WO2004032818A1

WO2004032818A1 - Automatic massage device

Info

Publication number: WO2004032818A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/009961
Authority: WO
Inventors: Norbert Egger
Original assignee: Norbert Egger
Priority date: 2002-10-04
Filing date: 2003-09-08
Publication date: 2004-04-22
Also published as: DE10246444A1; AU2003273839A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a massage device (1) comprising a massage organ (5), which exerts a massaging action on a body part (8) to be massaged. To permit the massage device (1) to be used with any fitness equipment, a fastening element (2) is provided on a body part (7) that is separated from the body part (8) to be massaged by at least one joint (6), said element being connected to the massage organ (5) by means of a motion transfer device (4). The massage organ (5) is operated by traction on the motion transfer device (4).

Description

SELF-MOVING MASSAGE DEVICE

The invention relates to a massage device for automatic massage during movement training, with a massage organ which is designed to be movably attachable to a body part of a body to be massaged, with a movement transmission device which extends essentially parallel to at least one joint of the body towards the massage organ , and which is designed to transmit a movement in the at least one joint to the massage organ.

There are a variety of methods for carrying out a massage, from the classic hand massage to a wide variety of massage devices that exert vibration, pressure, suction or friction on the skin or parts of the body.

The common feature of the multitude of massage methods is that the person being massaged lies on a couch or other device and does not move or is only moved passively during the massage. The common goal of the different massage methods is to stimulate the metabolism of the massaged areas by kneading, rubbing, pressure or suction and to accelerate the elimination of toxins as well as to increase blood circulation and thus stimulate the supply of nutrients or enzymes. Kneading or stretching the muscles leads to relaxation or relaxation of the affected muscles and relieves the pressure on the joints.

The traditional massage is therefore a method that is actively carried out by a person or device and is intended to act on a person who remains passive.

In contrast, there is a wide variety of forms of movement training, which produce different effects depending on the duration, speed and effort. To perform the movement, the muscles need energy during training, which, depending on the type and type of training, is either obtained from glucose or fatty acids. Like massage, exercise training has positive effects on muscles, circulation, blood vessels and the psyche of humans.

There are several attempts in the prior art to combine the positive effects of exercise training with the positive effects of massage. So are Massage devices with the features mentioned at the outset are known from the prior art.

For example, DE-PS 165 952 describes a massage device to be attached to a door frame with a movable massage element for the trunk, which is attached to ropes. The ropes are guided to the door frame via rollers and have handles at their ends. To use the massage device, a user steps into the door opening, grips a handle with each hand and attaches the massage organ to the part of the body that he wants to massage. By pulling the rope, the massage organ is moved back and forth on the body.

From US 1, 175,513 a device with a similar structure is known, in which a ring surrounding the trunk is moved up and down for massage by a rope which is gripped by hand and guided over rollers.

A disadvantage of the massage devices of DE-PS 165 952 and US Pat. No. 1, 175,513 is their relatively large volume and the way in which they are installed. These massage devices cannot be used during simultaneous exercise with fitness equipment. In addition, both massage devices have no fastening means, so that the rope for carrying out the massage must always be grasped by hand.

Massage devices that can have a massaging effect on the body during a training session on a fitness device are known, for example, from DE 26 30 299 A1, US Pat. No. 3,727,608, US 3,915,159, US 4,036,219 and DE 84 18 165 U1.

DE 26 30 299 A1, US 3,727,608, US 3,915,159 and US 4,036,219 deal with a massage device which is integrated into a fitness bicycle. The massage device is movably driven by the pedaling movement via an elaborately designed gear and massages the trunk of the person sitting on the fitness bike. In addition to the complicated adaptation of the massage devices of these publications to the body dimensions of the exercising person, the high construction effort is disadvantageous. In addition, the massage devices are firmly attached to the fitness bike and can only be used in conjunction with the fitness bike. In the device of US Pat. No. 3,727,608 as the closest prior art, the pedaling movement is converted by a cable into a compression of a massage belt provided with massage elements and firmly attached to the fitness bicycle. Finally, DE 84 18 165 U1 describes a massage device which is integrated in a leg extension. The fixed seat of the leg extensor is formed by wooden swivel rollers that are moved back and forth by the legs that are moved back and forth during training. This automatically massages the undersides of the thighs during training. The massage device of DE 84 18 165 U1 can only be used together with the leg extension.

Some prior art devices are concerned with actively supporting the muscles of the limbs in performing movements. DE 36 10 570 A1 describes a sports and training device for strengthening the jumping power of the foot during the jumping phase. The device has a rocker for the stable reception of a shoe or a shoe that is not equipped with a shoe, which is connected to a cuff fixed to the lower leg. The additional jumping force is transferred to the heel on a heel-side arm via a spring mechanism. The US 6,368,265 is about supporting the leg muscles when cycling by means of elastic straps, which extend from the hip to the feet and are intended to increase the pedaling movement when cycling due to the inherent elasticity.

