KR20230143443A - Hand Massage Module for Massage Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hand massage module of a massage device that can perform various massage functions on the user's hands and fingers by applying it to the arm massage part of the massage device, and in particular can partially massage individual fingers. The hand massage module of the following massage device includes a base member on which the user's hand is placed and supported; A plurality of finger air cells are formed in the form of a tube with open front and rear ends so that the user's fingers can be individually inserted and accommodated, and are arranged in the front and rear directions on the base member to individually apply pressure and massage the front and rear parts of each finger. A plurality of finger air cell units including; And, it may include a supply/exhaust control unit that connects the plurality of finger air cells of the finger air cell unit to an air supply device and sequentially supplies air to the plurality of finger air cells so that the plurality of finger air cells sequentially expand.

Description

Hand massage module for massage device {Hand Massage Module for Massage Device}

The present invention relates to a massage device, and more specifically, to a hand massage module that is mounted on the front end of the arm massage part of a massage chair and can individually massage the fingers as well as the user's hands and palms.

Recently, as the standard of living has increased and the population is aging, the number of people suffering from muscle paralysis or muscle pain due to lack of exercise and stress is increasing, leading to increasing interest in massage devices.

Accordingly, beyond simple massage functions, massage devices with various functions and high performance have emerged to meet the needs of users.

As such massage devices, chair-type massage devices (hereinafter referred to as 'massage chairs') that allow the user to sit comfortably and receive a massage have been widely used in recent years. The massage chair refers to each part of the body that is in direct contact with the chair, such as the neck, back, etc. It is configured to massage the waist, buttocks, arms, legs, and feet with a mechanical massage module and/or an inflatable air cell module.

As a prior art of a massage chair, in Domestic Registered Patent No. 10-1487978, an air cell having a protrusion in the form of a resin needle is installed at the front end of the arm massage part of the massage chair, and the cylindrical or spherical vibration, rotation, or expansion of the air cell is provided. A massage chair is disclosed that provides a hand acupressure function that allows acupressure of the fingers and palm through exercise, etc.

In addition, Domestic Public Utility Model No. 20-2021-0000041 relates to a hand massager including a protective cover provided with an opening for inserting a hand at one end and an air supply device, and the protective cover is located on both sides of each finger position. It includes a finger portion where a third airbag is installed, a palm portion where second airbags are installed on both sides, and a wrist portion where a first airbag is installed on both sides, and the first airbag, second airbag, and third airbag are each airbag. A hand massager is disclosed that is in communication with a supply device and can massage fingers, palms, and wrists.

However, hand massage modules, including the conventional hand massagers described above, only perform the function of acupressure and massage the entire finger by simply inflating and contracting the airbags surrounding the fingers and palm, so the massage function is simple, limiting the improvement of the massage effect. There is.

Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1487978 Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1444768 Republic of Korea Public Utility Model No. 20-2021-0000041

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a hand massage module that can provide intensive acupressure force to the fingers and perform various massage functions.

In particular, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a hand massage module that can perform various massage functions on the user's hands and fingers by applying it to the arm massage part of a massage device.

The hand massage module of the massage device according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes a base member on which the user's hand is placed and supported; A plurality of finger air cells are formed in the form of a tube with open front and rear ends so that the user's fingers can be individually inserted and accommodated, and are arranged in the front and rear directions on the base member to individually apply pressure and massage the front and rear parts of each finger. A plurality of finger air cell units including; And, it may include a supply/exhaust control unit that connects the plurality of finger air cells of the finger air cell unit to an air supply device and sequentially supplies air to the plurality of finger air cells so that the plurality of finger air cells sequentially expand.

The hand massage module according to the present invention includes a plurality of finger acupressure projections that are installed on the base member to correspond to the finger air cells of the finger air cell unit and apply pressure to the lower part of the finger when the finger air cell expands and presses the finger downward; It may further include.

According to another form of the present invention, a support pad made of a soft material may be installed on the upper surface of the base member, and the finger air cell unit and finger acupressure projections may be installed on the support pad.

According to another form of the present invention, the air supply and exhaust control unit includes a first supply and exhaust pipe and a second supply and exhaust pipe that individually connect the plurality of finger air cells to the air supply device, and a plurality of finger air cells that connect the plurality of finger air cells to each other. It may include a connection pipe, and an opening/closing control valve that controls the flow of air through the connection pipe.

The air supply and exhaust control unit may further include a first solenoid valve connected between the air supply device and the first supply and exhaust pipe, and a second solenoid valve connected between the air supply device and the second supply and exhaust pipe.

The opening/closing control valve may be a check valve that opens when the pressure of air flowing through the connection pipe exceeds a certain pressure.

The opening/closing control valve may be a solenoid valve that opens and closes the connection pipe by a control signal transmitted from the control unit of the massage device.

The finger air cell may be formed in the form of an inverted 'U'-shaped tube in which the front and rear ends are open and both lower ends are fixed to the base member.

According to the present invention, the fingers can be intensively massaged by individually applying pressure to each finger while the arm is placed on the arm massage part of the massage device.

In particular, the finger air cell unit that individually massages each finger is divided into multiple finger air cells, so individual fingers can be partially massaged, such as massaging the finger joints intensively or sequentially massaging the front and back of the fingers. It can provide various massage effects.

In addition, the finger air cells are in the shape of an inverted 'U', so that the massage is performed by pressing the upper and both sides of the finger, excluding the lower part of the finger, against the upper surface of the base member, rather than pressing the entire finger.

Therefore, the massage is performed by pressing the fingers against a relatively hard base member, so the acupressure force can be increased, and the fingers can be stimulated by constructing finger acupressure protrusions such as magnets on the base member where the fingers are acupressure, making finger massage more effective. can be performed.

