WO2010064460A1

WO2010064460A1 - Massage chair with foot massaging device

Info

Publication number: WO2010064460A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/058136
Authority: WO
Inventors: 康一沼田; 輝男三原; 穎劉; 文敬石黒; 哲也石川; 賢玉木
Original assignee: 大東電機工業株式会社; エムテック株式会社
Priority date: 2008-12-05
Filing date: 2009-04-24
Publication date: 2010-06-10
Also published as: CN102123690A

Abstract

Disclosed is a massage chair which comprises a seat, a backrest and a foot massaging device disposed in front of the seat, and which can be more simplified in structure and reduced in weight and cost at once. The massage chair, when the foot massaging device is used, enables the user to take a relaxing posture outstretching the feet forward. The massage chair is provided with a back-and-forth mechanism (15) connected to a foot massaging device (5) under a seat (2). When the back-and-forth mechanism (15) moves forward, the foot massaging device (5) floats from the floor into the air in front of the seat (2) and advances to a using position (U), at which the lower limbs of the user can be massaged. When the back-and-forth mechanism (15) moves backward, the foot massaging device (5) is housed in at a housing position (P) formed below the seat (2). At the connected portion between the foot massaging device (5) and a link (20) connected to the foot massaging device (5) as to rock same forward and backward, moreover, a turning-angle restricting member (50) and an erection link (50Z) are disposed to prevent the angle between the link (20) and the foot massaging device (5) from becoming a predetermined angle (θ) or smaller.

Description

Massage chair with foot massage device

The present invention relates to a massage chair provided with a foot massage device.

As a massage chair provided with a foot massage device, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1.
This massage chair has a backrest part at the back of the seat part and a foot massage device at the front part, and the backrest part is equipped with a massage mechanism that massages the user's back part. It has a built-in lower limb massage mechanism that massages the lower limbs of a person. Further, the backrest portion can be reclined back and forth, and the footpad device is swingably provided in front of the seat portion via a support member.

Such a massage chair is not only used for performing a massage but also often used as a mere chair. In particular, this type of massage chair often has a soft cushion built into the seat, etc., and since the backrest has a reclining function, it is suitable for use as a sofa. Yes.
However, the foot massage device of Patent Document 1 has a holding groove formed on the front surface thereof, so that even if the massage function is not used, the lower limb must be fitted into the holding groove, thereby freeing the foot. Movement was restricted and it was difficult to have a comfortable posture. It also contributed to the loss of the appearance of the chair.

Therefore, in order to avoid such inconvenience, the applicant of the present application has already developed a technique such as Patent Document 2.
This massage chair has a push-pull mechanism that can move the foot massage device between a use position and a built-in position below the seat, and the push-pull mechanism is installed on both sides of the massage chair. A guide rail, a push / pull rod that moves in and out along the guide rail, and a carriage plate coupled to the push / pull rod are connected to the foot plate by a pin.
Therefore, after the foot massage device is located at the use position, the front (massage surface) and the rear surface (foot rest surface) of the foot massage device can be freely switched.

JP 2002-238963 A JP 2007-75590 A

However, the configuration employing the guide rail requires high precision and careful processing in that a smooth bend is formed on the guide rail, and has a feature that it is difficult to reduce the manufacturing cost.
In addition, due to the occurrence of sliding resistance against the guide rail, strong driving is required, but on the other hand, it is necessary to devise measures to suppress driving noise and vibration. There was room for improvement, such as increasing the burden.
As another need, when using a foot massage device, there is a desire to take a relaxed posture (a posture with the knee extended as much as possible) such that the user throws the foot forward.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a massage chair that can solve the simplification, weight reduction, and cost reduction of the structure at once. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a massage chair in which a user can take a relaxed posture such as extending his / her legs forward when using a foot massage device, thereby enhancing the feeling of use. And
On the other hand, in the chair type massage machine described in Patent Document 2, the foot massage device is formed in front of the seat and at the “use position” where the user's lower limb can be massaged, and below the seat. The “storage position” is moved between.

