portion 16, respectively. , and a counterweight 14 arranged in a recess relatively smaller than the above-described recess in the inner surface of the frame portion 16 adjacent to the lithium ion battery 34 placed in the recess in the inner surface of the connecting portion 16P.

The electrode portions 12A and 12B are arranged in the recesses of the frame portion 16 so as to be line symmetric with respect to the connecting portion 16P. As shown in FIG. 2(A), the electrode portion 12A is composed of a conductive sheet 12A1 placed in the above-described recess and formed of conductive silicone rubber into a substantially triangular shape, and a conductive sheet 12A2 laminated on the conductive sheet 12A1. The conductive sheet 12A1 placed in the recess has a plurality of through holes 16S in the metal sheet through which lead wires Wi (see FIG. 3) from the printed circuit board 22, which will be described later, pass. The electrode portion 12B is composed of a conductive sheet 12B1 arranged in the above-mentioned recess and formed of conductive silicone rubber into a substantially triangular shape, and a conductive sheet 12B2 laminated on the conductive sheet 12B1. The conductive sheet 12B1 arranged in the depression has through holes 16S in the metal sheet through which lead wires Wi (see FIG. 3), which will be described later, pass. As shown in FIG. 3, one end of the lead wire Wi from the printed circuit board 22 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 12a of the conductive sheet 12A2 and the connection terminal 12b of the conductive sheet 12B2 via annular terminals 12aR and 12bR.

The electrode portions 12A and 12B and the frame portion 16 are integrally formed by two-color molding, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(A), an operation unit (see FIG. 7(A)) for sending command signals to the printed circuit board 22, a display unit consisting of a two-color LED (light emitting diode) (see FIG. 7(C)) for displaying the state of charge of the lithium ion battery 34, and a charging port 18B4 (see FIG. 7(B)) with a waterproof plug are provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the frame unit 16 facing one side of the triangle of the electrode unit 12B. In the closed space 18CA inside the face shell 18 facing the operating portion described above, as shown in FIG. A lower opening of the closed space 18CA is sealed with a sealing sheet 24 and an adhesive. The lower case 20B faces the above-described operating portion forming part of the outer peripheral side portion of the frame portion 16 described above. One end face of the lower case 20B is formed with through holes through which end portions of a USB receptacle connector 24, a push button 30, a push button 26, and a push button 28 on a printed circuit board 22, which will be described later, protrude.

As shown in FIG. 7(A), the above-described operation unit includes a + button operation unit 18B1, a − button operation unit 18B3, and a power on/off operation unit that increase or decrease the frequency level (for example, 0.1 to 1000 Hz (low frequency), 1000 to 10000 Hz (middle frequency), 10000 to 50000 Hz (high frequency)) of the driving pulse control signal supplied to the electrode units 12A and 12B by 4% in 20 steps. 18B2 and a charging port 18B4 with a waterproof plug. The + button operation portion 18B1 is formed corresponding to the end portion of a push button 30 (see FIG. 4) mounted on the printed circuit board 22, which will be described later. The −button operation portion 18B3 is formed corresponding to the end portion of the push button 26 (see FIG. 4) mounted on the printed circuit board 22. As shown in FIG. The power on/off operating section 18B2 is formed corresponding to the end of the push button 28 (see FIG. 4) mounted on the printed circuit board 22. As shown in FIG.

For example, a USB receptacle connector (Type-C) 24 (see FIG. 4) mounted on the printed circuit board 22 is arranged in the charging port 18B4 with the waterproof plug 18C (see FIG. 7B). When this USB receptacle connector (Type-C) is connected to a USB plug connector (Type-C) (not shown) connected to a predetermined power supply, power can be supplied from the power supply to the lithium ion battery 34 via the printed circuit board 22. Incidentally, instead of the lithium ion battery 34, a nickel-cadmium battery may be used as the secondary battery.

Further, a vibration motor 32 is mounted on the printed circuit board 22 which is coated with a waterproof coating and vibrates in conjunction with the operation of the operation unit. The operation of the vibration motor 32 is controlled by intermittently connecting the negative electrode of the vibration motor 32 by the printed circuit board 22 . For example, the vibrating motor 32 vibrates together with the face shell 18 in conjunction with each operation of the operation section described above, and the vibration is transmitted to the user, so that the user can reliably recognize that the operation section has been operated even underwater. Further, by detecting the voltage of the lithium-ion battery 34, when the charge level of the lithium-ion battery 34 becomes a predetermined value or less (for example, 3.0 V or less), the vibrating motor 32 automatically vibrates three times based on the control signal from the printed circuit board 22, for example, so that the charge level of the lithium-ion battery 34 becomes low and the user is warned that charging is necessary.