1 is a diagram for explaining a massage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining a main frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing a massage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing an external device capable of communicating with a massage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a hand massage module installed in a massage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a hand massage module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of all air cells constituting the hand massage module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a finger air cell unit constituting a hand massage module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a finger air cell unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration for controlling a finger air cell unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 11a and 11b are diagrams showing examples of forward operation of the finger air cell unit of the hand massage module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 12a and 12b are diagrams showing an example of reverse operation of the finger air cell unit of the hand massage module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a hand massage module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the disclosed embodiments and methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. The present embodiments are merely provided to ensure that the present invention is complete and to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is only provided to fully inform the user of the scope of the invention.

Terms used in this specification will be briefly described, and the disclosed embodiments will be described in detail.

The terms used in this specification are general terms that are currently widely used as much as possible while considering the function in the present invention, but this may vary depending on the intention or precedent of a technician working in the related field, the emergence of new technology, etc. In addition, in certain cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meaning will be described in detail in the description of the relevant invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meaning of the term and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply the name of the term.

In this specification, singular expressions include plural expressions, unless the context clearly specifies the singular. Additionally, plural expressions include singular expressions, unless the context clearly specifies plural expressions.

When it is said that a part "includes" a certain element throughout the specification, this means that, unless specifically stated to the contrary, it does not exclude other elements but may further include other elements.

Additionally, the term “unit” used in the specification refers to a software or hardware component, and the “unit” performs certain roles. However, “wealth” is not limited to software or hardware. The “copy” may be configured to reside on an addressable storage medium and may be configured to run on one or more processors.

Thus, as an example, “part” refers to software components, such as object-oriented software components, class components, and task components, processes, functions, properties, procedures, Includes subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The functionality provided within the components and “parts” may be combined into smaller numbers of components and “parts” or may be further separated into additional components and “parts”.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, “unit” may be implemented with a processor and memory. The term “processor” should be interpreted broadly to include general purpose processors, central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), controllers, microcontrollers, state machines, etc. In some contexts, “processor” may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logic device (PLD), field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The term “processor” refers to a combination of processing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a combination of a plurality of microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors in combination with a DSP core, or any other such combination of configurations. It may also refer to

The term “memory” should be interpreted broadly to include any electronic component capable of storing electronic information. The terms memory include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable-programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrical may refer to various types of processor-readable media, such as erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage, registers, etc. A memory is said to be in electronic communication with a processor if the processor can read information from and/or write information to the memory. The memory integrated into the processor is in electronic communication with the processor.

In this specification, an actuator refers to a configuration that can provide driving force. For example, actuators may include motors, linear motors, electronic motors, DC motors, AC motors, linear actuators, electric actuators, etc., but are not limited thereto.

In this specification, according to one embodiment, a massage device may refer to a massage device including a body massage unit and a leg massage unit. Additionally, according to another embodiment, the body massage unit and the leg massage unit may exist as separate devices (for example, a body massage device and a leg massage device), and the massage device refers to a body massage device or a leg massage device. can do.

Below, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. In order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts unrelated to the description are omitted.

1 to 4 are diagrams illustrating a chair-type massage device as a massage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the massage device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention forms an area for receiving at least a portion of the user's body, and includes a body massage unit 10 that massages the user's body. , and may include a leg massage unit 20 that massages the user's legs.

The body massage unit 10 may provide massage to at least a portion of the user's body. The body massage unit 10 includes a massage module 100 for providing a massage function to at least a part of the user's body, an audio output module 12 for providing an arbitrary form of audio output to the user, and a body massage unit 10. It may include a main frame 40 (see FIG. 2) constituting the framework of and an input unit (not shown) for receiving any type of input from the user.

The configurations included in the body massage unit 10 described above are merely exemplary embodiments, and the body massage unit 10 may include various configurations in addition to the configurations described above.

In addition, the shape and structure of the massage device 1 shown in FIG. 1 are merely exemplary, and as long as they do not deviate from the scope defined by the claims of the present invention, various types of massage device 1 may also be used according to the present invention. It may be included within the scope of the content.

The body massage unit 10 can form a space of any shape to accommodate the user. The body massage unit 10 may be provided with a space shaped to correspond to the shape of the user's body. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the body massage unit 10 may be implemented as a seated type that can accommodate the user's entire body or part of the body.

The part of the body massage unit 10 that is in contact with the ground may include any material for increasing friction or any member for increasing friction (for example, an anti-slip pad, etc.), and the massage device 1 It may include wheels to enhance its mobility.

At least a portion of the body massage unit 10 can slide. For example, when the body massage unit 10 starts a massage, at least a portion of the body massage unit 10 may slide forward. Additionally, the body massage unit 10 may be tilted backward. As a result, the body massage unit 10 can provide massage while tilted backward.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the massage device 1 may include at least one air cell (not shown). The air cell may be located in the user's shoulder area, pelvic area, arm massage unit, leg massage unit 20, etc., but is not limited thereto and may be placed in various parts of the massage device 1.

The massage device 1 may include an air supply unit, and the air supply unit may inflate the air cell by supplying air to the air cell. The air supply unit may be located inside the body massage unit 10 and may be located in the leg massage unit 20. Additionally, the air supply unit may be located outside the massage device 1.

The body massage unit 10 has a chair shape that allows the user to receive a massage while sitting on the seat. In the arm massage units 11 on both sides of the body massage unit 10, armrest grooves 11a are formed in the shape of a 'ㄷ' shaped groove so that the user can comfortably rest their arms and receive a massage while sitting. Airbags (not shown) may be installed on the upper and lower sides of the armrest groove 11a to massage the user's arms by applying downward and/or upward pressure. Additionally, a hand massage module 200 is installed in the front portion of the armrest groove 11a to massage the user's hands by applying pressure. The specific configuration and operation of the hand massage module 200 will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 12.