Recently, in order to enhance a feeling of relaxation when the foot is cramped, it has been proposed to lift the foot grinder from the floor surface at the position of use and to float in the air. In this case, when the foot massage device is held in the use position (when it is suspended in the air), a child may get on the foot massage device inadvertently, an adult may inadvertently sit down, or carry luggage. It is necessary to predict that it will be placed.
That is, when an overload is applied to the foot massage device, that is, when a user sitting on the seat deposits the lower limb on the foot massage device, the load acting on the foot massage device is an allowable load. There is a risk of a load that far exceeds that. In such a case, the part supporting the foot massaging device, the push / pull mechanism, or the like may be damaged, or the push / pull mechanism may be broken.

Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention may be applied even when a downward load exceeding an allowable amount is applied to the foot kneading device when the foot kneading device is held at the use position (when floating). It is another object of the present invention to provide a chair type massage machine configured so as not to be damaged or broken.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following technical means.
That is, the massage chair provided with the foot massage device according to the present invention is a massage chair having a seat portion, a backrest portion provided at the rear portion of the seat portion, and a foot massage device installed at the front portion of the seat portion. When the advancing / retreating mechanism is provided below the seat portion and connected to the footrest device, and the advancing / retreating mechanism moves forward, the footgrip device floats above the floor surface in front of the seat portion and lifts the user's lower limb. When the advancing / retreating mechanism moves backward, the foot massaging device is housed in a housing position formed below the seat portion when it moves to a use position that is a massageable position.

Specifically, the foot grinder in the use position has a back surface facing the floor and a bottom surface facing forward, and the foot grinder in the storage position has a bottom surface facing forward. It is in a state where it is substantially flush with the front end of the seat and the front of the lower limb is massaged upward.
The advancing and retreating mechanism is an advance operation for bringing the foot grinder to the use position by raising the back upper part of the foot grinder in the storage position forward from the front end of the seat or in the middle of the advance. It is configured to perform a retreat operation for returning the foot grinder to the storage position by lowering the back upper portion until the front upper portion of the foot grinder in the use position is lower than the seat lower portion, and then retreating downward to the seat portion. can do.

Specifically, the advancing / retreating mechanism is connected between a stationary pivot provided at the lower portion of the seat and a movable pivot provided at the upper back of the foot grinder so that the movable pivot is moved forward and backward with the stationary pivot as a fulcrum. A link that is swingably held, a swing drive unit that applies a driving force for swinging back and forth with respect to the link, and a roll that is provided at the lower back end of the foot grinder so as to be movable on the floor. When the link swings to the rear side of the swinging area of the link, the foot grinder moves to the storage position, and the link swings to the front side of the swinging area of the link. Then, it is possible to configure the foot massage device to move to the use position.

A rotation angle limiting member for preventing an angle between the link and the foot massage device from being equal to or less than a predetermined angle is provided at a connecting portion between the moving pivot portion of the foot massage device and the link. It is preferable that the angle is set so that the foot massaging device is not in contact with the floor surface at the use position of the foot massaging device.
For example, the rotation angle limiting member is a pin member that is parallel to a rotation axis that rotatably connects the movement pivot support portion of the foot massage device and the link, and the pin member is a link and a movement pivot. It is good to arrange | position at a link and / or a mobile pivot so that it may be pinched | interposed with a branch.

In this case, it is assumed that the link is formed of a single member that connects a stationary pivot portion provided at the center portion in the left-right direction of the seat portion and a movable pivot portion provided at the center portion in the left-right direction of the foot massage device. Is preferred.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the link is formed in a shape that curves in a C-shaped side view along the top from the front upper part of the foot gripping device when the foot gripping device is located at the storage position. .
The swing drive part of the advance / retreat mechanism may have an expansion / contraction mechanism driven by an electric motor.