A reverse path is followed in US Pat. No. 5,606,745, where a tracksuit is provided with ribs which resist movement and thus lead to a training effect.

Yet another device is described in US 3,683,897, in which parts of a body, in particular patients, are to be moved or activated. This device is intended for patients who are immovably tied to a bed. The movement of the limbs takes place through air pressure cuffs. If the body part remains motionless, the air cuffs can have a massage effect.

The US 4,763,901 shows a bandage against tennis elbows, which sets the maximum possible extension of the elbow. The bandages should remain firmly on the arm and not slip. A similar device, however for feet, is described in US 5,215,508.

All of these devices only lead to unsatisfactory or no massage effect at all. In summary, the above devices known from the prior art are disadvantageous in that the massage is always linked to the use of a specific fitness device. The invention is therefore based on the object of improving a massage device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that a massage during training with practically any fitness equipment is possible in a structurally simple manner.

According to the invention, this object is achieved for the generic massage device in that the massage device is designed to be freely portable on the body.

This solution is structurally very simple. In contrast to the known devices, the massage device is designed to be freely portable on the body and can therefore be used with any fitness equipment or when running or hiking. In contrast to the devices of DE-PS 165 952 and US 1, 175,513, the massage device according to the invention is self-moving during movement training and does not rely on manual actuation.

In comparison to, for example, the device of DE 42 19 698 A1, a considerably improved massage effect is achieved. DE 42 19 698 A1 derives its massage effect from the fact that a pressure pad is provided with pressure elements which are movably coupled to one another by a force transmission device. Movement of the muscles below the pressure support applied with a static preload acts on individual pressure elements, which then generate a flow of force that leads to the initiation of a reaction force in another part of the muscles. The pressure pad can be worn firmly on the body by a holding device, such as bandages. Although the massage effect of DE 42 19 698 A1 is caused by the muscle tension itself, the massage movement itself is not caused by the movement in the joint but only by the thickening of the muscles during the contraction. Since the muscle contractions themselves cause only small movements and can only exert little force on the area to be massaged, the massage effects of this device are limited. In the solution according to the invention, however, the very vigorous movement in the joint can be used for massage, so that even large muscles can be massaged sufficiently during training. A massage device is thus obtained which can be used in a simple manner independently of a fitness device and can also be used for massage of body parts which move relative to the fitness device. In addition, the freedom of movement is not restricted by the free portability of the massage device. The free portability can be achieved, for example, by designing the massage organ as a piece of clothing, for example as a belt, bandage, socks, shirt or pants or trouser leg or sleeve.

In the embodiment according to the invention, the massage movement is automatically generated in a simple manner by the relative movement of the body parts connected by the joint: when the joint is bent and stretched, the massage organ automatically performs a massage movement regardless of the fitness device. Examples of body parts that are separated by at least one joint are thigh and lower leg, which are separated by the knee joint, lower leg and buttocks, which are separated by the knee joint and hip joint, upper arm and forearm, which are separated by the elbow joint, but also the abdomen and thighs, which are separated by the hip joint, although this list is not exhaustive.

Cycling is particularly suitable for actuating the massage device according to the invention, in which a periodic bending and stretching movement takes place between the upper and lower leg as well as between the hip and the legs and can be used to generate the massage movement. A massage effect can also be achieved with the device according to the invention when training on other fitness equipment such as a step machine, a rowing machine or a treadmill, during gymnastic exercises or even while jogging or hiking.

The massage organ can produce a massage effect that promotes blood circulation to the skin through pressure, friction or pneumatic negative pressure on the skin. It can be made from a reshaped plastic plate or from a woven fabric made of textiles, natural or synthetic materials. When using a tissue, it is advantageous that the area covered by the massage organ can be ventilated through the tissue.

The massage device can thereby form a unit that can be worn on the body in that a part of the body that is separated from the body part to be massaged by the joint is fixative is attached essentially immovable. In this embodiment, the fastening means can be connected to the massage organ by means of a connecting means which transmits at least tensile force as part of the movement transmission device. Ropes or rods can be used as connecting means.

The training movement in the joint or in the joints parallel to the movement transmission device changes the distance between the body part to be massaged and the fastening means, both of which are connected by the connecting means. This change in distance is used according to the invention to actuate the massage organ during training.