The leg massage unit 20 can provide a leg massage function to the user. For example, the leg massage unit 20 may include a calf massage module that massages the user's calf and/or a foot massage module that massages the user's feet.

The length of the leg massage unit 20 may be adjustable depending on the user's body characteristics. For example, when a tall user uses the massage device 1, the length of the leg massage unit 20 needs to be increased due to the length of the calf.

Additionally, when a short user uses the massage device 1, the leg massage unit 20 needs to be shortened due to the short length of the calf. Accordingly, the leg massage unit 20 can provide a leg massage customized to the user's height.

The massage module 100 (see FIG. 2) may be provided inside the body massage unit 10 to provide any type of mechanical stimulation to the user accommodated in the body massage unit 10. The massage module 100 can move along the main frame 40 (see FIG. 2) provided inside the body massage unit 10.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the main frame 40 of the body massage unit 10 may be provided with a rack gear, and the massage module 100 moves along the rack gear, Mechanical stimulation can be provided to various parts of the user's body. The massage module 100 may include, but is not limited to, a ball massage unit or a roller massage unit.

The main frame 40 constitutes the framework of the internal structure of the body massage unit 10 and may be made of metal or plastic. For example, the main frame 40 may be made of iron, alloy, steel, etc., but is not limited to this and may be made of various hard materials.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the massage device 1 may include an audio output module 12. The audio output module 12 may be installed in various locations. For example, the audio output module 12 includes a top audio output unit disposed at the top of the seat in contact with the user, a front audio output unit attached to the front end of the arm massage unit 11 on the left and right sides of the seat, and/or an arm massage unit. (11) It may include a plurality of output units, such as a rear audio output unit attached to the rear, but is not limited to this. In this case, the audio output module 12 can provide three-dimensional sound such as 5.1 channel, but is not limited to this.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a user can control the massage device 1 using the massage device control device 30. The massage device control device 30 may be connected to the massage device 1 through wired communication and/or wireless communication.

The massage device control device 30 may include, but is not limited to, a remote controller, a cellular phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), etc., and may be controlled through wired or wireless communication with the massage device 1. It may include a variety of connectable electronic devices.

Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining a main frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the main frame 40 may include an upper frame 41 on which the massage module 100 is provided and a base frame 45 supporting the upper frame 41.

At least a portion of the upper frame 41 may be provided with a rack gear 42. The rack gear 42 is a member that allows the massage module 100 to move up and down. The rack gear 42 may be provided in a form facing both sides of the upper frame 41. The rack gear 42 has a plurality of gear teeth engaged with the pinion gears 112 for module movement installed on both sides of the massage module 100, which are continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction of the upper frame 41 to enable the massage module 100 to move. Provides driving force that can The massage module 100 can move along the rack gear 42.

In FIG. 2, the rack gear 42 is formed in an upward and downward direction, but is not limited thereto. The rack gear 42 may include a rack gear in the front-rear direction or a rack gear in the vertical direction. In the present invention, the front-back direction refers to a direction from the massage module 100 to the user or from the user to the massage module 100, and may also be referred to as the Z-axis direction. Additionally, in the present invention, upward and downward may mean upward and downward guided by the rack gear 42. That is, the upper and lower sides may not be perpendicular to the ground.

The massage module 100 may include a pinion gear 112 for moving the module engaged with the rack gear 42. More specifically, the body massage module 100 may include gears meshed with a rack gear in the front-rear direction and a rack gear in the vertical direction, respectively. As the pinion gear 112 for module movement rotates by the actuator provided on the module base 110 of the massage module 100, the massage module 100 moves forward, backward, upward or downward along the rack gear 42. You can.

As the massage module 100 moves forward, the intensity of the massage may increase. Additionally, as the massage module 100 moves rearward, the intensity of the massage may become weaker.

The rack gear 42 may be made of metal or plastic. For example, the rack gear 42 may be made of iron, steel, alloy, reinforced plastic, melamine resin, phenolic resin, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The upper frame 41 may be implemented in various shapes. For example, the upper frame 41 may be classified into S frame, L frame, S&L frame, and double S&L frame depending on its shape, but is not limited thereto.

The S frame refers to a frame in which at least a portion of the upper frame 41 has a curved shape like an “S.” The L frame refers to a frame in which at least part of the upper frame 41 includes a curved shape like an “L,” and the S&L frame refers to a frame that includes both a curved shape like an “S” and a curved shape like an “L.” The double S&L frame refers to a frame that includes a curved shape like an “L” and a curved shape like a two-part “S.”

The base frame 45 refers to the part of the main frame 40 that supports the upper frame 41 and is in contact with the ground.

The base frame 45 may include a base upper frame 46 and a base lower frame 47. The base upper frame 46 may support the upper frame 41, and the base lower frame 47 may be in contact with the ground. Additionally, the base upper frame 46 may be positioned in contact with the base lower frame 47.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the base upper frame 46 can move along the base lower frame 47. For example, the base upper frame 46 may slide forward or backward along the base lower frame 47. In this case, the upper frame 41 is connected to the base upper frame 46 and can move according to the movement of the base upper frame 46.

For example, when the base upper frame 46 moves forward, the upper frame 41 may also move forward, and when the base upper frame 46 moves rearward, the upper frame 41 may also move backward. You can move. Because of this, sliding movement of the body massage unit 10 may be permitted.

