JPH11178877A - Massager - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a massager which, before actual massaging action starts, can surely let a user know the part of the body to be massaged which is selected and indicated by the user, even in the case of a user with weak vision or if contents displayed on a display part are hard to see in a poorly lighted place. SOLUTION: A massager 40 has an air bag 11 in a seat part 41, an air bag 12 and a massaging ball 13 in a backrest part 42, and a vibrator 14 in a footrest 43, all of which serve as massaging means. When a user M selects and indicates a desired part (shoulder, waist, legs) of the body to be massaged, the massaging means corresponding to the designated part of the body to be massaged are operated only for a short time before actual massaging action to let the user M know the massaging position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a massage machine for treating a human body by mechanical stimulation or electrical stimulation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional massage machine, a user can determine the type of mechanical stimulus (fumbling, tapping, pressing, etc.), the intensity, the stimulating position (treatment site), etc. by using a switch of a remote controller (remote controller). In general, treatment is performed by instructing a selection. The remote control gives instructions for selecting the treatment site,
It has a display unit for checking operations and the like. The display unit may be one that represents each treatment site with characters or pictograms composed of segments on the LCD, or one that represents each treatment site with a display element such as an LED or EL and characters or pictograms printed in the vicinity thereof. Many.

[0003]

However, LCDs
In the case of the display by the combination of the display element and the printing, the space of the display unit is limited, so that the characters and pictograms cannot be made too large, and the treatment displayed on the display unit. It is difficult to determine which part (shoulder, waist, leg, etc.) actually hits the body. Therefore, there are the following problems. In the case of a user with poor eyesight (for example, myopia) or use in a dimly lit place, it is difficult to see characters and pictograms on the display unit. It massages a part different from the position intended by the user. That is, for example, when the massage machine is of a chair type having a seat portion and a backrest portion, depending on the posture of sitting on the chair and the physique of the user, the position at which the treatment means (fir balls or the like) incorporated in the backrest portion or the like hits the body. In contrast, even if the user instructs the user to select the waist, for example, the position is often slightly shifted by the user. In such a case, the positional deviation is not known until the operation by the treatment means actually starts.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and even if it is difficult to see the display content of the display unit in a user with poor vision or in a dark place, etc.
An object of the present invention is to provide a massage machine that can surely inform a user of a treatment site selected and instructed by a user before starting an actual treatment operation.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a massage machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with a treatment device for treating at least two or more living body parts for each part. It is characterized by comprising a part selecting means for selecting and instructing a part, and a position confirming means for notifying the treatment position by operating the treating means of the treatment part selected by the part selecting means.

[0006] In this massage machine, the treatment means located at the treatment site selected and instructed by the user operates to inform the user of the position of the designated treatment site. A massage machine according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention includes a treatment device provided for each of a plurality of treatment sites of a living body and capable of operating at the same time. Confirmation operation control means for sequentially operating the treatment means, and treatment part selection means for selecting and instructing the treatment part when the treatment means corresponding to the desired treatment part operates during the confirmation operation by the confirmation operation control means. The medical treatment device is characterized in that a treatment operation is performed on the treatment part by operating a treatment means corresponding to the treatment part selected and instructed.

[0007] In this massage machine, since the treatment means corresponding to each treatment part operates sequentially, when the treatment part corresponding to a desired treatment part is operating, the selection instruction is given when the treatment part is instructed. By operating the treatment means corresponding to the treatment site, the user is notified of the position of the designated treatment site. Therefore, in the massage machine according to the first and the thirteenth aspects, since the user can confirm at which position on the body the actual treatment operation is performed before the treatment, the user with poor visual acuity. Even in the case of use in a dark place or the like, the treatment site selected and instructed by the user can be surely known, and a site different from the intended site at the time of actual treatment is not massaged.

