JPH06277131A - Fatigue reducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce fatigue of a lumbar vertebrae part in response to the preference of a person to be seated, etc., and the degree of fatigue, etc., effectively by jointly providing a fatigue reducing device with a lumbar support means and heating means. CONSTITUTION:An automatically controllable lumber support means 14 and heater 16 are jointly installed. Then, in addition to a manual control which controls optionally, the automatic control of the lumbar support means 14 which repetitively moves a lumbar plate 22 is available. At the same time, a heating motion of the heater 16, which is linked with the automatic control is available.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fatigue reducing device provided on a seat, a bed or the like to reduce the fatigue of the lumbar portion by pressing, supporting and heating the lumbar portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, so-called power type lumbar support means provided with a lumbar plate movable in a perspective direction with respect to a lumbar portion under the control of driving a motor reduces fatigue of a lumbar portion of a seated person or the like. As a fatigue reducing device, it is widely installed in automobile seats and the like.

In such lumbar support means, the pushing force corresponding to the position of the lumbar plate acts as a supporting force from the lumber plate on the lumbar portion of the seated person or the like, and the degree of preference or fatigue of the seated person or the like. It is possible to ensure the comfort of the seated person by adjusting the support force according to the situation.

When the lumbar plate is pressed and supported continuously for a long time at a constant rest position of the lumbar plate, the occupant easily feels a lack of supporting force due to sensory habituation. It is inevitable that the comfort of the seated person will decrease with the passage of time. Therefore, a configuration is known in the lumbar support means, in which the supporting force from the lumbar plate is changed by the repetitive movement of the lumbar plate accompanying the reverse driving of the motor.

In such a structure, the strength of the support force from the lumbar plate acting on the lumbar vertebra part repeatedly changes due to the repeated movement of the lumbar plate, so that the sensory familiarity of the seated person can be sufficiently suppressed. By repeatedly pressing the lumbar region, it is possible to expect positive reduction of fatigue under the acupressure effect.

[0006]

By the way, a structure in which a heating means including a heater or the like is arranged at a position corresponding to a lumbar portion of a seated person or the like as a fatigue reducing device is well known. In such a configuration, the fatigue of the lumbar spine portion is reduced by promoting blood circulation in the lumbar spine portion of a seated person or the like under heating.

Although such heating means and the lumbar support means have the same effect of reducing fatigue, there is a difference in suitability according to the degree of fatigue and a difference in preference of the seated person or the like. So, under either one,
There is a risk that fatigue may not be reduced sufficiently.

[0008] Here, it is conceivable that a lumbar support means and a heating means are provided side by side. But the lumbar support means,
If you simply attach both heating means to the seat,
The operability is reduced due to the complexity of both adjustment operations, and the advantages of both may not be sufficiently obtained due to the omission of the operations, which is not preferable.

In the present invention, the lumbar support means and the heating means are provided side by side, and the fatigue of the lumbar spine portion is effectively reduced by selection according to the preference of the seated person and the compatibility with the degree of fatigue. The purpose is to provide a mitigation device.

[0010]

To achieve this object, according to the present invention, a lumbar support means and a heating means are provided side by side. Then, the automatic control of the lumbar support means for repeatedly and repeatedly moving the lumbar plate within a specific range under the reverse drive of the motor, and the heating operation of the heating means parallel to the automatic control are performed by the lumbar support means and the heating. In addition to the manual control of the means, each is executable.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a fatigue reducing device 10 according to the present invention, a lumbar support means 14 having a motor 12 and a heating means 16 are provided side by side, and a controller 18 is provided.
Depending on the means, individual or parallel actuation control
Each is possible. Lumber support means 14,
The heating means 16 is arranged, for example, at a position corresponding to a human body as a target thereof, that is, a lumbar portion of a seated person (driver seat) 20 or the like.

The lumbar support means 14 is provided with a lumbar plate 22 which can be linked to the drive of the motor 12,
The lumbar plate is built in the seat back 24 together with the motor at a position where the lumbar plate of a seated person or the like can be pressed and supported. The lumbar plate 22 is usually provided so as to be movable in the perspective direction with respect to the lumbar portion of the seated person or the like, and presses and supports the lumbar portion of the seated person or the like under the support force corresponding to the position of the lumbar plate with respect to the lumbar portion. Is configured to.