Specifically, to allow movement of the base upper frame 46, a moving wheel may be provided at the lower part of the base upper frame 46. Additionally, a guide member capable of guiding the moving wheel may be provided on the upper part of the base lower frame 47. The moving wheel provided on the base upper frame 46 moves along the guide member provided on the base lower frame 47, thereby allowing the base upper frame 46 to move forward or backward.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the massage device 1 may not provide a sliding function, in which case the base frame 45 may not be separated into an upper and lower frame.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing a configuration for controlling a massage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The massage device 1 may include at least one of a control unit 50, a sensor unit 51, a communication unit 52, a memory 53, an audio output unit 54, and an input unit 55. The control unit 50 may include at least one processor and memory. At least one processor may execute instructions stored in memory.

The control unit 50 can control the massage device 1. The control unit 50 may include one processor or may include a plurality of processors. When the control unit 50 includes a plurality of processors, at least some of the plurality of processors may be located physically spaced apart from each other. Additionally, the massage device 1 is not limited to this and may be implemented in various ways.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 50 can control the operation of the massage device 1. For example, the massage device 1 may include a plurality of actuators, and the massage device 1 may control the operation of the massage device 1 by controlling the operation of the plurality of actuators.

For example, the massage device 1 includes a driving unit that moves the armrest frame support, at least one actuator included in the massage module 100, a back angle actuator, a leg angle actuator, a foot massage actuator, a leg length adjustment actuator, and a sliding actuator. It may include at least one of:

The back angle actuator is an actuator that adjusts the angle of the part of the massage device 1 that touches the user's back. The back angle of the massage device 1 can be adjusted by the operation of the back angle actuator. The leg angle actuator is an actuator that adjusts the angle of the leg massage unit 20 of the massage device 1. The angle between the leg massage unit 20 and the body massage unit 10 can be adjusted by the operation of the leg angle actuator. there is. The foot massage actuator refers to an actuator that operates the foot massage module included in the leg massage unit 20. Using a foot massage actuator, the massage device 1 can provide a foot massage to the user. The leg length adjustment actuator refers to an actuator that adjusts the length of the leg massage unit 20. For example, the control unit 50 can use a leg length adjustment actuator to adjust the length of the leg massage unit 20 to suit the user, and as a result, the user can receive a massage tailored to his or her body type.

At least one actuator included in the massage module 100 may be various actuators such as a movement actuator, a forward/backward actuator, and a massage actuator.

The movement actuator is an actuator that allows the massage module 100 to move up and down, and moves the massage module 100 along the main frame 40 in at least one direction among the upper and lower directions of the massage device 1. You can. The massage module 100 may move along the rack gear 42 by the operation of the massage module 100 movement actuator. The forward/backward actuator may advance/retract (or tilt) the sample member 150 in at least one of the front and rear directions of the massage module 100. In other words, the massage module 100 rotates the unit bracket 130 on which the sample member 150 is installed forward or backward through a forward/backward actuator, thereby tilting the sample member 150 in at least one of the forward and backward directions. You can do it. The massage actuator can provide various massage actions to the user by moving the sample member 150 of the massage module 100 in various ways.

The control unit 50 can control the operation of the massage device 1 by controlling the detailed configuration of the massage device 1.

The control unit 50 can provide various massage operations by operating at least one actuator included in the massage device 1. For example, the control unit 50 may provide a tapping massage, a kneading massage, etc. by the sample member 150 by operating at least one actuator included in the massage module 100, but is not limited to this and various massage operations. can be provided.

The memory 53 may be included in the control unit 50 or may be external to the control unit 50 . The memory 53 can store various information related to the massage device 1. For example, the memory 53 may include massage control information and may include information about the user, but is not limited thereto. Information about the user may be various information related to the user, such as personal authentication information and the user's biometric information (eg, age, height, weight, blood pressure, body composition, heart rate, electrocardiogram, etc.).

The memory 53 may be implemented through a non-volatile storage medium capable of persistently storing arbitrary data. For example, memory 53 may include, but is not limited to, disks, optical disks, and magneto-optical storage devices, as well as storage devices based on flash memory and/or battery-backed memory. No.

The memory 53 is a main storage device directly accessed by the processor, such as random access memory (RAM) such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and static random access memory (SRAM), and the stored data is stored when the power is turned off. It may refer to a volatile storage device in which information is instantaneously erased, but is not limited to these. This memory 53 can be operated by the control unit 50.

The massage device 1 may include a sensor unit 51. The sensor unit 51 can acquire various information using at least one sensor. The sensor unit 51 may be provided as a sensor that uses measuring means such as pressure, potential, and optics. For example, sensors may include, but are not limited to, pressure sensors, infrared sensors, LED sensors, touch sensors, electrode sensors, air pressure measurement sensors, etc.

Additionally, the sensor unit 51 may include a biometric information acquisition sensor. The biometric information acquisition sensor can acquire at least one of fingerprint information, face information, voice information, iris information, weight information, blood pressure information, heart rate (or heart rate) information, electrocardiogram information, and body composition information. It is not limited and may include various biometric information. For example, the massage device 1 may provide customized massage based on information obtained through sensors.

The massage device 1 may detect the contact area and/or contact position with the user through sensors. Additionally, the massage device 1 can provide customized massage based on information acquired through sensors.

The communication unit 52 may receive a signal transmitted from an external device or transmit a signal about the massage device 1 to an external device.

For example, the control unit 50 may process a signal received through the communication unit 52, obtain a result signal, and transmit the result signal to the communication unit 52. The communication unit 52 may transmit (or output) the resulting signal to an external device.

The control unit 50 acquires information about various components included in the massage device 1 (e.g., information about the massage module 100, information about the arm massage unit, etc.) and transmits it to the communication unit 52. You can. The communication unit 52 may transmit information about the massage device 1 to an external device.