The advancing / retracting mechanism may include a forward projecting mechanism that allows the foot kneading device in the use position to project forward while being in a floating state.
Specifically, the forward projecting mechanism has a slide mechanism at the front end portion of the link that allows the foot gripping device to slide in the front-rear direction, and the slide mechanism biases the foot gripping device backward. A member may be provided.
Preferably, the advancing / retreating mechanism is connected between a stationary pivot provided at a lower portion of the seat and a movable pivot provided at an upper rear portion of the foot grinder so that the movable pivot is moved forward and backward with the stationary pivot as a fulcrum. A link that is swingably held, a swing drive unit that applies a driving force for swinging back and forth with respect to the link, and a roll that is provided at the lower back end of the foot grinder so as to be movable on the floor. It is spanned between the driving wheel, the intermediate part of the link and the back part of the foot-greasing device, and is rotatable with respect to the link and the rear part of the foot-gripping device and slidable along the back surface of the foot-gear device. And when the link swings to the rear side of the swinging area of the link, the foot grinder moves to the storage position, and the link moves to the swinging area of the link. Swing forward, the foot grinder moves to the use position It may is configured so that.

Furthermore, a back support frame comprising a lower slide frame and an upper slide frame that are slidable with each other is provided on the back surface portion of the foot massage device, and the foot massage device is attached to the lower slide frame. It is preferable that the erection link is pivotably connected, a moving support portion is provided at the upper end portion of the upper slide frame, and the tip end portion of the link is swingably connected.
Particularly preferably, in the above-described chair type massage machine, an overload that is a downward load that exceeds an allowable amount is applied to a portion that connects the advance / retreat mechanism or the foot massage device and the advance / retreat mechanism. It is preferable that a buffer mechanism is provided for preventing the overload from being transmitted to the advance / retreat mechanism when applied.

The advancing / retreating mechanism has a propulsion shaft that moves back and forth with its axis centered in the front-rear direction, and is capable of moving the foot grinder between the use position and the storage position by the forward and backward movement of the propulsion shaft The shock-absorbing mechanism may include linear damper means that is provided on the propulsion shaft and absorbs overload.
The advancing / retracting mechanism has a rotation shaft that rotates the axis center in the left-right direction, and the rotation of the rotation shaft enables the foot grinder to move between the use position and the storage position. And the said buffer mechanism may have a rotation damper means provided in the said rotation axis | shaft and absorbing an overload.

According to the massage chair according to the present invention, further simplification, weight reduction, and cost reduction of the structure can be solved at once. In addition to the massage chair according to the present invention, when the foot massage device is used, the user can take a relaxed posture by throwing his / her foot forward to enhance the feeling of use. In addition, according to the chair type massage machine according to the present invention, when the foot massage device is held in the use position (when floating in the air), a downward load exceeding the load is applied to the foot massage device. Even if it does, it does not lead to damage or failure.

It is the side view which showed 1st Embodiment of the massage chair which concerns on this invention in a partially internal see-through state. It is the side view shown in the state which moved the foot massage device to the use position from the state of FIG. FIG. 3 is a view as seen from an arrow A in FIG. 2 (a perspective view in a state viewed from below). FIG. 3 is a view taken along line BB in FIG. 1. (A) is the perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2, (B) is the perspective view which expanded and showed the vicinity of the rotation angle limiting member. It is the side view which showed the accommodation state of the foot massage device. It is the side view shown as a state which is operating the foot kneading device between a storage state and a use position, and close | similar to a storage state. It is the side view shown as the state which is operating the foot kneading device between a storage state and a use position, and is an intermediate state between a storage state and a use state. It is the side view shown as a state which is operating the foot kneading device between a stowed state and a use position, and is close to a use state. It is the side view which showed the use condition of the foot massage device. (A) is a perspective view of the forward projecting mechanism, and (B) is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation state thereof. It is the perspective view which showed the massage chair which concerns on this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the use condition of the foot massage apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is the side view which showed the use condition of the foot massage apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the buffer mechanism which concerns on 3rd Embodiment (a connection cutting | disconnection mechanism is non-operation). It is the figure which showed the buffer mechanism which concerns on 3rd Embodiment (a connection cutting | disconnection mechanism act | operates). It is the perspective view which showed the buffer mechanism which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
1 to 12 show a first embodiment of a massage chair according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is an overall external view, and in other drawings, a part of the structure is omitted as necessary for convenience of explanation.
The massage chair 1 has a seat portion 2 and a backrest portion 3 provided at the rear portion of the seat portion 2, and a lower limb of a user seated on the seat portion 2 is located at the front portion of the seat portion 2. A foot massaging device 5 for massaging (especially calves) is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a leg frame 6 for installing the massage chair 1 on the floor surface F is provided at the lower portion of the seat 2, and the seat 2 is predetermined by the leg frame 6. Being supported by height.
Further, armrests 7 are provided so as to sandwich both sides of the seat portion 2 (see FIG. 12), and the leg frames 6 are hidden by these armrests 7 so that they cannot be seen from the outside.
In the following description, the left-right direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front-rear direction in the actual apparatus, and the up-down direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the up-down direction in the actual apparatus. 1 is referred to as a horizontal direction or a width direction in an actual apparatus. These directions coincide with those seen from the user sitting on the massage chair 1.