In its simplest form, the movement of the massage organ can be a pure pressure-pressure relief movement directed in the radial direction of the body part to be massaged, or it can also be a sliding or rolling movement around the body part (in the circumferential direction) or along the body part (in the longitudinal direction) ,

The massage organ itself can, depending on the type of application and the body part to be massaged, be of different sizes. For example, a short massage device can enclose only a partial area of the upper or lower leg, the upper or lower arm or even the buttocks or trunk for targeted massage. In other embodiments, a longer massage device can act almost on the entire body part to be massaged and a body part adjacent to it via a joint, for example, reach over the thigh to the buttocks or over the upper arm to the chest or shoulder. With large massage organs it is thus possible to extend the massage effects to large areas of the human body even beyond a single part of the body.

Likewise, the massage device can be designed in different forms. In a simple embodiment of the invention, the exercising person can, for example, wear an elastically expandable clip that surrounds the thigh as a massage organ. The clamp can be divided on the underside by a gap, the width of which changes when the massage device is actuated, in particular when the movement transmission device is pulled. By contracting the gap, the cross section of the massage organ is reduced and a massage pressure is exerted on the skin enclosed by the massage organ. The massage pressure pushes the blood out of the areas of the body part under the massage organ and at one Subsequent cross-sectional expansion of the massage organ fresh blood is sucked up. The cross-sectional narrowing or widening can also be supported by springs or elastic bands.

An automatic opening of the clip can be achieved if, according to a further embodiment, the clip itself is elastically expandable or if it is automatically pressed open by spring elements or by a corresponding inherent elasticity. In this embodiment, for example, the massage pressure is reduced when the train on the motion transmission device subsides.

In a particularly comfortable embodiment of the self-moving massage device, it is essentially in the form of a piece of clothing or a part of a piece of clothing which extends over at least one joint, and is provided with a weave which leads to a massage movement when the joint is flexed and stretched. In the case of diffraction, such a weave uses the tension on the outside of the joint, which is passed on by the threads of the weave and causes a cross-sectional narrowing of the garment on the part of the body to be massaged.

On the massage organ protruding massage bodies can be provided, which increase the massage pressure in their area. The massage bodies can be pressure-elastic.

According to a further embodiment, the massage organ can also have massage bodies designed as rolling bodies. The rolling elements roll on the skin when the massage organ moves relative to the part of the body to be massaged, thus producing a massage effect. Rollers, disks or balls can be used as rolling elements. The relative movement between the body part to be massaged and the massage organ can take place in the circumferential direction or in the longitudinal direction of the body part to be massaged.

In order to guide the massage organ relative to the body part to be massaged, the movement transmission device can have pistons, rollers or toothed wheels. These elements can advantageously cooperate in such a way that the movement of the joint can be converted into a massage movement as efficiently as possible. The massage effect of the massage device according to the invention can be intensified again if the massage organ holds a skin section as a skin fold and the movement of the massage organ moves the skin fold over the part of the body to be massaged.

In a further development, the massage device can also be designed as a piece of clothing to be worn on the body, so that the exercising person's freedom of movement is not restricted with high wearing comfort. The garment can have the shape of a shirt or trousers. The fastening means can have the shape of a bandage, stocking, shoe or glove.

According to a further embodiment, the massage effect can essentially be achieved by alternating overpressure and underpressure on the skin. If negative pressure acts on the skin in one area, blood and lymphatic fluid are sucked into the tissue in this area. In a subsequent overpressure phase, blood and lymphatic fluid are pressed out of the tissue again. The increased fluid exchange consequently stimulates the metabolism in the pressurized areas.

In order to generate negative pressure and positive pressure, the massage element can have a pressure chamber with an airtight envelope, the pressure chamber at its ends being connected to the body part to be massaged in an airtight manner. The sheath can be kept spaced from the skin in a rest position by means of elastic spacers. The spacers can, for example, extend in a ring around the body part to be massaged. Furthermore, openings with valves can be provided in the casing, through which the outflow and inflow of air between the body surface and the casing can be regulated.

The movement transmission device can be connected to the sheath in such a way that a movement of the joint or joints parallel to the movement transmission device alternately pumps up and down the sheath. When the joint is stretched and the movement transmission device is pulled, the sheath is contracted, for example, and exerts pressure on the skin. The pressure can be kept within physiologically sensible limits by setting pressure relief valves. During the subsequent movement of the joint, the spacer automatically pushes the garment away from the skin, so that the pressure chamber is enlarged and a negative pressure acts on the skin, which forms between the garment and the skin. By means of the movement transmission device, a pump can also be actuated via the articulated movement, which pump alternately pumps the air into the casing and pumps it out of the casing.