[0008] In the present invention, the treatment means is not specified as long as it can give a mechanical stimulus or an electric stimulus to the human body. Examples of the mechanical stimulation include a paddle ball type used in a normal massage machine, an air type in which an air bag is inflated and deflated by air, and a vibration type in which a vibrator generates vibration. For example, there is a low-frequency therapeutic device, which may be used alone or in combination.
Further, the number of the treatment means does not need to be one, and a plurality of treatment means may be provided for variously massaging the human body. By this treatment means, it can also affect the human body,
A mechanical stimulus such as hitting, pushing, or vibrating, or an electrical stimulus such as flowing a low-frequency current is applied.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a massage machine according to one embodiment. This massage machine 40 has a seat 4
1. A seat-type chair comprising a backrest 42, a footrest 43, and a leg 44, which includes a remote controller (remote controller, not shown in FIG. 1). In this massage machine 40, the seat portion 41 has the air bag 11 as a treatment means for giving a mechanical stimulus, and the backrest portion 42 has the air bag 12 near the lower part (around the waist) and the area slightly above the center (shoulder contact). ) Has a massage ball 13 as another kind of treatment means, and the footrest 43 has a vibrator 14 as another kind of treatment means. These air bags 11, 12 and fir balls 1
3 and the vibrator 14 are individually operable,
The user M operates according to the treatment site selected and instructed through the remote controller, and massage is performed.

FIG. 2 shows a front side form of the operation remote controller 20 for selecting and instructing a desired treatment site. In FIG. 2A, for example, an LCD display unit 21 and a switch for turning on / off a power supply and a switch for selecting and instructing each treatment site such as “shoulder”, “hip”, and “leg” are provided. Switches 22 and "fir", "slap", "air",
There are provided switches 23 configured by switches for selecting and instructing each treatment operation of “vibe”. The display section 21 displays characters such as shoulder, waist, and leg, and
Vibe characters and can be displayed. in this case,
A treatment part is selected and instructed by switches of "shoulder", "waist" and "leg", and a treatment operation is selected and instructed by switches of "fir", "slap", "air" and "vibe". The selected treatment part and treatment operation are displayed on the display unit 21.

In FIG. 2B, the switches 22 and the switches 23 have the same configuration, but the display unit 21 displays five parts of the human body (head, upper torso, lower torso, thighs, and feet). (Including the lower leg). The treatment site selected and instructed by the switches 22 is
The treatment operation displayed by the human body schematic diagram on the display unit 21 and selected by the switches 23 is displayed on the display unit 21 by, for example, characters (not shown). In FIG. 3, instead of providing a display unit, an LED (or LCD) corresponding to each of the switches 22 and 23 is provided.
24 and 25 are provided. When each switch is pressed, the LED (or LCD) 24, 25 corresponding to the switch is pressed.
Lights up, and turns off when pressed again.
Here, the treatment site and the treatment operation selected and instructed are determined by LEDs (or LCDs) 24, 2 located beside each corresponding switch.
5 is displayed by lighting.

In any of the remote controllers 20 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIG. 3, before the actual treatment operation is started, the treatment means 11 corresponding to the treatment part selected and instructed.
Operate to inform the user M of the position of the selected treatment site. The user M can confirm the position of the selected treatment site by experiencing the operation. For example,
When the shoulder is selected as a treatment site, the fir ball 13 corresponding to the shoulder operates (fir or tapping operation), and when the waist is selected, the air bladder 12 operates (inflation / deflation operation).
By doing so, it is possible to recognize that the treatment operation for the shoulder and the waist is about to start.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a massage machine according to another embodiment. The massage machine 40 is also a seat-type chair composed of a seat portion 41, a backrest portion 42, a footrest 43, and a leg portion 44. The airbag 11 is provided on the seat portion 41, and the airbag 12 and the mimi ball are provided on the backrest portion 42. A vibrator 14 is provided on a footrest 43. The massage machine 40 is different from the massage machine in that the massage ball 13 of the backrest portion 42 can move in the vertical direction. That is, the fir ball 13 moves to the position of the selected treatment site within the range between the vicinity of the shoulder and the vicinity of the waist, and performs an operation for confirming the position of the selected treatment region (for example, one fir) after the movement. Do. The remote controller for operating the massage machine 40 is as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIG.