The seat portion 2 is wide enough to support the user's buttocks from below. The lower part of the backrest part 3 is pivotally supported so that it can swing back and forth with respect to the rear part of the seat part 2 or the rear part of the leg frame 6. The backrest 3 can be reclined by a reclining mechanism (not shown) such as a linear actuator mechanism disposed in the leg frame 6.
Inside the backrest 3, a back massage mechanism (not shown) that performs massage operations such as squeezing, striking, or vibrating is provided so as to be movable up and down.
The foot massage device 5 has a substantially square shape when viewed from the front, and a box shape that exhibits a rounded triangular shape when viewed from the side. A pair of left and right holding

grooves

10, 10 that allow the user's lower limbs (left and right feet) to be fitted are formed in front of the foot massage device 5.

A massage device for the lower limb that massages the lower limbs is incorporated in the inner facing surfaces of the holding grooves 10 (both sides that sandwich one of the inserted legs). This lower limb massage device is configured to itch by swinging a plate that is long in the length direction of the foot left and right, or to be squeezed with an air bag that expands and contracts by air supply and discharge. Can do.
The foot massaging device 5 is lifted from the floor F in front of the seat 2 and can be used to massage the user's lower limbs (see FIG. 2), and a storage position P formed below the seat 2. (Refer to FIG. 1).

That is, an advance / retreat mechanism 15 is provided below the seat portion 2 (inside the leg frame 6), and the seat portion 2 side (leg frame 6) and the foot kneading device 5 are connected via the advance / retreat mechanism 15. It becomes the composition which is done. When the advance / retreat mechanism 15 moves forward, the foot kneading device 5 advances to the use position U, and when the advance / retreat mechanism 15 moves backward, the foot kneading device 5 is stored in the storage position P. It has become a thing.
6 shows the storage state (storage position P) of the foot massage device 5, FIG. 10 shows the use state (use position U) of the foot massage device 5, and FIGS. 7 to 9 show switching between the storage state and the use state. Is shown (halfway state). As is clear from FIGS. 6 to 10, the advance / retreat mechanism 15 includes a link 20, a swing drive unit 21, and rolling wheels 22.

In addition, when moving the installation place of this massage chair 1 as a whole to the leg frame 6 which supports the seat part 2, in order to be able to move lightly, a floor surface installation part (foot massage device 5) is used. A pair of left and right moving wheels 23 are provided with respect to the rear end of the bottom surface. In addition, when the massage chair 1 is not used, such as when the massage chair 1 is not moved, the moving wheels 23 are lifted from the floor surface F, and are placed at four locations on the front, rear, left and right of the floor surface installation portion in order to maintain the installation stability. A member 24 is provided.
The flooring member 24 is preferably formed of hard rubber or the like that has both vibration absorption and resistance to slipping on the floor surface F. When the installation location of the massage chair 1 is moved, the entire chair is tilted backward (the chair front part is lifted) so that only the left and right moving wheels 23 are pressed against the floor surface F, and all the landing members 24 are thus moved. May be moved while rolling the moving wheel 23 so as to move away from the floor surface F.