Finally, in a further embodiment, the massage device can have a preferably mechanical control means through which the massage element is guided such that the massage pressure is smaller when the massage element moves in a predetermined direction than in the opposite direction. Such a control element can, for example, only produce a massage effect when the massage element moves in the direction of the heart, while the massage pressure is reduced when the massage element moves back from the heart. This can be achieved in a simple manner in that the massage element is widened during the return movement by an elastic biasing element, such as a spring.

In the following, the invention is explained by way of example using embodiments with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are used for elements whose structure and function correspond to one another in the individual embodiments.

Show it:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the massage device according to the invention schematically in a first position.

FIG. 2 shows the massage device of FIG. 1 schematically in a second position;

Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

5 shows a second embodiment of the massage device according to the invention schematically in a first position;

Fig. 6 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5; FIG. 7 shows the schematic sectional view of FIG. 6 in a second position of the massage device;

8 shows a further embodiment of a massage organ according to the invention in a schematic view;

Fig. 9 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8;

FIG. 10 shows the schematic sectional view of FIG. 9 in a second position of the massage organ according to the invention from FIG. 8;

11 shows a further embodiment of a massage organ in a schematic

View; Fig. 12 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line Xll-Xll of Fig. 11;

13 shows a further embodiment of a massage device according to the invention in a schematic view;

14 shows a further embodiment of a massage device according to the invention in a schematic view;

15A to 151 further embodiments of massage devices according to the invention in schematic views;

16 shows a further embodiment of a massage device according to the invention in a schematic view;

17A and 17B show a detail X of the embodiment of FIG. 16.

First, the structure of a massage device 1 according to the invention is described with reference to the embodiment in FIG. 1.

The massage device 1 comprises a fastening means 2, which on a body part of a human body 3 is essentially unrelated to the body 3. is designed to be slidably attachable to the body. The massage device 1 also has a movement transmission device 4, which connects the fastening means 2 to a massage organ 5. The motion transmission device 4 extends parallel to at least one joint 6 of the human body 3. The motion transmission device 4 is further configured such that it can transmit at least tensile forces. In the simplest case, the movement transmission device 4 is formed, for example, by a rope or band, which can also be elastic. Alternatively, the movement transmission device 4 can also transmit tensile and compressive forces and is then designed, for example, as a rod or rod. As shown in FIG. 1, the fastening means 2 can be designed as a bandage that can be fastened to a body part 7, in FIG. 1 this is a lower leg. The body parts 7 and 8 are connected to one another by the joint 6.

The massage organ 5 surrounds the body part 8 to be massaged. As a body part 8 to be massaged, an example of a thigh is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

The structure of the massage organ 5 is clear from FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the massage organ 5 along the line III-III of FIG. 1, the body part 8 to be massaged being omitted for the sake of clarity.

The massage organ 5 is essentially in the form of a clamp, the body part 8 to be massaged being accommodated in the interior 9 of the chamber 5. The massage organ 5 has a gap 10 which can be arranged on the side or underside of the thigh. If the gap 10 is arranged on the underside of the thigh, the person wearing the massage device 1 can sit largely unimpeded. The gap 10 extends in the longitudinal direction of the massage organ 5, i.e. along the body part to be massaged, over the entire length of the massage organ 5.

The movement transmission device 4 is connected at its end facing the massage organ 5 via connecting pieces 12 to the ends 11 of the massage organ 5 facing the gap 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting pieces 12 can be tension elements of the same length, such as tapes or ropes, so that the motion transmission device 4 is held essentially in the middle in the gap 10. Any number of connecting pieces 12 can be provided, which are distributed, for example, fan-shaped from the connecting point 13 over the entire gap length. len and thus distribute the tensile force of the extension element 4 evenly over the gap length.

The massage organ 5 is made of an elastic material, for example an elastic plastic plate or a tissue made of plastics or natural materials. The massage organ 5 is constructed in such a way that it responds to a widening or narrowing of the gap 10 with an elastic deformation and automatically changes from the deformed state to an undeformed rest state.

The function of the massage device 1 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The massage device 1 is intended to utilize the relative movement of the body parts 7, 8 that takes place in the at least one joint 6 during movement training in order to have a massage effect on the at least one body part to be massaged

8 to evoke. The movement transmission device 4 transmits the movement of the body part 7 relative to the body part 8 to the massage organ 5.

2, the joint 6 is somewhat stretched compared to FIG. 1. The distance between the fastening means 2 and the massage element 5 increases as a result of the extension in the joint 6. As a result, during the extension movement, which is indicated schematically in FIG. 2 by the arrows 14, a tensile force 15 is introduced into the movement transmission device 4 on the fastening means ,

The tensile force 15 is transmitted by the two connecting pieces 12 from the movement transmission device 4 to the edges 11 of the gap 10. The gap 10 narrows, as indicated schematically in FIG. 4 by the arrows 16, and in the process deforms the massage organ 5 elastically.