A specific operation example of the massage machine 40 is as follows. However, it is assumed that the remote control is in the form shown in FIG. First, it is assumed that before turning on the power, the fir ball 13 is stopped at a position near the neck. Power supply ON /
When the power is turned on by pressing the “OFF” switch, when a switch of a desired treatment site, for example, a “waist” switch and a “leg” switch is pressed, the corresponding LED (or LCD) 24 is turned on. Next, the vibrator 14 on the footrest 43 vibrates, and at the same time, the fir ball 13 of the backrest 42 starts moving from the neck toward the waist. The vibration of the vibrator 14 stops after a certain period of time, and then the fir ball 13 reaching the waist performs a fir operation once and stops. The user M confirms the position of the treatment site selected and instructed by the vibration of the vibrator 14 and the fir operation of the firs ball 13. Thereafter, when a treatment operation, for example, pressing a “hit” switch, is performed, the fir ball 13 starts hitting at the waist position, and the vibrator 14 vibrates to massage the waist and the legs.

Incidentally, like the massage machine 40 in FIG.
When the fir ball 13 moves to the treatment site, the fir ball 13
After the movement of the fir ball 13, besides notifying the position of the treatment site by the operation of the fir ball 13, it is displayed on display means such as an LED or LCD,
Alternatively, the notification may be made by sounding using a sounding means such as a buzzer sound or a synthesized voice. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to the massage machine 40 in which the fir balls 13 move, but also to, for example, a massage machine having a plurality of air bags and capable of controlling only one air bag at a time.

Furthermore, a massage machine capable of simultaneously treating a plurality of treatment sites, for example, when a massage ball, a vibrator and an air bag are combined, or when a plurality of independently operable air bags are provided, By slightly shifting the time during which the means operates for position confirmation, individual operations do not overlap to misunderstand the position of the treatment site, and the positions of a plurality of selected treatment sites are clarified. You can check. Conversely, by operating each treatment means simultaneously, the time required for the confirmation operation can be shortened, and the actual treatment operation can be started quickly.

Next, when the treatment part confirmed by the operation of the treatment means is different from the part intended by the user,
FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of the remote controller 20 provided with a position changing unit for adjusting the treatment position. FIG. 5A is shown in FIG. 2A, FIG. 5B is shown in FIG.
Corresponds to FIG. 3, and the "up" switch 27 and the "down"
A switch 28 is added. These switches 2
By operating 7, 28, the treatment position can be finely adjusted.

For example, when the shoulder is designated as the treatment site, the treatment position corresponding to the preset shoulder is often shifted from the position desired by the user depending on the physique and sitting posture of the user. By moving the position of the ball up and down by operating the buttons 27 and 28, the position of the ball can also be adjusted to the position of the shoulder suitable for the user. Since the finely adjusted position is stored, when the treatment position of the shoulder is selected from the next time, the treatment is performed at the stored position. Therefore, fine adjustment of the position is effective also in a massage machine having an automatic course for performing treatment according to a preset procedure. The treatment position may be finely adjusted by operating the switches 27 and 28 even during the treatment operation.

Incidentally, even in the conventional massage machine,
Although a switch for finely adjusting the treatment position is provided, since the position is finely adjusted during the treatment operation, for example, it is necessary to finely adjust the position by the switch every time the shoulder is treated. Further, in a massage machine having an automatic course, fine adjustment of the position is not conventionally accepted, so that the fine adjustment function is meaningless in the treatment of the automatic course.

FIG. 7A is a schematic view of a massage machine according to another embodiment. The massage machine 40 includes a seat 41, a backrest 42, a leg 44, and left and right armrests 4.
5 is a stool-type chair comprising a backrest 42
, Eight treatment elements 6 (a to h) that generate vibration by a motor are arranged in two rows as treatment means for applying a mechanical stimulus [see FIG. 7 showing a back view of the backrest portion 42. (See (b)).