As shown in a partially enlarged view in FIG. 5, two rows of protrusions 40P1 and 40P2 serving as sealing portions are formed at predetermined intervals on the entire periphery of one surface of the bottom shell 40 that is fitted to the lower end of the face shell 18. The projections 40P1 and 40P2 each have a height and width of approximately 2 mm, for example, and are fitted into grooves 18G1 and 18G2 formed in the lower end of the face shell 18 so as to face the projections 40P1 and 40P2 of the bottom shell 40 and are sealed with an adhesive. An end portion 18E of the upper end portion of the face shell 18, which is connected to the lower end portion described above, is formed integrally with the edge portion of the frame portion 16. As shown in FIG. As a result, a waterproof structure is formed that seals the closed space 42 formed by the face shell 18 and the bottom shell 40 .

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a drive pulse control signal generation circuit that forms drive pulse control signals and supplies them to the electrode portions 12A and 12B is formed on the printed circuit board 22 described above. The drive pulse control signal generation circuit includes a BOOST booster circuit that changes the pulse width of the drive pulse control signal, and a load detection circuit that identifies and detects the load applied to the user by detecting the frequency level of the drive pulse control signal during operation.
For example, in FIG. 6, transistors Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q7 and Q8 are taken as a pulse width modulation controller. Also, the BOOST booster circuit is composed of, for example, a transistor Q10, a transistor Q11, coils L1, and DZ3 in FIG. Also, the load detection circuit is composed of, for example, a transistor Q6.

In such a configuration, when using the massage device 10, for example, the electrode portions 12A and 12B of the massage device 10, which are submerged in the bottom of a bathtub filled with water or hot water, do not need to be coated with a gel pad or the like. A long press (about 2 seconds) turns on the massage device 10 . When the massage device 10 is turned off, the power on/off operation section 18B2 of the operation section is pressed for a long time (about 2 seconds) to turn off the massage device 10 . In doing so, the vibrating motor 32 causes the face shell 18 to vibrate relatively briefly only twice when turned on. When turned off, the vibration motor 32 causes the face shell 18 to vibrate only once for a relatively long time. Thereby, the user can recognize the on/off state of the massage device 10 by the vibration generated in the face shell 18 .

As shown in FIG. 7A, the load applied to the user by the electrode sections 12A and 12B is appropriately adjusted by operating the + button operation section 18B1 and the - button operation section 18B3. For example, when the + button operation portion 18B1 or the − button operation portion 18B3 is operated once, the vibration motor 32 causes the face shell 18 to vibrate once, and the load applied to the user is increased or decreased.

During use, when the charge level of the lithium-ion battery 34 becomes a predetermined value or less (for example, 3.0 V or less), the vibration motor 32 automatically vibrates three times based on the control signal from the printed circuit board 22, and the vibration is transmitted to the face shell 18. As a result, the user recognizes that the charge amount of the lithium ion battery 34 has fallen below a predetermined value, and, for example, after stopping use, a USB plug connector (not shown) connected to a predetermined power supply is connected to the USB receptacle connector (Type-C) 24, and the lithium ion battery 34 is charged. As shown in FIG. 7(C), for example, the LED 18LED lights red during charging, and after about 2 hours, when the charging is completed, the LED 18LED lights green.

Therefore, the user can use the waterproof massage device 10 underwater.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic exploded view of a second embodiment of a massage device according to the invention.

In FIG. 8, the same constituent elements as those in the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(A) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

8, a massage device 10' includes, for example, a face shell 18 having electrode portions (conductive silicone rubber) 12A and 12B, a bottom shell 40' bonded to the lower end of the face shell 18 to form a closed space having a waterproof structure, and a closed space formed in the face shell 18. The operation control of the electrode portions (conductive silicone rubber) 12A and 12B, the operation control of the vibration motor 32, and the operation control of the lithium ion battery 34 are performed based on the command signal from the operation unit. 2A, 2B, 4 and 6) for charge control, etc.; a counterweight 14 of a predetermined weight arranged in a concave portion formed in the face shell 18 described above so that the massage device 10' can be submerged more quickly; a lithium-ion battery 34 that supplies electric power to the printed circuit board 22; and a silicone rubber pad 50 sandwiched between the face shell 18 and the bottom shell 40'.