The mechanical construction of the lumbar support means 14 is well known, and the construction itself is not the purpose of the present invention, and therefore will not be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2 in addition to FIG. 1,
The motor 12 has relay contacts RL of the motor control relays RL1 and RL2.
Via 1a, RL2a and an ignition switch (IGN), it is connected to a power source 26 such as an automobile battery and can be driven under a current supplied from the power source. As the motor control relays RL1 and RL2, for example, electromagnetic relays that switch corresponding relay contacts RL1a and RL2a by the energization associated with the current supply can be used, respectively.

In such a configuration, the motor control relay RL
Corresponding relay contacts RL1a, R due to energization and de-energization of 1, RL2
By switching L2a, the motor 12 rotates forward and backward,
The movement of the lumbar plate 22 in the perspective direction with respect to the lumbar portion, that is, forward movement and backward movement is switched.

The motor control relays RL1 and RL2 are, for example,
Each is connected to the controller 18 via a relay driver 28.

The controller 18 is formed, for example, by including a microcomputer (not shown), which is abbreviated as a microcomputer, and the microcomputer is configured to process an input according to a stored program and generate an appropriate control signal. ing. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the control signal is output to, for example, the relay driver 28, and the activation and deactivation of the motor control relay are controlled under the operation of the relay driver.

For example, the energization of the motor control relays RL1, RL2, that is, the driving of the motor 12 is performed by the manual switch 30.
It can be controlled by. As shown in FIG. 2, as the manual switch 30, for example, an automatic return type seesaw type switch having a two-position switching contact and a neutral position in which neither contact is in contact can be used. The manual switch 30 is connected to, for example, the motor control relays RL1 and RL2, respectively, and energizes the motor control relay corresponding to the operating direction under the output signal accompanying the switching operation of the manual switch from the neutral position. Is configured.

In such a configuration, the corresponding motor control relays RL1, RL2 are energized by the operating direction of the manual switch 30, and the motor 12 associated with the switching of the relay contacts RL1a, RL2a of the energized motor control relays. Forward rotation of
By the reverse rotation, the front-back position of the lumbar plate 22 is arbitrarily adjusted.

Incidentally, such a manual switch 30
As shown in FIG. 1, is a position where a seated person (driver) can operate, for example, the seat cushion 32 of the seat 20.
It is provided on the side of. However, the seat cushion 32 is sufficient because it can be operated by a seated person.
However, the manual switch 30 may be provided at other positions such as the console box.

Here, in the lumbar support means 14 of the fatigue reducing apparatus 10 of the present invention, the automatic control for automatically repeatedly moving the lumbar plate 22 back and forth under the reverse drive of the motor 12 is operated by the operation of the manual switch 30. In addition to the manual control of the motor, that is, the lumber plate, it can be executed. In the present invention, either the repetitive movement in which the lumbar plate 22 is repeatedly repetitively moved within a specific movement range or the interval operation in which the repetitive movement and the stop of the lumber plate are alternately repeated for a corresponding time respectively is performed automatically. It can be selected as the operation of the lumbar plate during control.

The operation time during the repetitive operation of the automatic control is measured by, for example, a one-shot timer (not shown) provided in the controller 18. The set time of the ON operation in the single-shot timer is, for example, about 7 minutes, and the reverse rotation of the motor 12 can be performed only when the timer is ON.

The operation time and the stop time during the interval operation of the automatic control are measured by an interval timer (not shown) of the controller 18, respectively. The ON operation time and OFF operation time of the interval timer are set to about 7 minutes and 3 minutes, respectively.

The moving range of the lumbar plate 22 is defined by a pair of limit switches LS1 and LS2 for detecting the front limit position and the rear limit position, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, an automatic reset push-off switch can be used as each of the limit switches LS1 and LS2, and each switch is connected to the controller 18 and is connected to the lumbar to the front limit position and the rear limit position. The plates 22 are arranged at positions where the arrival of the plates 22 can be detected.

In this case, the limit switch LS1
However, as a limit switch for the front limit that detects the front limit position of the lumbar plate 22,
, Respectively, are formed as limit switches for the last limit for detecting the last position of the lumbar plate.

The automatic control of the lumbar support means 14, that is, the repetitive movement operation of the lumbar plate 22 and the interval operation are performed by operating the corresponding repetitive movement switch (auto switch) 34 and interval switch (auto switch) 36, for example. Each of them is executed (Fig. 1,
See FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 2, auto switches 34, 36
For example, an automatic reset type push switch can be used, and each switch is connected to the controller 18.