On the other hand, the foot massaging device 5 is supported by the moving frame 28 in which the bottom support frame 26 and the back support frame 27 are assembled so as to exhibit an L shape in a side view so that the rigidity of the entire device is maintained.
The link 20 is provided at a stationary pivotal support portion 32 provided at a lower portion of the seat portion 2 (upper side in the leg frame 6) and a movement provided at a rear upper portion of the foot massage device 5 (upper portion of the rear support frame 27 in the moving frame 28). It is connected between the pivot 33.
The stationary pivot portion 32 and the movable pivot portion 33 are configured to hold the link 20 so as to be relatively rotatable around a pivot axis whose axis is directed in the left-right direction. Therefore, from the viewpoint that the foot massaging device 5 operates with respect to the seat portion 2, the link 20 is configured such that the movable pivot portion 33 is swingable in the front-rear direction with the stationary pivot portion 32 as a fulcrum. is there.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the stationary pivot part 32 is provided at the center part in the left-right direction of the seat part 2, and the movable pivot part 33 is provided at the center part in the left-right direction of the foot massage device 5. Yes. Accordingly, the link 20 that connects the stationary pivot portion 32 and the movable pivot portion 33 is formed by only one.
As is clear from FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the link 20 is formed in a highly rigid frame shape by connecting two link-composing rods 34 in parallel in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval and connecting them together. . The number of the link configuration rods 34 is not particularly limited, but a single link 20 is provided as a structure in which the entirety is assembled in a frame shape. That is, the link 20 is composed of a single bar member.

Further, the link 20 is formed in a shape that curves in a side view C-shape. That is, when the foot massaging device 5 is described as being in the storage position P below the seat portion 2 (the state of FIG. 6), the link 20 is once extended backward from the stationary pivot portion 32, and thereafter The foot kneading device 5 is U-turned downward so as to go around from the upper front to the upper rear side through the top, and further extends forward and then reaches the moving pivot 33.
As shown in FIG. 6, when considering a virtual circle D having a maximum radius R that is a straight line connected from the axial center of the stationary pivot 32 to the floor surface F, the link 20 is centered on the stationary pivot 32. The size of the imaginary circle D is such that it is entirely within the range of the virtual circle D. Therefore, even if the link 20 swings back and forth around the stationary pivot 32, the link 20 does not contact the floor surface F.

The link 20 is located behind the movable swing range when the foot massage device 5 is located at the storage position P (FIG. 6), and is movable when the foot massage device 5 is located at the use position U (FIG. 10). Swing back and forth so as to be in front of the moving range. The movable swing range refers to a region where the link 20 swings when the foot massaging device 5 moves between the storage position P and the use position U.
A rotation angle limiting member 50 is provided at a connecting portion between the moving pivot 33 and the link 20 provided at the upper back of the foot massage device 5.
In the rotation angle limiting member 50, the movement pivot support portion 33 is lifted by the swing of the link 20 forward, and the back surface of the foot gripping device 5 (the back support frame 27 of the foot gripping device 5) and the front end portion of the link 20. When the angle θ reaches a predetermined value, the rolling wheel 22 (in short, the entire foot massaging device 5) is lifted from the floor F while maintaining the angle θ.

Here, the predetermined angle θ is a form in which the front surface of the foot grinder 5 is in a horizontal state (including some steps) that is substantially flush with the upper surface of the seat portion 2 or is connected in a bent state in which the front is lowered. Is feasible.
In other words, as shown in FIG. 9, the rotation angle limiting member 50 is a rotation that rotatably connects the movable support portion 33 and the link 20 at the moment when the rolling wheel 22 is lifted from the floor surface F. Engage with the foot massaging device 5 in front of the position directly below the axis of movement so that the movable pivot 33 and the link 20 do not rotate any further. The rotation angle limiting member 50 is a pin member 50 parallel to a rotation axis that rotatably connects the movable pivot 33 and the link 20. That is, when the pin member 50 is sandwiched between the contact member 50A provided on the back support frame 27 and the link 20, the rotational state of the movable pivot 33 and the link 20 is restricted, and the angle θ is fixed. Is done.