By narrowing the gap 10, the diameter of the interior is reduced

9 of the massage organ 5, so that an essentially radially acting massage pressure acts on the body part 8 to be massaged, which is at least partially enclosed by the massage organ 5. The blood pressure is pressed out of the skin and subcutaneous fat tissue and the muscles of the body part 8 to be massaged by the massage pressure.

If the joint 6 is bent again from the extended position until the position shown in FIG. 1 is assumed, the tensile force at the motion transmission unit increases. direction 4 and the gap 10 widens automatically due to the elastic restoring force of the massage organ 5. The pressure on the body part 8 to be massaged is reduced and blood can flow into the areas of skin, subcutaneous fat and muscle underneath.

In the case of a periodic movement in the at least one joint 6, the massage pressure on the body part to be massaged is periodically built up and reduced in this way and a massage effect is thus achieved.

The massage device 1 is designed as a unit to be carried completely on the body 3, which does not restrict freedom of movement and can be used, for example, when cycling or stepping and even when hiking or jogging. The freedom of movement in the joint 6 can be increased in that the movement transmission device 4 is too elastic, so that the full freedom of movement of the joint 6 can be used and in the joint 6 a complete extension and a complete flexion is possible.

The fastening means 2 and / or the massage organ 5 can be lined on the inside with sweat-absorbing substances, for example nonwoven fabrics. In order to enable the fastener 2 and the massage member 5 to fit well, it is advantageous if the movement transmission device 4 is connected to the fastener 2 and / or the massage member 5 as torque-free as possible, that is to say no torque is transmitted in the connection. As a result, the articulation movement 14 cannot lead to an additional rotation of these parts, which could impair the wearing comfort.

A further embodiment of a massage device 1 according to the invention is shown by way of example in FIGS. 5 to 7. In the following, only the differences in structure and function to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 will be discussed.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 on the one hand by the type of connection of the movement transmission device 4 to the massage member 5, and on the other hand by the configuration of the massage member 5 in the area of the gap 10. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the massage organ 5 thus forms a tab 17 with an opening 18 at one end. The movement transmission device 4, which is designed as an elastic band, is guided through the opening 18. The tab 17 is made of a flexible and essentially tensile tape material, guided around a roller 19 and connected to the one edge 11 of the massage organ 5. The roller 19 is attached to the massage element 5 at the other edge 11 by means of a material strip 20, which is also flexible and rigid. The roller 19 can preferably rotate relative to the strip 20 about its longitudinal axis.

As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, when a tensile force 15 is applied to the movement transmission device 4, the massage element 5 executes a movement 16, by means of which a massage pressure is exerted on the massaging body part 8. In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the massage element 5 of FIGS. 5 to 7 furthermore has two tongues 21, 22 which overlap in a substantially radial direction in the region of the gap 10. The tongues 21, 22 are dimensioned such that they overlap in the gap 10 even in the undeformed state of the massage organ 5, in which no movement is exerted on the tab 17 by the movement transmission device 4. The tongues 21, 22 reduce the risk of injury and prevent a skin fold from being pinched in the gap 10 and being squeezed by pulling on the movement transmission device 4.

The risk of injury is further reduced by the fact that the roller 19 is attached to that edge 11 of the massage organ 5 to which the tongue 21 close to the body is attached. As a result, the gap 10 widens and narrows essentially as a result of the movement of the other tongue 22 of the massage organ 5 with respect to the body part 8 to be massaged, while the end 11 with the roller 19 remains essentially immovable with respect to the body part 8 to be massaged. Thus, the tongue 21 is always on the skin surface of the body part 8 and prevents pinching hair or skin folds.

8 to 10 show a further embodiment of a massage organ according to the invention. In the following, only the differences from the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7 are discussed.

The massage organ 5 is provided with a plurality of, preferably elastic, massage bodies 23 projecting in the direction of the body part 8 to be massaged when the massage organ is contracted, selectively apply pressure to the skin surface of the body part 8 to be massaged (not shown in FIGS. 8 to 10). As can be seen in FIGS. 8 to 10, the massage bodies 23 are cylindrical in shape. The massage bodies 23 can in particular be designed as massage rollers, which are arranged in a row in several rows in the circumferential direction 24 of the massage organ 5.

Since, when the massage organ 5 contracts and expands, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the massage organ 5 moves in the circumferential direction 24 relative to the body part 8 to be massaged, the massage rollers can be rotated in particular in the circumferential direction of the body part 8 to be massaged be held on the massage organ 5. Alternatively, the massage bodies 23 can also be massage projections formed in one piece on the massage organ 5.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10, the massage pressure is exerted only on the massage surfaces 25 formed by the massage bodies 23 on the body part 8 to be massaged. This surface is only a fraction of the total inner surface 26 of the massage organ, so that with unchanged tensile force 15 on the motion transmission device 4, an increased massage pressure can be generated on the massage surfaces 25.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a further embodiment of a massage organ 5 according to the invention, only the differences from the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 being dealt with.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12, a massage movement of the massage organ 5 is composed of a rotating or rolling movement in the circumferential direction of the body part 8 to be massaged (not shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) and a pressure application in the radial direction.