In such a structure, the lumbar plate 22 is repeatedly moved under the operation of the auto switch 34, and the interval operation of the lumber plate is under the operation of the auto switch 36. Has become.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the auto switches 34 and 36 are usually provided on the side of the seat cushion 32 or the like, like the manual switch 30.

Further, in the fatigue reducing device 10 of the present invention, the heating means 16 is provided in addition to the lumbar support means 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heating means 16 includes, for example, a wire-shaped heater main body 38 that is bent substantially regularly and repeatedly, a low temperature region thermostat 40-1 having a low temperature region opening / closing operating point, and a high temperature region. It is formed as a planar heater including a high temperature region thermostat 40-2 having a region opening / closing operating point and sub-heaters 42-1 and 42-2 for heating each thermostat. Then, in order to regulate the temperature of the heater main body 38 heated under the supply of electric current to the corresponding temperature range under the temperature control by the thermostats 40-1, 40-2, the heater (heating means 16 is composed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heater 16 is interposed, for example, between the lumbar plate 22 and a portion of the cushion surface corresponding to the lumbar vertebra portion, and the thermostats 40-1 and 40- are provided.
It is arranged to heat the lumbar vertebrae of a seated person or the like under a temperature range where the temperature is controlled by 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the terminals of the heater 16 are
The ThH is formed as a terminal corresponding to the high temperature region thermostat 40-1, and the terminal ThL is formed as a terminal corresponding to the low temperature region thermostat 40-2. Further, here, the low temperature range of the heater 16 is set to a temperature range corresponding to a normal seat heater intended for heating, and the high temperature range of the heater is set, for example, about 10 ° higher than the low temperature range. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminals of the heater 16
ThH and ThL are connected to the battery via relay contacts RL3a and RL4a of the heater control relays RL3 and RL4 connected to the controller 18 via the relay driver 28, respectively. The controller 18 energizes and deenergizes the heater control relays RL3 and RL4 to control the heater 16
The fatigue reducing device 10 is configured so that the set temperature range of can be switched.

As the heater control relays RL3 and RL4, electromagnetic relays similar to the motor control relays RL1 and RL2 can be used, respectively.

In such a configuration, the heater control relay RL3 for the relay contact RL3a connected to the terminal ThH of the heater 16 serves as a switching means for setting the set temperature to a high temperature range, and the relay contact connected to the terminal ThL. The heater control relay RL4 for RL4a serves as a switching means for setting the set temperature in the low temperature range.

The heating of the heater 16 is performed by operating the heating switch 44, for example. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the heating switch 44 is, for example, an auto switch.
An automatic reset type push switch similar to 34 and 36 can be used. Then, the heating switch 44 is connected to the controller 18, and the heater 16 is turned on / off under the heating switch ON / OFF operation.
Manual ON / OFF control (manual control) is possible.

The heating switch 44, as shown in FIG. 1, is similar to the manual switch 30 and the auto switches 34 and 36 in that
Usually, it is provided on the side of the seat cushion 32.

The fatigue reducing apparatus 10 of the present invention is configured so that the heater 16 is temperature-controlled in the low temperature range under the manual control by operating the heating switch 44.

According to the present invention, in addition to the manual control, the heating operation of the heater 16 can be executed in parallel with the automatic control of the lumbar support means 14. Further, in the present invention, the heating operation of the heater 16 parallel to the automatic control can be executed when the interval operation of the lumbar plate 22 is selected, and the heater 16 is controlled in the high temperature range. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the present invention, the auto switches 34 and 36 and the heating switch 4 are used.
The fatigue reducing device 10 is provided with operation display lamps 46 to 50 that indicate which of the switch operations corresponding to the operation described in 4 above. For example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of different colors can be used as the operation indicator lamps 46 to 50.
Are respectively connected to the controller 18 via the lamp driver 52.

In the preferred embodiment, LED 46 is for repetitive movement, LED 48 is for interval, and LED 50 is
Are formed for heating.

LEDs (operation display lamps) 46 to 50 are usually
It is provided at a position where a seated person can easily confirm it, such as an instrument panel or console box which is abbreviated as an instrument panel of an automobile.

