WO1996017744A1

WO1996017744A1 - Process for massaging on seats and a device for carrying out said process

Info

Publication number: WO1996017744A1
Application number: PCT/EP1995/004827
Authority: WO
Inventors: Knud Klinger
Original assignee: Ameu Management Corp.
Priority date: 1994-12-09
Filing date: 1995-12-07
Publication date: 1996-06-13
Also published as: DE4443928C1

Abstract

The invention concerns a process for massaging, in particular areas of the backs of persons seated for long periods, in particular on vehicle seats. According to the invention, the massage involves periodic or continuous backwards and forwards and/or up and down movement, in the vicinity of the person's seat and back surfaces, of massaging elements situated in the seat surface and/or in the seat back. The invention also concerns a device intended for carrying out this process and incorporated in a seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat. The device comprises a support element (1) for supporting the occupant's body surfaces which is mounted on the frame of the seat section and/or the frame of the back and can be arched by a motor drive. According to the invention, the support element (1) carries massaging elements (6) and, in addition to the arching motion, is mounted so as to be movable up and down or backwards and forwards, at least the additional movement being generated periodically or continuously by a motor drive circuit.

Description

Method for massage on seats and device for carrying out the method.

The invention relates to a method for massage, in particular the back parts, of long periods of time on seats, in particular motor vehicle seats, and persons seated, and a device for carrying out the method.

People who have to sit for long periods of time experience signs of fatigue and

Circulatory disorders that have an overall negative impact on well-being and concentration and work performance. This is undesirable in terms of traffic safety, especially for long car journeys. It is recommended to take breaks and perform gymnastic exercises more often, but this is not always possible, e.g. B. stop and go traffic, and finally it is not advisable to stop in the dark on highway parking lots.

Seats, in particular motor vehicle seats, are known which contain a vibration device. However, such vibration devices are not very effective and often transmit the vibrations to other parts of a motor vehicle, which often causes unpleasant side effects.

There are also known motor vehicle seats which have, in particular in the backrest, a support element which can be arched to different extents by means of a manual or motor drive in order to ensure optimum support for the back parts of the driver and / or the front passenger. This bulging element can also pass through The height of the hand or motor drive can be adjusted to ensure that it can be adapted to any person of any size.

It is also known to arrange a support element in the backrest of a motor vehicle seat above a bellows, which is periodically filled and emptied, so that a back and forth movement is transmitted to the back of a person resting on the backrest. However, this back and forth movement is not very effective in terms of promoting blood circulation.

The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device which make it possible to sustainably improve the activity of a person sitting on a seat in the sense of better circulation and the avoidance of signs of fatigue.

This object is achieved by a method with the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the method can be found in subclaims 2 to 4.

The object is also achieved by a device with the features of claim 5. Advantageous embodiments of the device can be found in subclaims 6 to 16.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. It shows:

1 shows a support element with massage elements;

2 shows a support element with angled axes for massage elements;

Fig. 3 shows a support element with side wings can be arranged at an angle with respect to Central part of the massage elements, offset in height;

Fig. 4 differently designed massage elements in cross section;

Fig. 5 differently designed massage elements in longitudinal section.

In the exemplary embodiments described below, the backrest of a motor vehicle seat is assumed, which has a support element 1 which can be arch-adjusted by means of a motor drive and at the same time can also be height-adjustable by means of a motor drive. Such backrests are known for example from DE 43 14 325 and are not described further here.

In order to ensure the continuous or periodic movement for the massage according to the invention, a circuit arrangement is provided which, according to a first solution, provides two limit switches, one in an upper and one in a lower position of the support element, by means of which a reversal of the movement of the motor drive is ensured . This reversal of movement is preferably buffered in order to ensure long continuous operation. The required or desired movement path can be changed by adjusting the limit switches. Another solution without reversing the movement of the motor is that the drive takes place via a continuous eccentric arrangement, via which the up and down or back and forth movements are transmitted. Circuit arrangements and drives of this type are generally known, so that they are not described further here.

The exemplary embodiments explained below relate exclusively to backrests, it being clear that they are on can be used in an analogous manner for the actual seat.

Each of the support elements 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 has a central part 2, which ends at the upper end in a laterally widened end strip 3 and at the lower end in a end part 4. The latter has the same configuration in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a different configuration in FIG. 3.

The support element 1 is arranged with its end strip 3 and its end part 4, either directly or indirectly via a plate, on the frame of the backrest, not shown, and is adjustable in height. However, the support element 1 can also be arranged on an intermediate plate on which it can be arched, the intermediate plate being adjustable in height and, if appropriate, also being able to be moved forwards and backwards perpendicularly thereto. These variants are also not shown.

Each support element 1 is flexible from a metal or plastic or combinations thereof z. B. by punching out a plate or sheet, by riveting or in the case of plastic by pressing in a mold. Each support element 1 has a plurality of cutouts 5 in the central part 2. The recesses 5 serve on the one hand to reduce the weight and on the other hand to arrange massage elements 6 which protrude over the surface of the support element 1.

The massage elements 6 can be produced on the central part 2 and the side parts of any design as projections which are arranged in a stationary manner or formed out on the support element 1, preferably with a spherically shaped surface. In the case of a stationary arrangement of the massage elements 6, there is increased friction during movements of the movements of the support element 1 with the cover material of the backrest or of the seat, which requires more power from the drive and, on the other hand, increased wear of the friction surfaces.