For this purpose, the massage organ 5 has a clip 27, which is designed as a cylindrical sleeve provided with a slot 10. An end 11 of the bracket 27 adjoining the gap 10 is connected to the movement transmission device 4. The other end 11 adjoining the gap 10 is connected to a roller 19 via a spring element 28. A strip 20 of rigid material can be arranged between the spring element 28 and the roller 19. When the movement transmission device 4 is pulled, the clamp 27 widens as in the previously described embodiments.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 12, the massage element 5 furthermore has a massage ring 29 received in the clamp 27 with a plurality of massage bodies 23. The massage ring 29 is enclosed by the bracket 27 like a housing.

The massage ring 29 is constructed from an elastic, in the circumferential direction stretchable band or tissue material, in which the massage body 23 are rotatably held in the circumferential direction. The massage ring 29 can be placed in particular in the form of a garter around the body part 8 to be massaged. The massage ring 29 is connected to the roller 19 via a lever-shaped coupling element 30, so that when the roller 19 moves - for example by pulling on the movement transmission device 4 - it makes a reciprocating rotary movement 31 in the circumferential direction around the body element 8 to be massaged performs.

The spring element 28 enables a relative movement of the massage ring 29 with respect to the clamp 27. When the massage ring 29 rotates, when the movement transmission device 4 is pulled, relative to the housing 27, the massage bodies 23 roll on the skin surface of the body part 8 to be massaged, as shown in FIG is indicated by the arrows 32.

The clamp 27 has groove-shaped depressions 33 for receiving the massage bodies 23. The depressions can be dimensioned such that the rotary movement 31 can be carried out by the massage ring 29 within the massage ring 27. Alternatively, the depressions 33 can also be designed such that they serve as drivers by means of which the clamp 27 is also moved in a rotational movement 31 synchronously with the massage ring 29.

A further embodiment of a massage device 1 is shown by way of example in FIG. 13, in which, in contrast to the previous embodiments, the massage organ 5 executes a massage movement directed in the longitudinal direction 34 of the body part 8 to be massaged. The thigh is shown by way of example in FIG. 13 as the body part 8 to be massaged. The fastening means 2 is arranged in the region of the ankle and the movement transmission device 4 extends from the fastening means 2 parallel to a first joint 6 - the knee joint - via a deflection device 35 at a further joint 6 - the hip joint - to the ring-shaped massage organ 5 Deflection device 35 can be regarded as part of the movement transmission device and has a rotatable roller at the level of the hip joint. It is attached to a pants-like part of the massage device. The closer the deflection device is to the hip joint, the more independent of the movement on the hip joint is the direction of the tensile force on the thigh.

The massage organ 5 is designed with a plurality of massage bodies 23 which are designed as rollers which can be rotated in the longitudinal direction of the body part 8. The massage organ 5 is prestressed in the direction of a joint 6 of the body 3, here the knee joint 6, by means of any number of elastic cords, bands or straps 36. The straps 36 are attached at one end to a bandage-shaped holding means 37 on the knee and attached at the other end to the massage member 5 in such a way that they counteract the tensile force from the movement transmission device 4.

In their deflection-free rest position, the bands 36 are greatly shortened, so that the massage bodies 23 are as close as possible to the knee joint 6. So that the entire thigh can be massaged, the massage organ 5 can move up to the hip when the bands 36 are fully stretched.

When the knee joint 6 or the hip joint 6 is stretched, the distance between the fastening means 2 and the deflection device 35 increases, so that the massage member 5 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 38 along the body part 8.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the massage organ 5 is made as a band made of elastic material. Alternatively, the massage organ 5, similar to the embodiments described above, can be designed as a clamp which contracts when the movement transmission device 4 is pulled and thereby exerts a massage pressure. In this variant, a massage effect is achieved only when the massage organ 5 is moved in the direction of the hip joint 6, when the movement transmission device is pulled. During the return movement under the action of the elastic restoring force of the bands 36, the massage member 5 remains widened due to the lack of tractive force on the movement transmission device 4. This is advantageous ter way a massage effect can be achieved in which the blood is continuously massaged towards the heart, as is required in the classic massages.

Of course, it is also possible to reverse the arrangement of the deflection device 35 and holding means 37, i.e. to attach the holding means 37 together with the bands 36 to the hip joint and the deflection device 35 to the knee joint.

FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of a massage device 1 according to the invention, in which the massage effect is achieved by alternately acting underpressure and overpressure on the skin surface of the body part 8 to be massaged.

For this purpose, the massage organ 5 forms a pressure chamber 39 which reaches the skin surface of the body part 8 to be massaged and is sealed at both ends by sealing sleeves 38 and in the circumferential direction by a casing 39.

The massage organ 5 in the form of an airtight, pant-like garment is held away from the skin by annular, elastic spacers 40. A delivery opening of a pump device 41 is connected to the pressure chamber 39 via an air line 42.

The pump device 41 can, as shown in FIG. 14, be designed as a simple piston pump that is actuated via the movement transmission device 4. For example, when the joint 6 is stretched and the tensile force thereby generated on the motion transmission device 4, a piston of the pump device 41 (not shown in FIG. 14) can be moved and can generate a negative pressure or positive pressure in the air line 42 and consequently also in the pressure chamber 39. Due to the negative pressure, the blood flow to the underlying subcutaneous fatty tissue is increased.

The pump can have a prestressed spring element (not shown in FIG. 14), which automatically transfers the pump device 41 into a rest position when there is no train on the motion transmission device 4. Depending on the setting of the pump device 41, a periodic loading of the pressure chamber 39 with increasing and decreasing overpressure, only with increasing and decreasing underpressure or with a change of overpressure and underpressure can take place during the movement in the joint 6. Here, a pressure equal to or below the ambient pressure is regarded as the negative pressure.

In particular, the pump device 41 can operate a massage device as is the subject of the parallel German application DE 101 494 18 by the same applicant. DE 101 494 18 is therefore incorporated with its entire content by reference.

As shown in FIG. 14, the fastening means 2 can be in the form of a stump or sock.

15A to 151 show various embodiments of the massage device 1 according to the invention, in which the massage organs 5 and the fastening means 2 are each fastened to different parts of the body. The massage device can be designed in accordance with any embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 14, or it can also comprise combinations of individual elements of these embodiments.

FIG. 15A shows a massage device 1 in which the movement transmission device 4 is guided from the massage organs 5 on the two thighs to a massage organ 5 on the trunk. 15A only one massage organ 5 on one thigh is shown. It should be noted in the embodiment of FIG. 15A that the massage elements 5 mutually serve as fastening means 2 and are held immovably on the body 3.

15B, the movement transmission device 4 extends parallel to the hip joint 6 and the shoulder joint 6, so that movement in one of these joints 6 or in both joints leads to a massage effect. In the embodiment of FIG. 15B, both massage organs 5 can serve as fastening means 2 or only one massage organ can be provided on the upper arm or thigh.

In the embodiment in FIG. 15C, three joints 6, the hip joint, the shoulder joint and the elbow joint, run parallel to the movement transmission device 4, which extends from the thigh to the forearm. This results in a massage effect through a relative movement of the forearm and thigh, such as takes place when riding a bicycle. Of course, when executing 15C can be attached to both thighs and both forearm massage devices.

15D shows a massage device 1, in which the movement transmission device 4 extends from a fastening means 2 on the forearm to a massage organ 5 which surrounds the torso of a person. In particular, fastening devices 2 can be attached to both forearms. The movement transmission device 4 thus extends parallel to the shoulder joint 6 and the elbow joint 6.

In the variant of FIG. 15E, massage organs 5 are attached both in the abdominal region of the body 3 and on the upper arm. The massage organs 5 also serve as fastening means 2. The movement transmission device 4 extends in each case from the trunk to one of the upper arms or to both upper arms parallel to the respective shoulder joint 6.

The massage device 1 in FIG. 15F is equipped with a massage organ 5 for the gluteus muscle and with a massage organ 5 for the upper arm, which are connected to one another by the movement transmission device 4.

As shown in FIG. 15G, instead of the massage organ 5 or fastening means 2 on the upper arm, a fastening means 2 can also be provided on the forearm, which is connected to the massage organ 5 for the gluteus muscle by the movement transmission device 4. Alternatively, the massage organ 5 on the gluteus muscle can also be actuated by a fastening means 2 in the region of the ankle, so that the movement transmission device 4 extends parallel to the knee joint 6 and the hip joint 6.

Finally, FIG. 151 shows a variant that is used to massage the forearm and / or upper arm. The movement transmission device 4 extends parallel to the elbow joint 6.