With such a configuration, since it is possible to easily confirm which operation is performed by the lumbar support means 14 or the heater 16, the illusion of a seated person or the like during the operation of each means can be sufficiently prevented, and the seated person or the like is anxious. It does not give a feeling.

An example of various operations performed by the fatigue reducing device 10 having the above-described structure will be described in detail with reference to the block diagrams of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 7.

As shown in the main routine of FIG. 4, first, by initialization, the heating switch operation flag Fh, the repetitive movement switch operation flag Fs, and the interval switch operation flag Fb are reset (0) and ( 1
02), it is determined whether the manual switch 30 is operated in either direction (104). For example, when the manual switch 30 is operated, YES is determined in (104), and then it is sequentially determined whether the manual switch is operated in the forward direction or the backward direction (106),
(108).

For example, under the operation of the manual switch 30 in the forward direction, if YES is determined in (106), then it is determined whether the limit switch LS1 of the previous limit is turned OFF, that is, It is determined whether the lumbar plate 22 has reached the end position (110).

With the limit switch LS1 turned on,
If NO is determined in (110), the motor control relay
The lumbar plate 22 moves forward under the forward rotation of the motor 12 due to the bias of RL1 (112). Then, when the operating force of the manual switch 30 is released at any position of the lumbar plate 22, the motor is judged based on the judgment of NO in (104).
12 stops and the lumbar plate is set in this position.

Here, when the lumbar plate 22 reaches the front limit position and the front and rear limit switches LS1 are turned off before the operating force of the manual switch 30 is released, (110)
In YES, the motor 12 is immediately stopped under the deenergization of the motor control relay RL1 and the lumbar plate is set to the end position of the movement range (114). With such a configuration, excessive movement of the lumbar plate 22 is prevented, so that the motor 12 can be prevented from overheating, burning, and the like, and the safety of the motor and the like can be ensured.

Similarly, under the operation of the manual switch 30 in the backward direction, if it is judged to be ON at (106) and YES at (108), the limit switch LS2 at the rear end is turned OFF. It is judged whether or not (116),
When the latter limit switch is in the ON state, it is determined to be NO, and the lumbar plate 22 moves backward under the reverse rotation of the motor 12 due to the energization of the motor control relay RL2.

Then, for example, the lumbar plate 22 reaches the rear limit position, that is, OF of the limit switch LS2.
If (YES) is determined in (116) under F operation, the lumbar plate is set to the end position of the movement range under the stop of the motor 12 due to the deactivation of the motor control relay RL2. (118). If the operating force of the manual switch 30 is released while the lumbar plate 22 is moving, (1
04), it is judged as NO and the motor control relay RL2
Then, the lumbar plate 22 is stopped and set at the corresponding position.

Further, when the manual switch 30 is in the OFF state and it is determined to be NO in (104), the operating states of the heating switch 44, the repeated movement switch 34, and the interval switch 36 are sequentially determined. (120), (122), (12
Four) . For example, by turning on the heating switch 44, (120)
If YES is determined in, the flag Fh is set (1)
After that (126), the heating operation by the heater 16 is appropriately performed according to the heating operation routine (128).

As shown in FIG. 5, in the heating operation routine, first, it is judged whether the flag Fh is set (1) (202). If the flag (Fh) is set (1) and YES is determined in (202), the heating LED 50
When the heater is turned on, the heating by the heater 16 is displayed (204), and under the bias of the heater control relay RL3, the heater is heated with the low temperature range as the set temperature (206). .

As described above, when the heater 16 is temperature-controlled in the low temperature range during the manual operation associated with the operation of the heating switch 44, the lumbar spine is reduced in fatigue by promoting blood circulation in the lumbar spine by heating. It comes off. Therefore, it can be used particularly effectively for a seated person who is not good at pressing the lumbar plate 22.

Further, since the heater 16 is temperature-controlled in the low temperature range, it is possible to prevent excessive heating by the heater, and it is possible to sufficiently use it for heating the seat 20.

Then, when the heating switch 44 is arbitrarily turned off, for example, the flag Fh is reset (0 if the flag Fh is reset based on the judgment of NO in (120), (122) and (124) of FIG. ) Will be done (130). Then, in (202) of FIG. 5, it is determined to be NO, and the OFF operation of the heating LED 50 and the OFF operation of the heater 16 accompanying the deenergization of the heater control relay RL3 are sequentially performed (208), (210), flag Fh is reset (0)
(212), the heating operation of the heater is terminated, and the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

That is, the heater 16 is manually controlled under the ON / OFF operation of the heating switch 44.