As shown in FIG. 8, the remote controller 20 connected to the chair body via the lead wire 29 includes a display unit 21 constituted by, for example, an LCD, and "power", "select", "start", and "start". An operation switch unit 30 including switches for "stop", "cancel", and "area". The eight treatment areas 2 (a to h) displayed on the display unit 21 correspond to the treatment elements 6 (a to h), respectively.

In this massage machine 40, the remote controller 20
When the "power" switch on the operation switch unit 30 is pressed, the power is turned on.
a, 2e blink, and the other treatment areas 2 (b to d), 2 (f
To h) are turned off, and the treatment elements 6a and 6e corresponding to the treatment areas 2a and 2e vibrate for a short time (for example, one second). If it is desired to treat a living body part that has undergone the vibration of the treatment elements 6a and 6e at the time of this vibration, pressing the "select" switch selects the treatment part and the corresponding treatment area 2
a and 2e are switched from blinking to lighting. On the other hand, if you do not want the treatment site, press the "Cancel" switch,
The treatment areas 2a and 2e are turned off. When the "area" switch is pressed after operating either the "select" or "cancel" switch, the treatment areas 2b and 2f blink next, and the corresponding treatment elements 6b and 6f vibrate for the short time. The "select" or "cancel" switch is operated in the same manner as described above. The selection or cancellation operation is similarly performed for the treatment areas 2c, 2g, 2d, and 2h.

When the operation on the last treatment areas 2d and 2h is completed, pressing the "start" switch causes only the treatment element corresponding to the selected treatment site to sequentially start the treatment operation. If you want to stop the treatment operation halfway, "Stop"
Press the switch. The treatment operation for each treatment site may be performed in the same order as the treatment operation set in advance for each region, or the treatment operation and the treatment order may be determined from the designated region by calculation or the like. May be executed.

If, for example, the treatment area 2b, 2f is selected and the area below that area does not need to be treated, the treatment can be started immediately by pressing the "start" switch. Can be. In this way, the time required to specify the treatment site can be reduced. Further, when the treatment area is changed during the treatment operation, when the "area" switch is pressed, the treatment operation is temporarily stopped, and the treatment areas 2a, 2
e blinks and the corresponding treatment elements 6a and 6e vibrate for a short time. Therefore, in the same way as when the power is turned on, "select"
The “cancel” switch is used to select or cancel the treatment site, and the “area” switch is pressed to change the next treatment site, and the “start” switch is pressed to resume the treatment operation.

As described above, in the massage machine 40 shown in FIG. 7A (and FIGS. 1 and 4), until all the treatment parts are designated, the designated treatment parts have a short time (from the actual treatment operation time). Only a short period of time) is applied, and a plurality of treatment sites can be slowly and calmly designated. This is particularly useful for elderly people with slow movements and people with physical disabilities.

Further, the treatment according to the user's intention can be performed by changing the treatment operation according to the combination of the designated treatment parts. For example, in the massage machine 40 of FIG. 7, when the upper two-stage treatment areas 2a, 2e, 2b, and 2f are selected, it is assumed that the shoulder is the main treatment part,
The treatment operation of the treatment elements 6a and 6e is made stronger than that of the treatment elements 6b and 6f, or the treatment time is extended, or the treatment operation and the treatment time are not changed in other cases.

In the above embodiment, the position of the selected treatment site is confirmed by the treatment means mainly by operating the treatment means for a shorter time than the actual treatment operation. However, a different operation may be performed. The speed, width (period), etc. may be changed, and any operation mode may be used as long as the confirmation operation and the treatment operation can be easily distinguished.