In this embodiment, as is clear from FIG. 5 (B), a single pin shaft is installed between the two link construction rods 34 constituting the link 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two pins may be provided so as to protrude from each link construction rod 34, or only one of them may be provided. There is no problem even if the contact member 50A is provided on the link 20 side and the pin member 50 is provided on the back support frame 27 side of the foot kneading device 5.
The swing drive unit 21 applies a driving force for swinging back and forth with respect to the link 20. In this embodiment, the swing drive unit 21 is provided with an expansion / contraction mechanism 36 that performs an expansion / contraction operation using the electric motor 35 as a drive source. . As the expansion / contraction mechanism 36, for example, a mechanism using a screw shaft (such as a ball screw) or a combination mechanism of a rack and a pinion gear can be employed.

A bracket member 38 is provided on a pivot (rotating integrally with the link 20) that rotatably holds the rear end of the link 20 in the stationary pivot support 32 so as to rotate integrally therewith. The front end portion of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 is connected to the bracket member 38 so as to be relatively rotatable. Further, the rear end portion of the telescopic mechanism 36 is rotatably connected to the vertical flange portion 6 a of the leg frame 6.
The rolling wheel 22 is provided at the lower end of the back surface of the foot massaging device 5, that is, at the corner portion between the bottom surface and the back surface (the connecting portion between the bottom surface support frame 26 and the back surface support frame 27 in the moving frame 28). The top is held movably.

The outer peripheral surface (tire portion) of the rolling wheel 22 is preferably formed of hard rubber or the like that has both vibration absorption and resistance to slippage with respect to the floor surface F.
By the way, as shown in FIG. 11, in this embodiment, the advancing / retreating mechanism 15 has a forward projecting mechanism 60 for projecting the foot kneading device 5 in the use position further forward while floating. The forward projecting mechanism 60 includes a gas pressure cylinder 61 that constantly biases the foot kneading device 5 in the use position toward the rear.
Specifically, the back support frame 27 of the foot massaging device 5 is configured such that the slide outer frame 65 and the slide inner frame 66 are slidably combined with each other. On the other hand, a gas pressure cylinder 61 is arranged. The contact member 50 </ b> A with which the pin member 50 contacts is provided on the upper end portion of the back support frame 27 (the surface close to the link 20 at the upper end portion of the slide inner frame 66).

The gas pressure cylinder 61 is configured to generate an urging force in the extending direction. To counter the urging force of the gas pressure cylinder 61, the foot massaging device 5 is pressed forward with a user's foot or the like, By sliding the

frames

65 and 66 with respect to each other and extending the back support frame 27, the foot kneading device 5 is projected forward. On the contrary, both

frames

65 and 66 slide in opposite directions by the urging force when the gas pressure cylinder 61 extends, and the length of the back support frame 27 is shortened.
The gas pressure cylinder 61 has a fixing function that can temporarily fix the expansion / contraction amount. By using the fixing function, the positional relationship between the slide outer frame 65 and the slide inner frame 66, that is, the foot The degree of forward protrusion of the kneading device 5 can be stopped at an arbitrary position.

The operation of the fixing function of the gas pressure cylinder 61 is performed by an operation handle provided around the seat 2 and a wire connected from the operation handle to the gas pressure cylinder 61.
Next, the operation of the advance / retreat mechanism 15 configured as described above will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 6, the foot kneading device 5 is in a storage position P below the seat 2. At this time, the bottom surface of the foot massage device 5 is directed forward, the front surface (the surface provided with the holding

grooves

10 and 10 into which the user's lower limbs are fitted) is directed upward, and the bottom surface is the front end of the seat portion 2. It is almost flush with the part.
When the electric motor 35 of the swing drive unit 21 is operated, the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 starts to expand. Therefore, the pivot of the stationary support portion 32 starts to rotate at the front end portion (bracket member 38) of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36, with the vertical flange portion 6a of the leg frame 6 connected to the rear end portion of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 as a support. become.