Further, for example, the repetitive movement switch 34 is
When the ON operation is performed, NO in (104) and (120) of FIG. 4 and (122)
Is determined to be YES, and the flag Fs is set.
(1) After (132), the repetitive movement operation of the lumbar plate 22 is executed (134) by appropriately performing processing according to the repetitive movement operation routine.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the repetitive movement operation routine, the drive time of the motor 12, that is, the movement time of the lumbar plate 22, is set by turning on the single shot timer.
As the minute measurement is started (302), it is determined whether the flag Fs is in the set (1) state (304). If YES is determined by the set (1) state of flag Fs, it is for repetitive movement.
The LED 46 is turned on and the repetitive movement of the lumbar plate 22 is displayed (306).

Then, at this time, it is judged whether or not the one-shot timer has passed the set time, that is, whether or not the time has expired (308), but here, it is judged as NO until the one-shot timer times out. , Next, it is judged whether the limit switch LS1 of the previous limit is turned off (310).
.

Before the lumbar plate 22 reaches the front limit position, it is judged as NO in (310). First, the lumber plate is moved under the forward rotation of the motor 12 due to the bias of the motor control relay RL1. Move forward (312). Lumber plate 22
The forward movement of is continued until the lumbar plate reaches the end position.

When the lumbar plate 22 reaches the front limit position and the limit switch LS1 of the front limit is turned off, YES is determined in (310), and the motor control relay RL1 is first deenergized. Stop the lumber plate at (314). Then, for example, after setting the time lag of about O.2sec (316), the limit switch LS2 at the end is turned off.
Next, it is judged whether or not it has been operated (318) .Before the lumbar plate reaches the end position, the motor control relay RL2 is energized and the lumbar plate 22 is retracted based on the judgment of NO. Let (320).

Under the reverse rotation of the motor 12, the lumbar plate 22 reaches the rear limit position, and YES is returned in (318).
If so, the lumbar plate stops under the de-energization of the motor control relay RL2 (322). Then, after setting the time lag of about 0.2 sec (324), the lumbar plate 22 advances again under the forward rotation of the motor 12, and the above-described forward and backward movements of the lumbar plate are repeated.

When the single-shot timer times out and YES is determined in (308), the motor control relays RL1, RL
Under the force of 2, stop the lumbar plate 22,
End the iterative movement of the lumbar plate (326), (328).
At this time, the LED 46 for repetitive movement is turned off (330), the single shot timer is reset (332), and the flag Fs is reset.
After resetting (0) (334), the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

That is, during the repetitive movement operation, the lumbar plate 22 is measured by the single-shot timer.
Only for a minute, it moves repeatedly within the specified range defined between the front and rear limit switches LS1 and LS2.

According to this structure, the lumbar plate 22 of the seated person or the like is dynamically pressed and supported by the supporting force with strength by the repeated movement of the lumbar plate 22 in the front-rear direction. Under the so-called acupressure effect and massage effect, fatigue of the lumbar portion of the seated person or the like is positively reduced.
And, because the lumbar spine 22 dynamically supports the lumbar spine, the sensory habituation of the seated person or the like is sufficiently suppressed, so that the lack of support force due to the sensory habituation of the seated person or the like can be eliminated. The comfort of the seated person is improved.

When the interval switch 36 is turned on, NO in (104), (120) and (122) in FIG. 4 and (124)
Is determined to be YES and flag Fb is set.
(1) After that (136), the interval operation of the lumbar plate 22 is executed (138) by appropriately performing processing according to the interval operation routine.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the interval operation routine, after the ON measurement of the interval timer is started (402), first, the set (1) state of the flag Fb is judged (404). If the flag Fb is set and YES is determined at (404), the interval LED 48 turns ON.
At the same time (406), the heater 16 is heated under the bias of the heater control relay RL4 with the high temperature range as the set temperature (40
8). Then, whether the interval timer has timed out, that is, the interval timer ON time is 7
It is determined whether or not the minutes have passed (410), and before the time is up, it is determined as NO, and then it is determined whether or not the limit switch LS1 of the previous limit is turned off (41).
2).