The communication unit 52 may communicate with a module inside the massage device 1, an external massage device, and/or a user terminal through any type of network. The communication unit may include a wired/wireless connection module for network connection. As wireless access technology, for example, Wireless LAN (WLAN) (Wi-Fi), Wireless Broadband (Wibro), World Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), etc. may be used. As a wired connection technology, for example, XDSL (Digital Subscriber Line), FTTH (Fibers to the home), PLC (Power Line Communication), etc. may be used. Additionally, the network connection unit includes a short-distance communication module and can transmit and receive data with any device/terminal located in a short distance. For example, short range communication technologies include Bluetooth, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), IrDA (infrared Data Association), UWB (Ultra-Wideband), and ZigBee. It is not limited to this.

The massage device 1 may further include an input unit 55 and/or an output unit. The massage device 1 can receive input from the user using the input unit 55. The massage device 1 may output the processing results of the control unit 50 to the output unit.

Specifically, the input unit 55 can receive commands related to controlling the operation of the massage device 1 from the user, and the input unit 55 can be implemented in various forms. For example, the input unit 55 may be provided in the body massage unit 10 or the leg massage unit 20, but is not limited thereto. Additionally, the input unit 55 may include the control device 30 or various external devices that will be described with reference to FIG. 4 .

The massage device 1 can obtain various commands from the user through the input unit 55. For example, the massage device 1 includes selection of a massage module, selection of a massage type, selection of massage intensity, selection of massage time, selection of a massage area, selection of the position and operation of the body massage unit 10, and massage. Arbitrary commands may be received for selection of power on/off of the device 1, selection of whether to operate the heating function, selection related to sound source playback, etc., but are not limited thereto.

The massage device 1 may provide an interface for selecting a massage mode. For example, the input 55 or output may include a control device 30 (see Figure 1). A list of various modes of medical massage related to physical improvement may be listed through the control device 30.

The medical massage mode may include at least one of concentration mode, meditation mode, recovery mode, stretching mode, sleep mode, vitality mode, golf mode, hip-up mode, test taker mode, zero gravity mode, and growth mode.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the input unit 55 uses buttons in the form of hot keys and/or performs direction selection, cancellation, and input according to a preset user setting function or a self-preset function. A selection button, etc. may be provided.

The input unit 55 may be implemented as a touch screen, key pad, dome switch, touch pad (static pressure/electrostatic), jog wheel, jog switch, etc., but is not limited thereto. Additionally, the input unit 55 can obtain commands through the user's speech based on voice recognition technology.

The output unit may include a display for displaying the operation status of the massage device 1 or the current status of the user. In this case, the display may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or a flexible display. ), and may include at least one of a 3D display, but is not limited thereto.

The output unit may include an audio output unit 54. The audio output unit 54 of FIG. 3 may include the audio output module 12 of FIG. 1 . The audio output unit 54 can provide any type of audio output to the user. For example, the audio output unit 54 may provide brain stimulation to the user by outputting sound sources and/or binaural beats optimized for the massage pattern provided by the massage device 1 to the user. The audio output unit 54 may output sound signals received through a network (not shown) or stored in an internal/external storage medium (not shown). For example, the audio output unit 54 may output a sound source according to the control of the user terminal through a network connection (eg, Bluetooth connection, etc.) with the user terminal. Additionally, the audio output unit 54 may output any type of sound signal generated in relation to the operation of the massage device 1.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software. For example, the invention may be implemented by computer-readable media.

Computer-readable media can be any medium that can be accessed by a computer, and such computer-readable media includes volatile and non-volatile media, transitory and non-transitory media, removable and non-transitory media. Includes removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may include computer-readable storage media and computer-readable transmission media.

Computer-readable storage media refers to volatile and non-volatile media, transient and non-transitory media, removable and non-removable, implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Includes media. Computer readable storage media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital video disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage. This includes, but is not limited to, a device, or any other medium that can be accessed by a computer and used to store desired information.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an external device capable of communicating with the massage device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The massage device 1 can communicate with an external device wired or wirelessly to transmit and receive various data.

External devices may include portable electronic devices 61 such as AI speakers, tablets, or smartphones. The portable electronic device 61 may be dedicated to the massage device 1 or may be a general-purpose portable electronic device. Additionally, the external device may include a wearable device 62 such as a smart watch or smart band. The external device may include a massage device 63 other than the massage device 1 that the user is currently using. The external device may include a hospital server 64. The external device may include a personal health record (PHR) server. Additionally, the external device may include a cloud server 65. The external device may include a medical measurement device such as an electronic scale, blood glucose monitor, or blood pressure monitor.

Although the present invention describes some examples of external devices, it should be understood that any electronic device capable of obtaining a user's biometric information can be included in the external device.

5 to 10 show one embodiment of the hand massage module 200.

The hand massage module 200 is installed inside the armrest groove 11a formed in the arm massage part 1 of the massage device and is configured to intensively massage the hand while the user's arm is seated in the armrest groove 11a. will be.

The hand massage module 200 is installed inside the base member 210 and the cover member 220, the base member 210 and the cover member 220, which form a space in which the user's hands are accommodated, and is installed on the back and palm of the user's hand, It includes a back of the hand air cell 230, a palm air cell 240, and a finger air cell unit 250 that massage individual fingers.

The base member 210 is a flat support structure on which the user's palm rests and is supported, and may be installed on the lower surface of the armrest groove 11a of the massage device 1. The base member 210 may be coupled to the support structure provided in the armrest groove 11a of the massage device using a fastening member such as a screw. For this purpose, screw fastening bosses 212 for screw fastening may be formed at the four corners of the base member 210.