For this reason, the massage elements 6 are preferably designed in the form of rotatably arranged rotating bodies.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, four axles 7, which are attached to the central part 2 at equal distances from one another and project laterally beyond it, are provided, on which two or more disks 8 with a rounded cross section are rotatably mounted in the central part 2. On the laterally projecting parts of the axles 7, further disks 8 are rotatably arranged, which, however, the further away they are from the central part 2, each have a larger diameter. The larger diameters provide lateral support for the back in the backrest. In this embodiment, all massage elements in the form of disks 8 lie on an axis line.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the support element 1 has four axes 9, the free stub axles 10 of which are arranged offset. As a result, the massage elements (not shown here) to the side of the central part 2 are each at a different height than the massage elements arranged on the central axis parts 11 within the central part 2.

Fig. 3 shows a variant of a support element 1, in which the central part 2 is each connected via a hinge 12 to side parts 14 which have a closed frame 13. Due to the connection via a hinge 12 which is relatively short in height, the side parts 14 are hardly or not arched at all when the central part 2 is arched. This means that practically all massage elements of the side parts 14 remain in contact with them the back when a particularly strong curvature of the central part 2 is set and, if appropriate, the massage elements arranged at the upper and lower ends of the central part 2 only apply a slight contact pressure. In the side parts 14, the massage elements 6 are rotatably arranged on four axes 15 each supported in the frame 13.

The massage elements 6 can - seen perpendicular to their axis of rotation - a circular, an oval rounded, a triangular or polygonal rounded, a star-shaped rounded, a corrugated and - seen parallel to the axis of rotation - a spherical, disc-shaped, wavy or cylindrical cross-section or any combination have from it. They can be rotated centrally or eccentrically on one axis individually or fixedly connected to others. But they can also be arranged so that they are fixed on an axis, the axis being rotatably mounted. In the event that the axle is rotatably mounted, it can be set in rotation by means of a belt or by means of a gearwheel arranged thereon with a toothed belt or a rack and pinion drive. If the axis itself can be driven, an eccentric arrangement of the massage elements is particularly advantageous, since different pressure forces can be applied to adjacent parts.

The massage elements can consist of rubber, wood, plastic, metal or any combination thereof.

In order to facilitate assembly, the axes 7, 9 or 15 can be fastened by means of clip connections into which they snap into place, the massage elements preferably being rotatable or fixed and optionally several being preassembled to form a block. The side parts with their axes can also be at an angle be arranged to the central part. The lateral axes can also be arranged directly and angled on the central part.

The process proceeds as follows, the person seated on the seat with the device switches on the drive at regular intervals, as a result of which the support element is set in a continuous up and down movement. As a result, the massage elements roll or move over the surface of the backrest or the seat over the adjacent parts of the body by exerting a pressure which is felt as a massage. This massage effect can be varied on the one hand by different design of the massage elements arranged above and below one another and their staggered arrangement and also by their different shape or central or eccentric arrangement as a rotating body. A further amplification or variation of the massage effect can be achieved in that the support element and thus the massage elements are given an additional back and forth movement approximately perpendicular to the up and down movement. This back and forth movement can take place evenly over the height. However, it can also be made stronger in some places and weaker in some places by adjusting the curvature. An additional effect can be achieved by differently designed massage elements, particularly in the case of an eccentric arrangement, if the individual axes themselves are set in rotation with the massage elements rigidly attached to them.

Claims

Claims:

1. Method for massage, in particular the back parts, of long periods of time on seats, in particular motor vehicle seats, people seated, characterized by periodic or continuous movement of massage elements arranged in the seat surface and / or in the backrest in the direction back and forth and / or up and down in the area of the seating and / or back surfaces of the people.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement of massage elements distributed over the height is carried out on paths of different lengths.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movement of the massage elements is carried out by a motor drive.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the massage elements are automatically returned to an adjustable starting position at the end of their movement.

5. The device for performing the method arranged in a seat, in particular in a motor vehicle seat, according to claim 1 with a arranged on the frame of the seat part and / or on the frame of the backrest and archable by means of a motor drive support element (1) for supporting body surfaces of a person , characterized in that the support element (1) carries massage elements (6) and is arranged to move up and down or back and forth in addition to the arching movement, at least the additional movement being carried out periodically or continuously by means of a circuit arrangement from a motor drive.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the massage elements (6) are designed as stationary projections.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the massage elements (6) are rotatably arranged rotating body.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the rotating bodies are round, oval or star-shaped.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the rotary bodies are individually rotatably mounted.

10. The device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a plurality of rotational bodies are rotatably connected together.

11. Device according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the massage elements (6) consist of plastic, wood, rubber, metal or a combination thereof.

12. The device according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the massage elements (6) are arranged in vertical and / or horizontal rows.

13. Device according to one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the massage elements to the side edges of the support element (1) have increasingly larger diameters.

14. Device according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the rotary bodies are connected to a drive.

15. Device according to one of claims 5 to 14, characterized in that the circuit arrangement has an adjustable timer.

16. Device according to one of claims 5 to 15, characterized in that the circuit arrangement has a circuit for automatically resetting the support element (1) in the set starting position after each movement cycle.