Within the moving range of the lumbar plate 22, (4
In 12), it is determined to be NO, and the lumbar plate is advanced under the forward rotation of the motor 12 accompanying the energization of the motor control relay RL1 (414). Then, when the lumbar plate 22 reaches the front limit position and the limit switch LS1 of the front limit is turned off, YES is determined in (412) and the motor 12 and the motor control relay RL1 are deenergized. In other words, the lumbar plate stops (416).

Then, after setting the time lag of 0.2 sec (41
8), the operation state of the latter limit switch LS2 is judged (420), and under the ON state of the latter limit switch,
If NO is determined, the lumbar plate 22 is retracted under the reverse rotation of the motor 12 due to the bias of the motor control relay RL2 (442).

When the lumbar plate 22 reaches the rear limit position and the final limit switch LS2 is turned OFF, if YES is determined in (420), the motor control relay RL2 is deenergized. The motor 12, and thus the lumbar plate, is stopped (424). Then, after setting the time lag of 0.2 sec (426), again the limit switch LS1 of the previous limit
It is determined whether the OFF operation has been performed (412), and the repetitive movement of the lumbar plate is repeated in the same manner as the repetitive movement operation described above.

Then, if the ON time of the interval timer is up and YES is determined in (410), it is first judged whether or not the OFF time of the interval timer is up (428), and the OFF time is determined. Before the time is up, the motor control relay
Deactivate RL1 and RL2 respectively to stop the motor 12 (4
30), (432). Then, next, it is judged whether or not the flag Fb is set (1) (434), and the flag Fb is set (1).
If YES is determined under the condition, the interval timer OFF time is waited until the time is up.

That is, here, the stop time of the lumbar plate 22 for 3 minutes during the interval operation is set.

If 3 minutes of the stop time has elapsed and the YES is determined in (428) while the OFF time of the interval timer has expired, 7 minutes until the ON time of the interval timer expires, Under the reverse drive of the motor 12, the lumbar plate 22 is repeatedly and repeatedly moved (410) to (426). When the ON time of the interval timer is up, the stop time of the lumbar plate 22 is set under (428) to (434).

Thus, during the interval operation of the lumbar plate 22, the heater 16 is heated in the high temperature region in parallel with the repeated movement of the lumbar plate. That is, since both the blood circulation promotion by the heater 16 and the acupressure effect and the massage effect by the lumbar plate 22 are obtained in parallel, it can be used particularly effectively when the degree of fatigue is large.

The repetitive movement of the lumber plate 22 accompanied by the heating by the heater 16 is an interval operation having a stop time of a predetermined time. Therefore, even if this operation is performed for a long time, the seated person will not be affected. The impartation of sensory familiarity is sufficiently suppressed, and also in this respect, the feeling of lack of support can be eliminated, and the comfort of the seated person can be improved.

Then, for example, when the flag Fb is reset (0) by the OFF operation of the interval switch 36, it is determined as NO in (404), and the heater 16 is deenergized under the deenergization of the heater control relay RL4. Is turned off (4
36), the motor 12, that is, the lumbar plate 22, stops under the de-energization of the motor control relays RL1 and RL2 (438), (4
40). Then, as the interval LED 48 turns off (442), the interval timer is reset (44
4) The flag Fb is reset (0) again (446), and the process returns to the main routine.

As described above, the fatigue reducing device 10 of the present invention
According to this, in addition to the lumber support means 14 capable of automatic control for repeatedly and repeatedly moving the lumbar plate 22, a heater 16 for heating the lumbar vertebra portion of a seated person or the like is also provided. Further, the heating operation of the heater in parallel with the manual control of the lumbar support means 14 and the heater 16 and the automatic control of the lumbar support means can be arbitrarily selected under a predetermined switch operation.

In other words, the seated person or the like selects a mitigating means having a great fatigue reducing effect, which is suitable for one's own preference, the degree of fatigue, etc.
By executing it, fatigue can be reduced smoothly. Therefore, the seated person does not feel anxiety or discomfort due to excessive mitigation operations by the lumbar support means 14 and the heater 16, and the comfort of the seated person or the like is improved under the effective fatigue mitigation operation. Fully improved.

Since the heating operation by the heater 16 can be executed in parallel with the automatic control of the lumbar support means 14 under the predetermined switch operation, the parallel operation of the lumbar support means and the heater can be performed in a predetermined manner. It can be easily done under switch operation. Also, the lumbar support means 14,
Individual manual control of the heater 16 is also possible under predetermined switch operation.