The cover member 220 is installed on the upper side of the base member 210 and forms a space in which the user's hand is accommodated together with the base member 210. The cover member 220 functions to provide support when the back of the hand air cell 230 and the finger air cell unit 250 expand, and may be made of plastic or metal like the base member 210, but may be different. It may be made of flexible materials such as leather or fabric. In addition, the cover member 220 may be manufactured integrally with the base member 210, but differently, it is manufactured separately from the base member 210 and then attached to the base member 210 using known coupling means such as screws or adhesives. can be combined

On one side of the cover member 220, a thumb insertion portion 223 may extend obliquely forward on one side so that the thumb of the user's fingers can be inserted.

The air cell 230 on the back of the hand is installed on the rear lower surface of the cover member 220, and is connected to an external air supply device 280, such as an air pump installed in the massage device 1, to receive air and expand to allow the user to use the air cell 230. It acts to press the back of the hand downward. The air cell 230 on the back of the hand may be configured as a single unit, but may also be configured to be divided into multiple units. On the lower surface of the back of the hand air cell 230, an acupressure projection (not shown) that applies pressure to the back of the user's hand may be formed to protrude downward.

The palm air cell 240 is installed on the rear upper surface of the base member 210 to face the back of the hand air cell 230, and expands with air supplied from the air supply device 280 to press the user's palm upward. Massage. Palm acupressure protrusions (not shown) that apply acupressure pressure to the user's palm may also be formed on the upper surface of the palm air cell 240 to protrude upward.

The finger air cell unit 250 is for individually concentrated acupressure pressure on the user's fingers. Five fingers are arranged at lateral intervals on the front upper surface of the base member 210 to correspond to the five fingers of one hand of the person. In addition, it is installed inside the thumb insertion portion 223 of the cover member 220. Each finger air cell unit 250 has a plurality of finger air cells 251 formed in the form of an inverted 'U'-shaped tube whose lower ends on both sides are fixed to the upper surface of the front part of the base member 210 and the lower surface of the thumb insertion part 223. , 252), a plurality of finger air cells 251 and 252 constituting the finger air cell unit 250 can partially and sequentially apply pressure to individual fingers.

A plurality of finger air cells (251, 252) constituting each finger air cell unit (250) are connected to the external air supply device (280) through the supply and exhaust control unit and are supplied by air supplied from the air supply device (280). They expand sequentially to partially massage the user's individual fingers. At this time, the finger air cells 251 and 252 of the finger air cell unit 250 are in the shape of an inverted 'U'-shaped tube and do not surround the entire finger, but only the upper and both sides of the finger. When inflated by air, the lower part of the finger Massage is performed by pressing the upper part and both sides of the fingers, except for, against the upper surface of the base member 210.

The finger air cell unit 250 may be installed directly on the base member 210, but may be installed on the support pad 211 installed on the upper surface of the base member 210 as in this embodiment. The support pad 211 is a component on which the lower part of the user's finger is placed and supported. It is made of soft and flexible resin or fabric to provide a soft touch to the user's finger, or is made of the same material as the finger air cell unit 250. You can. When the cover member 220 has an open lower surface, the support pad 211 can be installed on the base member 210, but the cover member 220 is an approximately rectangular enclosure with both upper and lower surfaces closed. When having a shape, the support pad 211 may be installed on the lower surface of the cover member 220.

The finger air cell unit 250, into which each finger is individually inserted, is divided into a plurality of parts in the forward and backward directions. For example, as in this embodiment, it can be divided into two parts, the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252, based on the finger joints, so that the finger joints can be pressed. The first finger air cell 251 may be placed on the front side of the finger, and the second finger air cell 252 may be placed on the back side of the finger, or vice versa. In order to sequentially supply air to each of the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252, the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252 can be sequentially expanded. An air supply and exhaust control unit connected to the air supply device 280 is installed between the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252.

The air supply and exhaust control unit includes a first air supply and exhaust pipe 273 and a second air supply and exhaust pipe 274 that connect the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252 to the air supply device 280, respectively, and the first air supply and exhaust pipe 274. It includes a connection pipe 275 connecting the finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252, and an opening/closing control valve 276 that controls the flow of air through the connection pipe 275.

In addition, the air supply and exhaust control unit is connected between the first solenoid valve 271 connected between the air supply device 280 and the first air supply and exhaust pipe 273, and the air supply device 280 and the second air supply and exhaust pipe 274. It may further include a second solenoid valve 272. The first solenoid valve 271 and the second solenoid valve 272 operate by an electric signal applied from the control unit 50 of the massage device 1, and direct the air supplied from the air supply device 280 to the first solenoid valve 272, respectively. It is supplied to the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252 through the supply and exhaust pipe 273 and the second finger air cell 252, or from the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252. It can be configured by applying a known directional control solenoid valve that discharges the discharged air to the outside. The first solenoid valve 271 and the second solenoid valve 272 are in a neutral position in which both the air supply side flow path communicating with the air supply device 280 and the exhaust side flow path communicating with the outside are closed and a control signal is applied. When the plunger moves to one side, the air supply flow path and the first supply and exhaust pipe 273 or the second supply and exhaust pipe 274 are communicated with each other, and when the control signal is applied and the plunger moves to one side, the exhaust side flow path and the first supply and exhaust pipe (274) are connected to each other. 273) or the second supply and exhaust pipe 274 may be controlled to communicate with each other.

The connector 275 has a first port 277 at both ends connecting the first air supply and exhaust pipe 273 and the first finger air cell 251, and a second air supply and exhaust pipe 274 and the second finger air cell 252. They are each connected to the second port 278, connecting the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252 to each other.

The opening/closing control valve 276 may be a check valve that opens when the pressure of the air flowing through the connection pipe 275 exceeds a certain pressure. For example, after air is supplied to the first finger air cell 251 through the first supply and exhaust pipe 273 and the first finger air cell 251 expands, the pressure of the air delivered through the connection pipe 275 is constant. When the pressure exceeds the pressure, the opening/closing control valve 276 automatically opens and a check valve can be applied to allow air to be supplied into the second finger air cell 252. The check valve may be a known check valve that opens and closes the flow path while the valve body is elastically supported by a spring having a predetermined elastic force.