The embodiments of FIGS. 15A to 151 can be used when training with a wide variety of fitness devices, an additional training effect being achieved by the stretching work by means of an elastic movement transmission device 4, which has a supplementary effect on the training effect of the training device. For example, the massage devices 1 driven by a leg movement are used in bicycles, steppers, rowing machines or cross-country machines, that is to say in fitness equipment in which leg movement takes place. The massage devices 1 driven by an arm movement can be used in rowing machines or in cross-country machines. In addition, in all the embodiments described above, use is also possible on strength training devices.

Finally, FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of a massage device 1 which is designed in the manner of a garment and extends in the form of a trouser leg over the body part 8 to be massaged, the thigh, and the adjacent joint 6, the knee joint. In this embodiment, the movement transmission device is formed by the weaving of the massage organ 5. The massage organ is only slightly elastic in the radial direction and reacts to an elongation in the longitudinal direction with a narrowing of the cross-section.

If the joint 6 is bent in this embodiment, the massage organ 5 must lengthen on the outside of the joint. As a result, a tension is introduced into the threads of the weaving of the massage organ 5, which reduces the cross section of the massage organ. This is shown schematically in FIGS. 17A and 17B, in which a view of the weave is shown as detail X. 17A, the fabric is shown in a state of rest, in which the threads 43 of the weave run at a relatively steep angle to one another. In this state, the cross section of the massage organ 5 on the body part to be massaged is relatively large. When the massage organ is pulled, the threads 43 shift relative to one another and run at a flatter angle, as can be seen in FIG. 17B. In this state, the cross section of the massage organ is reduced and a massage pressure is exerted on the body part 8 to be massaged.

So that the massage organ 5 does not slip during the massage movement, it is at least partially provided with adhesive areas on the inside or has a sock, glove or belt shape.

As shown in FIG. 16, the massage device 1 can be used in movement training with a training device 44, for example a fitness bike. The movement carried out during training automatically leads to a massage of the body part 8. Of course, tissue shapes other than those shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B can also be used. All that is essential is a conversion of the flexion movement into a massage movement.

Claims

1. Massage device (1) for automatic massage during movement training, with a massage organ (5), which is designed to be movably attachable to a body part (8) of a body (3) to be massaged, with a movement transmission device (4) that can be moved extends essentially parallel to at least one joint (6) of the body (3) towards the massage member (5), and which is designed to transmit a movement in the at least one joint (6) to the massage member (5), characterized in that the Massage device (1) is designed as a wearable unit.

2. Massage device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement transmission device (2, 4) has a fastening means (2) and a connecting element (4), the fastening means (2) on one of the body part to be massaged (8) through the at least one articulated (6) separate body part (7) is designed to be fastened and is connected to the massage element (5) by means of the connecting element (4) and transmits at least tensile force (15).

3. Massage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movement transmission device (4) is essentially designed as a piece of clothing extending over the at least one joint (6) and identifies a weave through which the movement in the joint ( 6) can be converted into a massage movement of the massage organ (5).

4. Massage device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the massage member (5) when the joint (6) is deflected into a cross-section which is changed compared to an extension of the joint (6) is designed to be convertible

5. Massage device (1) according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the massage organ (5) is at least partially encompassing the body part (8) to be massaged.

6. Massage device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the massage member (5) essentially encloses a body part (8) to be massaged. ßes clamp with a along the body part (8) to be massaged gap (10).

7. Massage device (1) according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the massage member (5) is designed to be radially elastic.

8. Massage device (1) according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the massage organ (5) is provided with massage bodies (23) projecting in the direction of the body part (8) to be massaged.

9. massage device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the massage body (23) rotatably on the massage member (5) comprise massage rollers held.

10. Massage device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the massage body (23) are designed to be pressure-elastic.

11. Massage device (1) according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the massage organ (5) is movably held on the body (3) along the body part to be massaged (8).

12. Massage device (1) according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the massage member (5) forms a pressure chamber (39) acting on the body part to be massaged (8) which is dependent on the flexion and / or extension of the joint (6) a massage pressure different from the ambient pressure can be applied.

13. Massage device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that a pump device (41) actuated by the movement transmission device (4) and connected to the pressure chamber (39) is provided, by means of which the massage pressure can be generated.

14. Massage device (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the pressure chamber (39) has a pressure relief valve which is designed to open to the outside environment when a predetermined pressure in the pressure chamber (39) is reached.

15. Massage device (1) according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the pressure chamber (39) is enclosed on the outside by an airtight cover and has elastic spacers (41) through which the cover in the unpressurized state of the body part to be massaged (8) is spaced apart.

16. Massage device (1) according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the movement transmission device (4) is designed as a rod.

17. Massage device (1) according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the movement transmission device (4) is designed as a rope.

18. Massage device (1) according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the massage device (1) has a deflection device (35), via which the movement transmission device (4) is guided.

19. Massage device (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the deflection device (35) is arranged on a joint (6).