Therefore, the operation is not complicated by the juxtaposition of the lumbar support means 14 and the heater 16, and the operability is surely improved.

Here, in the embodiment, the operation of the lumbar plate 22 during the automatic control is the repetitive movement operation,
The operation can be selected from the interval operation, and the heating operation of the heater 16 in parallel with the interval operation is possible. However, it is not limited to this, and for example,
A configuration in which the automatic control of the lumbar support means 14 is made only the repetitive movement operation of the lumbar plate 22 and the heating operation of the heater parallel to the lumbar support means is performed under the manual control of ON / OFF of the heater 16 during the automatic control. May be

However, if the heaters 16 are heated in parallel during the interval operation of the lumbar plate 22, the repetitive movement is repeated with a predetermined stop time even if the heater 16 is operated continuously for a long time. , It is possible to prevent the lumbar plate from imparting a feeling of familiarity.

Then, during the interval operation,
Since only the heating operation of the heater 16 is performed while the lumbar plate 22 is stopped, both the automatic control of the lumbar support means 14 and the heating operation of the heater can be sequentially obtained. That is, the interval operation alternately executes the repetitive movement operation of the lumbar plate 22 and the heating operation of the heater 16, so that the fatigue of both the lumbar support means 14 and the heater can be effectively reduced. Therefore, the comfort of the seated person is further improved.

Further, if the temperature of the heater 16 can be adjusted in both the high temperature region and the low temperature region, the low temperature region is set as the set temperature region for manual control, and the high temperature region is set as the set temperature region for automatic control. It is possible to easily secure an appropriate temperature during control. Therefore, during manual control, the heater 16 can be used as a normal seat heater for heating purposes, and the range of use of the heater, that is, the fatigue reducing device 10, is expanded.

Further, the lumbar support means 14 and the heater 16
If the operation display lamps (LED) 46 to 50 for displaying the operation state of are provided, the operation states of the lumbar plate 22 and the heater are clarified, so that there is no illusion to the seated person, etc.
Also in this respect, the comfort of the seated person and the like is secured.

Here, in the embodiment, the time lag at the reverse position of the motor 12 is exemplified as about 0.2 sec, but the invention is not limited to this. However, if the time lag is long, the continuity of repetitive motion is reduced, and the seated person is likely to feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable. Therefore, generally, about 0.2 sec is preferable.

However, for the purpose of obtaining a reliable pressing feeling, a long time lag can be effectively used.
The time lag is not limited to a fixed value and may be variable within a predetermined range.

Further, the heating means 16 is embodied as a planar heater 16 using a high temperature range thermostat 40-1 and a low temperature range thermostat 40-2, but warms the lumbar portion within a predetermined temperature range. The heater is not limited to this as long as it has a possible configuration, and the heater may be configured by another heater or the like.

However, the heater shown in FIG.
If so, regardless of the simple configuration, temperature control in the high temperature region and the low temperature region can be reliably performed, and thus the configuration can be reliably prevented from becoming complicated.

Further, the operation display lamps 46 to 50 are not limited to LEDs and may be formed from other lamps, as long as they can clearly indicate which operation is performed to a seated person or the like.

Although the embodiment is embodied as a fatigue reducing device mounted on a vehicle seat,
The present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to, for example, a fatigue reducing device such as a seat for a train, an airplane, a ship, or a massage seat.

Further, the present invention is not limited to a seat, and the fatigue reducing device of the present invention may be provided in, for example, a care bed or the like. According to such a configuration, it is possible to easily obtain a bed with a fatigue reducing device that imparts an appropriate change to a monotonous bedridden posture, not to mention prevention of bed sores for bedridden sick persons and the like.

In such a bed with a fatigue reducing device, excessive depression of the lumbar portion can be sufficiently suppressed, and pressing and heating of the lumbar portion can be arbitrarily selected and executed as necessary. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently reduce the fatigue caused by the subduction of the lumbar vertebrae and the back pain.