To improve the massage effect when the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252 of the finger air cell unit 250 massage individual fingers by pressing them against the support pad 211 on the base member 210. To this end, a finger acupressure protrusion 260 is formed to protrude upward on the upper surface of the base member 210 at a position corresponding to the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252.

The finger acupressure protrusion 260 can further increase the finger massage effect by applying stimulation to the bottom of the finger when the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252 expand and the finger is pressed downward. Do it. Since these finger acupressure protrusions 260 are not provided in the air cell that expands with air, but are installed on the base member 210 that supports the finger, they can more effectively stimulate the bottom of the finger.

The finger acupressure protrusions 260 may be made of magnets or minerals such as germanium or jade, but may also be made of various other materials.

A control method for massaging the user's fingers using a hand massage module configured as described above will be described as follows.

When it is desired to inflate the first finger air cell 251 of the finger air cell unit 250 first and the second finger air cell 252 later, the control unit 50 (see FIG. 3) as shown in FIG. 11A. Apply a signal to the first solenoid valve 271 to open the passage, and operate the air supply device 280 to supply air.

The air supplied from the air supply device 280 is supplied to the first finger air cell 251 through the first solenoid valve 271 and the first supply and exhaust pipe 273 to expand the first finger air cell 251. At this time, the second solenoid valve 272 remains closed and air is not supplied to the second finger air cell 252.

When the first finger air cell 251 is fully expanded and the pressure transmitted to the opening and closing control valve 276 through the connection pipe 275 exceeds a certain pressure, the opening and closing control valve 276 is automatically opened and the air supply device ( The air supplied from 280 is supplied to the second finger air cell 252 through the connection pipe 275 and the opening/closing control valve 276, causing the second finger air cell 252 to expand.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11b, a signal is applied to the first solenoid valve 271 and the second solenoid valve 272 simultaneously or sequentially with a time difference, and the flow path is changed to change the flow path to the first solenoid valve 271 and the second solenoid valve 272. The second solenoid valve 272 opens the exhaust side flow path and closes the air supply side flow path communicating with the air supply device 280.

Accordingly, the air of the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252 is supplied to the first supply and exhaust pipe 273 and the first solenoid valve 271, the second supply and exhaust pipe 274 and the second solenoid valve ( It is discharged to the outside through 272), and the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252 are contracted simultaneously or sequentially.

The first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252 of the plurality of finger air cell units 250 configured in the hand massage module are connected to the air supply device 280 and the first solenoid valve 271 and the second It may be simultaneously connected to the solenoid valve 272 and expanded sequentially at the same time, but the first solenoid valve 271 is individually connected to the first finger air cell 251 and the second finger air cell 252 of each finger air cell unit 250. ) and the second solenoid valve 272 to independently control the operation of the plurality of finger air cell units 250 by controlling the operation of each first solenoid valve 271 and the second solenoid valve 272. It might be possible.

Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, the first finger air cell 251 of the finger air cell unit 250 was expanded first and the second finger air cell 252 was expanded later, but the air flow was controlled in the reverse direction to expand the second finger air cell 252. ) may be inflated first and the first finger air cell 251 may be inflated later.

That is, as shown in FIG. 12A, when a signal is first applied to the second solenoid valve 272 to open the passage, and the air supply device 280 is operated to supply air, the second solenoid valve 272 and the first solenoid valve 272 are supplied with air. It is supplied to the second finger air cell 252 through the secondary exhaust pipe 274, causing the second finger air cell 252 to expand. At this time, the opening/closing control valve 276 is a check valve that only allows air flow from the first finger air cell 251 to the second finger air cell 252, so even if the second finger air cell 252 is fully expanded, the opening/closing control valve 276 remains closed rather than open.

When the second finger air cell 252 is fully expanded, or even if the second finger air cell 252 is not completely expanded, after a certain period of time has elapsed, the first solenoid valve 271 opens and air flows into the first finger air cell 251. This supply causes the first finger air cell 251 to expand.

After the second finger air cell 252 and the first finger air cell 251 are sequentially expanded, the first solenoid valve 271 and the second solenoid valve 272 are inflated simultaneously or sequentially with a time difference in the same manner as described above. As the signal is applied, the flow path is changed so that the first solenoid valve 271 and the second solenoid valve 272 open the exhaust side flow path and close the flow path communicating with the air supply device 280, thereby creating the second finger air cell ( 252) and the first finger air cell 251 are discharged to the outside through the exhaust side passage of the second solenoid valve 272 and the first solenoid valve 271 to the second finger air cell 252 and the first finger air cell. (251) is contracted (see Figure 12b).

In this way, when a check valve is used as the opening/closing control valve 276, the first solenoid valve 271 and the second solenoid valve 272 are operated with a time difference in the reverse direction, that is, the second finger air cell 252 is operated. It can be expanded first and the first finger air cell 251 can be expanded later.

In the above-described embodiment, the opening/closing control valve 276 uses a check valve, but differently, it uses a solenoid valve that opens and closes the flow path by a control signal transmitted from the control unit 50 (see FIG. 3) of the massage device 1. It can also be applied as an opening/closing control valve 276 to open and close the connection pipe 275. When applying a solenoid valve as the opening/closing control valve (276), the air supply direction of the air supply device (280) is the first supply/exhaust pipe (273) → first finger air cell (251) → connector (275) and the opening/closing control valve ( 276) → Control the flow path to become the second finger air cell 252 to expand the first finger air cell 251 first and then expand the second finger air cell 252, or in the air supply direction of the air supply device (not shown) By switching to the opposite direction, the flow path is controlled to become the second supply and exhaust pipe (274) → second finger air cell (252) → connector (275) and opening/closing control valve (276) → first finger air cell (251). It may be possible to expand 252 first and then expand the first finger air cell 251.