Accordingly, the link 20 has the movable pivot 33 swinging forward with the stationary pivot 32 as a fulcrum. As a result, as shown in FIG. To move forward. At this time, since the rolling wheels 22 roll on the floor F, the foot kneading device 5 moves smoothly.
As the link 20 swings further forward, the upper part of the back of the foot massaging device 5 starts to rise as shown in FIGS. And if the back upper part of the foot kneading apparatus 5 comes out ahead of the front end lower part of the seat part 2, and the foot kneading apparatus 5 comes to rise as a whole as shown in FIG. Has reached the use position U.

A series of these operations is the advance operation of the advance / retreat mechanism 15. The foot massaging device 5 that has reached the use position U has a back surface facing the floor surface F, the bottom surface facing forward, and a front surface that massages the lower limbs (corresponding to the groove bottoms in the left and right holding grooves 10, 10). It is in a state of facing upward while being connected in a horizontal state or a front-down bent state (see FIG. 2) substantially flush with the upper surface of the portion 2.
If the user operates the lower limb massage mechanism with one foot inserted into the left and right holding

grooves

10, 10 with respect to the foot massage device 5, the user can comfortably receive massage. Further, at this time, the foot massaging device 5 ascends as a whole, so that the user can take a relaxed posture such as throwing his legs forward, and it is not necessary to bend the knees extremely, so the feeling of use is improved. It can be enhanced.

In addition, what is necessary is just to make the foot kneading apparatus 5 project forward by the front protrusion mechanism 60, when the foot kneading apparatus 5 in a use position feels cramped with respect to the length of a user's leg. After the foot kneading device 5 is used, the foot kneading device 5 is brought close to the seat 2.
On the other hand, when the electric motor 35 of the swing drive unit 21 is reversely operated from the use position U, the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 starts to contract. Therefore, the pivot of the stationary support portion 32 rotates in the reverse direction with the front end portion (bracket member 38) of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36, with the vertical flange portion 6a of the leg frame 6 connected to the rear end portion of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 as a support. To start.

Along with this, the link 20 has the movable pivot 33 swinging backward with the stationary pivot 32 as a fulcrum. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9 → FIG. As a whole, it descends and its upper front part sinks downward. As shown in FIG. 7, when the upper back portion is lowered until the front upper portion of the foot kneading device 5 becomes lower than the lower portion of the seat portion 2, the foot kneading device 5 moves backward with the lower portion of the seat portion 2 facing backward. At this time, since the rolling wheels 22 roll on the floor F, the foot kneading device 5 moves smoothly.
Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the foot kneading device 5 is returned to the state stored in the storage position P. A series of these operations is the retreat operation of the advance / retreat mechanism 15.

When the foot massage device 5 is in the storage position P, the bottom surface thereof faces forward and does not protrude from the front end portion of the seat portion 2, so that the “user who does not receive a massage” sitting on the massage chair 1 is comfortable. The body posture can be maintained and the appearance of the massage chair 1 is simple and refreshing.
It should be noted that a sensor such as a limit switch is provided on the upper surface of the seat portion 2 or the holding groove 10 of the foot massage device 5 and the sensor detects the user, or the massage mechanism or the lower limb massage mechanism is It is preferable that the execution of the retreating operation is ignored when there is an operation for causing the advance / retreat mechanism 15 to perform the retreating operation during the operation. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent an unfavorable situation such as hurting the user's lower limb.

As for the forward protrusion mechanism 60, a sensor such as a limit switch is provided on the back support frame 27, the gas pressure cylinder 61, or the like of the foot gripping device 5, and this sensor detects the forward protrusion state of the foot gripping device 5. When there is an operation for causing the advancing / retreating mechanism 15 to perform the retreating operation when the vehicle is in a retreating state, it is preferable that the execution of the retreating operation is ignored.
By the way, the massage chair 1 which concerns on this invention is not limited to the said embodiment.
For example, it is assumed that the stationary pivot part 32 is provided as a pair (that is, two places) on both the left and right sides of the seat part 2, and the movable pivot part 33 is also provided as a pair (that is, two places) on both the left and right sides of the foot massage device 5. Can be. In this case, a pair of left and right (that is, two) links 20 may be used so as to connect the left stationary pivot 32 and the movable pivot 33 and the right stationary pivot 32 and the movable pivot 33, respectively. Good.