Two rows of protrusions 40'P1 and 40'P2 are formed as sealing portions at predetermined intervals along the entire periphery of one surface of the bottom shell 40' which is fitted to the lower end of the face shell 18. As shown in FIG. The protrusion 40'P1 and the protrusion 40'P2 have a height and a width of, for example, about 2 mm, respectively, and are fitted into grooves 18G1 and 18G2 formed in the lower end of the face shell 18 so as to face the protrusion 40'P1 and the protrusion 40'P2 of the bottom shell 40' and sealed with an adhesive. As a result, a waterproof structure is formed that seals the closed space formed by the face shell 18 and the bottom shell 40'.

On the inner surface 40'A of the bottom shell 40' having an outer surface 40'B and an inner surface 40'A, posts 40'a and 40'b are formed corresponding to the positions of the connection terminal 12a of the conductive sheet 12A2 and the connection terminal 12b of the conductive sheet 12B2.

The shape of the silicone rubber pad 50 arranged to face the face shell 18 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9B, the silicone rubber pad 50 is molded by, for example, a liquid silicone molding method, and has a honeycomb structure surface 50A facing the face shell 18 and a lower surface 50B facing the inner surface 40'A of the bottom shell 40'. The honeycomb structure surface 50A has a plurality of honeycomb-shaped (hexagonal) holes. By providing elasticity to the silicone rubber pad 50 by forming the honeycomb structure surface 50A, the silicone rubber pad 50 becomes lightweight and flexible, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Through holes into which the posts 40'a and 40'b are respectively inserted are formed at positions corresponding to the positions of the posts 40'a and 40'b on the honeycomb structure surface 50A. This prevents the annular terminal 12aR of the conductive sheet 12A2 and the annular terminal 12bR of the conductive sheet 12B2 from being detached by the posts 40'a and 40'b of the bottom shell 40'.

Therefore, the provision of the silicone rubber pad 50 sandwiched between the face shell 18 and the bottom shell 40' enhances the cushioning properties of the massage device 10'.

Even in such a configuration, the user can use the waterproof massage device 10' underwater.

(1) In the above-described second embodiment, the massage device 10' is also ergonomically designed, and the hardness of the material matches the hardness required for contact with the human body. The structure of the face shell 18 and bottom shell 40' of the massage device 10' conforms to, for example, the structure of the hips, making it very comfortable. At the same time, the electric therapy of the massage device 10' can be applied to other parts such as shoulders, back, waist, arms, soles, calves, thighs, etc., so that the treatment cost can be further reduced.

(2) The face shell and bottom shell can be sealed by an annular recess and an annular protrusion, so that a tight structure and good sealing effect can be obtained by connecting the face shell and the bottom shell.

(3) The printed circuit board is also sealed with the silicone rubber pad 50 to improve the airtightness, and the overall size is further reduced, making it very easy to use. It is also equipped with multiple operating buttons to quickly adjust the work gear to suit different people's needs.
(4) Since the silicone rubber pad 50 has a honeycomb structure inside, it is possible to reduce the weight and cost of the entire massage device 10'.

10, 10' massage device 12A2 electrode part (conductive silicone rubber)
12B2 electrode part (conductive silicone rubber)
14 Counterweight 18 Face shell 18CA, 42 Closed space 22 Printed circuit board 34 Lithium ion battery 40, 40' Bottom shell 50 Silicone rubber pad 50A Honeycomb structure surface

Claims (5)

a face shell that holds at least one electrode portion made of conductive silicone rubber and a frame portion integrally formed with the electrode portion made of non-conductive silicone and has an operation portion on its outer shell;
a bottom shell adhesively bonded to the lower end of the face shell and forming an internal closed space in cooperation with the inner peripheral surface of the face shell;
a circuit board disposed in the internal closed space so as to face an operation portion of the outer shell portion of the face shell and supplying a drive pulse control signal to the electrode portion according to operation of the operation portion;
a rechargeable secondary battery arranged in the internal closed space and supplying power to the circuit board;
a counterweight arranged in the internal closed space ,
A massage device , further comprising a silicone rubber pad having a honeycomb structure surface between the face shell and the bottom shell . 2. The massage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vibration motor that is controlled based on a drive signal generated by the circuit board in response to operation of the operation unit and vibrates the face shell and the bottom shell. 2. The massage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation unit has a charging port with a waterproof plug to which a plug connected to a power supply is connected when said secondary battery is charged. 2. The massage device according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom shell has posts at positions corresponding to the connection terminals of the electrode portions. 2. The massage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating section of the face shell has a plurality of operating sections for adjusting frequency levels of driving pulse control signals supplied to the electrode section, and a power on/off operating section.