Additionally, in the above-described embodiment, the finger air cells 251 and 252 corresponding to each finger are divided into two parts, but differently, they may be divided into three or more parts.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13, each finger air cell unit 250 is divided into three parts: a first finger air cell 251, a second finger air cell 252, and a third finger air cell 253. It can be. A first connector (275a) is connected between the first finger air cell (251) and the second finger air cell (252), and a first opening/closing control valve (276a) that opens and closes the flow path is installed in the first connector (275a). do. And a second connector (275b) is connected between the second finger air cell (252) and the third finger air cell (253), and a second opening/closing control valve (276b) that opens and closes the flow path is connected to the second connector (275b). It is installed. The first opening/closing control valve 276a and the second opening/closing control valve 276b can be configured by applying a check valve or a solenoid valve.

The first finger air cell 251 is connected to the air supply device 280 through the first supply and exhaust pipe 273, and the third finger air cell 253 is connected to the air supply device 280 through the second supply and exhaust pipe 274. It can be connected to circulate air.

The first opening/closing control valve 276a and the second opening/closing control valve 276b can be configured by applying a check valve or a solenoid valve.

As described above, the hand massage module of the present invention can massage not only the palm and the back of the hand but also each finger by individually applying pressure.

In particular, the finger air cell unit 250, which individually massages each finger, is divided into a plurality of finger air cells 251 to 252 or 251 to 253, so that individual fingers can be partially massaged, so the finger joints are intensively massaged. It can provide various massage effects, such as sequentially massaging the front and back of the fingers.

In addition, the finger air cells (251 to 252 or 251 to 253) of the finger air cell unit 250 are in an inverted 'U' shape, so that the upper and both sides of the finger excluding the lower part of the finger are pressed into the base member 210 without pressing the entire finger. Massage is performed by applying pressure to the upper surface of the. Therefore, the massage is performed by pressing the fingers against the relatively hard base member 210, thereby increasing the acupressure force. If finger acupressure protrusions 260, such as magnets, are formed on the base member 210 where the fingers are acupressure, the fingers can be pressed. By being able to stimulate, you can perform a more effective finger massage.

So far, we have looked at various embodiments. A person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered from an illustrative rather than a restrictive perspective. The scope of the present invention is indicated in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the equivalent scope should be construed as being included in the present invention.

1: Massage device 10: Body massage unit
11: armrest 12: audio output module
20: leg massage unit 30: control device
40: main frame 41: upper frame
42: rack gear 45: base frame
46: Base upper frame 47: Base lower frame
50: Control unit 51: Sensor unit
52: Communication unit 53: Memory
54: audio output unit 55: input unit
61: Portable electronic device 62: Wearable device
63: Other massage device 64: Hospital server
65: Cloud server 100: Massage module
110: module base 112: pinion gear
150: sample member 200: hand massage module
210: Base member 211: Support pad
212: screw fastening boss 220: cover member
223: Thumb insertion part 230: Air cell on the back of the hand
240: Palm air cell 250: Finger air cell unit
251: 1st finger air cell 252: 2nd finger air cell
253: Third finger air cell 260: Finger acupressure protrusion
271: 1st solenoid valve 272: 2nd solenoid valve
273: 1st class exhaust pipe 274: 2nd class exhaust pipe
275: connector 275a: first connector
275b: Second connector 276: Open/close control valve
276a: first opening/closing control valve 276b: second opening/closing control valve
277: 1st port 278: 2nd port
280: Air supply device

Claims (8)

A base member on which the user's hand is placed and supported;
A plurality of finger air cells are formed in the form of a tube with open front and rear ends so that the user's fingers can be individually inserted and accommodated, and are arranged in the front and rear directions on the base member to individually apply pressure and massage the front and rear parts of each finger. A plurality of finger air cell units including; and,
an air supply and exhaust control unit connecting a plurality of finger air cells of the finger air cell unit to an air supply device and sequentially supplying air to the plurality of finger air cells so that the plurality of finger air cells sequentially expand;
A hand massage module of a massage device comprising a. The method of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of finger acupressure protrusions installed on the base member to correspond to the finger air cells of the finger air cell unit, to apply pressure to the lower part of the finger when the finger air cell expands and presses the finger downward. A hand massage module of a massage device. The hand massage module of claim 2, wherein a support pad made of a soft material is installed on the upper surface of the base member, and the finger air cell unit and the finger acupressure projection are installed on the support pad. The method of claim 1, wherein the air supply and exhaust control unit includes a first supply and exhaust pipe and a second air supply and exhaust pipe that individually connect the plurality of finger air cells to the air supply device, and a connection pipe that connects the plurality of finger air cells to each other, and A hand massage module of a massage device including an open/close control valve that controls the flow of air through the connection pipe. The method of claim 4, wherein the air supply and exhaust control unit includes a first solenoid valve connected between the air supply device and the first supply and exhaust pipe, and a second solenoid valve connected between the air supply device and the second supply and exhaust pipe. A hand massage module of the massage device further comprising. The hand massage module of claim 4 or 5, wherein the opening/closing control valve is a check valve that opens when the pressure of air flowing through the connection pipe exceeds a certain pressure. The hand massage module of claim 4 or 5, wherein the opening/closing control valve is a solenoid valve that opens and closes the connection pipe by a control signal transmitted from the control unit of the massage device. The hand massage module of claim 1, wherein the finger air cell is formed in the shape of an inverted 'U'-shaped tube in which front and rear ends are open and both lower ends are fixed to the base member.

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