[0028]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the massage machine according to the thirteenth aspect, since the user can confirm at which position of the body the actual treatment operation corresponding to the treatment part selected and instructed is performed before treatment, The effects (1) and (2) are obtained. (1) Even in the case of a user with poor eyesight or use in a dimly lit place, the massage machine can reliably inform the user of the treatment site selected and instructed. (2) Since it is possible to know to which part of the body the treatment part selected and instructed actually corresponds, if the actual treatment position is different from the treatment part intended by the user,
It is possible to instruct the position correction of the treatment site, and it is possible to massage at the treatment site that matches the intention of the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a massage machine according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a front-side configuration of a remote controller provided in the massage machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of the front side of a remote controller provided in the massage machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a massage machine according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a front-side configuration of a remote controller provided in the massage machine of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the front side of the remote controller provided in the massage machine of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7A is a schematic view of a massage machine according to still another embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a rear view of a backrest portion of the massage machine.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a front-side configuration of a remote controller provided in the massage machine of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 treatment element (treatment means) 11, 12 air bag (treatment means) 13 fir ball (treatment means) 14 vibrator (treatment means) 20 remote control 21 display section 22, 23 switches 24, 25 LED (or LCD) 27, 28 position adjusting switch (position changing means) 30 operation switch section 40 massager M user

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A massage machine provided with a treatment means for treating at least two or more living body parts for each part, a part selection means for selecting and instructing a treatment part, and a treatment means for the treatment part selected by the part selection means. And a position confirming means for notifying the treatment position by operating the massager. 2. The treatment means is movable between a plurality of treatment sites. When the position confirmation means confirms the position of a selected treatment site, the treatment means is moved to the selected treatment site and then the selected treatment site is moved. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the massage machine is operated at a site. 3. The treatment means is provided for each selectable treatment part, and the position confirmation means operates only the treatment means corresponding to the selected treatment part when confirming the position of the selected treatment part. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein 4. A plurality of said treatment means are provided and are movable between a plurality of selectable treatment parts, and said position confirmation means is provided at a selected treatment part when confirming the position of the selected treatment part. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the massage device is operated at the selected treatment site after moving the closest treatment means to the selected treatment site. 5. The position confirming means confirms the position of the selected treatment part by operating the treatment means for a shorter time than the actual treatment time at a position where the treatment part actually treats the selected treatment part. The massage machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein: 6. The position confirmation means for confirming the position of the selected treatment part by operating the treatment means separately from the actual treatment operation at a position where the treatment means actually treats the selected treatment part. The massage machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein: 7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said position confirming means confirms the position of the selected treatment part other than the operation of the treatment means after moving the treatment means to the selected treatment part. The massage machine according to claim 5 or 6. 8. The massage machine according to claim 7, wherein the position confirmation means confirms the position of the selected treatment site by an operation other than the operation of the treatment means by display on a display means. 9. The massage machine according to claim 7, wherein said position confirmation means confirms the position of the selected treatment site by operation other than operation of said treatment means, by sound generation by sound generation means. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position confirming means includes a position changing means for adjusting a treatment position at which the position of the selected treatment site has been confirmed. The massage machine according to claim 5, claim 6, claim 7, claim 8, or claim 9. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said site selecting means cancels the selection of the selected treatment site by selecting the treatment site selected once again. The massage machine according to claim 5, claim 6, claim 6, claim 7, claim 8, claim 9, or claim 10. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position confirming means performs a position confirmation of each of the selected treatment parts at different timings when a plurality of treatment parts are selected.
Claim 2, Claim 3, Claim 4, Claim 5, Claim 6,
The massage machine according to claim 7, claim 8, claim 9, claim 10, or claim 11. 13. A massage machine provided with a plurality of simultaneously operable treatment means provided for each of a plurality of treatment parts of a living body, wherein a confirming operation for sequentially operating the treatment means corresponding to each treatment part when selecting and instructing a treatment part. Control means, and a treatment part selecting means for selecting and instructing the treatment part when the treatment means corresponding to the desired treatment part operates during the confirmation operation by the confirmation operation control means. A massage machine for performing a treatment operation on a treatment part by operating a treatment means corresponding to (1). 14. The massage machine according to claim 13, wherein said treatment means are all of the same type. 15. The massage machine according to claim 13, wherein said treatment means comprises at least two types. 16. The massage machine is of a chair type comprising a seat, a backrest and a footrest. The treatment means comprises a vertically movable fir ball provided on the backrest and a footrest. The massage machine according to claim 13 or 15, wherein the massager is a vibrator provided on a table.