The above-mentioned embodiments are for explaining the present invention and do not limit the present invention in any way.
It goes without saying that the present invention includes all those which are modified or modified within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0096]

As described above, according to the fatigue reducing device of the present invention, the warming operation of the warming means parallel to the lumbar support means and the manual control of the warming means and the automatic control of the lumbar support means. Can be arbitrarily selected. Therefore, the seated person, etc., selects a reduction means with a large fatigue reduction effect that is suitable for their own preference, the degree of fatigue, etc.
By executing the fatigue reduction, the fatigue can be smoothly reduced, and the comfort of the seated person can be sufficiently improved under the effective fatigue reduction operation.

Since the heating operation of the heating means in parallel with the automatic control of the lumbar support means and the independent manual control can be executed under the corresponding switch operation, the lumbar support means and the heating operation are performed. The operability is surely improved without complicating the operation due to the provision of the means.

Further, if the heating means is operated in parallel during the interval operation of the lumber plate, even if the operation is continued for a long time, the repetitive movement is performed with a predetermined stop time. Since it is repeated, it is possible to prevent the lumbar plate from imparting a sensual familiarity.

In the interval operation,
Since only the heating operation of the heating means is performed while the lumbar plate is stopped, both the automatic control of the lumbar support means and the heating of the heating means can be sequentially obtained, so the lumbar support means and the heating means Both can effectively reduce fatigue. Therefore, the comfort of the seated person is further improved.

Furthermore, if the temperature of the heating means can be adjusted in both the high temperature region and the low temperature region, and the low temperature region is the set temperature region for manual control, and the high temperature region is the set temperature region for automatic control, It is possible to easily secure an appropriate temperature during each control. Therefore, during manual control, the heating means can be used as a normal seat heater for heating purposes, and the range of use of the heater, that is, the fatigue reducing device is expanded.

If the heating means is a planar heater whose temperature is controlled by a high temperature thermostat and a low temperature thermostat, the temperature control in the high temperature region and the low temperature region can be reliably performed regardless of the simple structure. It is possible to reliably prevent the configuration from becoming complicated.

If the operation display lamps for displaying the operating states of the lumbar support means and the heating means are provided, the operating states of the lumbar plate and the heating means can be clarified.
In this respect, the comfort of the seated person is ensured without giving an illusion to the seated person.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a fatigue reducing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a fatigue reducing device.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a heater.

FIG. 4 is a main routine of a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the fatigue reducing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a heating operation routine of a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the fatigue reducing device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a repetitive movement operation routine of a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the fatigue reducing device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an interval operation routine of a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the fatigue reducing device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Fatigue reduction device 12 Motor 14 Lumbar support means 16 Heating means (heater) 18 Controller 20 Seat 22 Lumbar plate 30 Manual switch 34 Repeatable movement switch (auto switch) 36 Interval switch (auto switch) 38 Heater body 40-1 High temperature thermostat 40-2 Low temperature thermostat 42-1, 42-2 Sub-heater 44 Heating switch 46 to 50 Operation indicator lamp (LED)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A lumbar support means comprising a lumbar plate that moves in a perspective direction relative to a lumbar spine portion under drive control of a motor; and a lumber support means interposed between the lumbar spine portion and the lumbar plate, under control of current supply. In addition to the heating means for adjusting the heating, and the manual control for adjusting the position of the lumbar plate and the heating operation of the heating means as desired, the lumber plate is driven by the reverse rotation of the motor. Automatic control of the lumbar support means that can be repeatedly moved repeatedly within a specific range can be executed, and heating operation of the heating means in parallel with the automatic control of the lumbar support means can be executed under a predetermined switch operation. Fatigue reduction device. 2. An auto-repetitive movement operation in which the lumber plate is repeatedly and repeatedly moved within a specific range for a predetermined time; and an interval operation in which the repetitive movement and stop of the lumber plate are alternately repeated for corresponding times, respectively. The fatigue reducing device according to claim 1, wherein the operation can be selected as the operation of the lumbar plate during control, and the heating operation of the heating means is executed in parallel when the interval operation is selected. 3. A heater main body in which the heating means is capable of heating under the supply of electric current; a high temperature range thermostat and a low temperature range thermostat capable of temperature control in a corresponding temperature range; and a sub-heater for heating each thermostat. Is a sheet-like heater formed by having the; The fatigue reducing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature of the heating means is controlled in a high temperature range during the heating operation. 4. The fatigue mitigation according to claim 1, wherein an operation display lamp for displaying the operating states of the lumbar support means and the heating means is provided for each operating state of the lumbar support means and the heating means. apparatus.