Further, the link 20 is not limited to the C-type in a side view, and can be formed as a straight line.
The swing drive unit 21 can be configured to operate a gear mechanism with an electric motor and thereby swing the link 20 back and forth.
The rotation angle limiting member 50 is not limited to a pin-like object, and its attachment position, engagement partner, and the like are not limited. That is, any structure may be used as long as it forms an engagement structure for floating from the floor surface F while maintaining the foot massaging device 5 at the predetermined angle θ while the link 20 swings forward.
[Second Embodiment]
13 and 14 show a second embodiment of the massage chair according to the present invention.

The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is installed in place of the rotation angle limiting member 50 provided at the connecting portion between the moving pivot 33 and the link 20 provided at the upper back of the foot kneading device 5. The link 50Z (extrusion link) is provided.
As is clear from FIGS. 13 and 14, the advance / retreat mechanism 15 includes a link 20, a swing drive unit 21, rolling wheels 22, and a construction link 50 </ b> Z (extrusion link).
The foot massaging device 5 is supported by the moving frame 28 in which the bottom support frame 26 and the back support frame 27 are assembled so as to exhibit an L shape in a side view so that the rigidity of the entire device is maintained.

The back support frame 27 has a configuration in which a slide outer frame 65 (downward slide frame) and a slide inner frame 66 (upper slide frame) are slidably combined with each other. The bottom support frame 26 is coupled to the distal end of the slide outer frame 65, and the base end side (upper end side) of the slide inner frame 66 is connected to the link 20.
The link 20 includes a stationary pivot portion 32 provided at the lower portion of the seat portion 2 (upper side in the leg frame 6) and a movable pivot portion 33 provided at the upper rear portion of the foot massage device 5 (upper end portion of the slide inner frame 66). It is connected between.

The stationary pivot portion 32 and the movable pivot portion 33 are configured to hold the link 20 so as to be relatively rotatable around a pivot axis whose axis is directed in the left-right direction. Therefore, from the viewpoint that the foot massaging device 5 operates with respect to the seat portion 2, the link 20 is configured such that the movable pivot portion 33 is swingable in the front-rear direction with the stationary pivot portion 32 as a fulcrum. is there.
As shown in FIG. 13, the stationary pivot part 32 is provided at the center part in the left-right direction of the seat part 2, and the movable pivot part 33 is provided at the center part in the left-right direction of the foot massage device 5. Accordingly, the link 20 that connects the stationary pivot portion 32 and the movable pivot portion 33 is formed by only one.

As is clear from FIG. 13, the link 20 is formed in a highly rigid frame shape by connecting two link-composing rods 34 in parallel in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval and connecting them together. The number of the link configuration rods 34 is not particularly limited, but a single link 20 is provided as a structure in which the entirety is assembled in a frame shape. That is, the link 20 is composed of a single bar member.
Further, the link 20 is formed in a shape that curves in a side view C-shape. That is, in the state where the foot kneading device 5 is in the storage position P below the seat portion 2, the link 20 is once extended backward from the stationary pivot portion 32, and then the front of the foot kneading device 5. The U-turn is turned downward so as to go around from the upper part to the upper part of the back surface via the top part, and after that, further extends forward and then reaches the movable pivot part 33.

When considering a virtual circle D having a maximum radius R as a straight line connected from the axial center of the stationary pivot 32 to the floor surface F, the link 20 is within the range of the virtual circle D around the stationary pivot 32. It is formed in a size that fits all. Therefore, even if the link 20 swings back and forth around the stationary pivot 32, the link 20 does not contact the floor surface F.
The link 20 is on the rear side of the movable swing range when the foot kneading device 5 is located at the storage position P, and the front side of the movable swing range when the foot kneading device 5 is located at the use position U (FIG. 14). Swing back and forth as follows. The movable swing range refers to a region where the link 20 swings when the foot massaging device 5 moves between the storage position P and the use position U.

The erection link 50 </ b> Z is between a base pivot part 51 provided at an intermediate part of the link 20 and a front pivot part 52 provided on the back surface part (specifically, the upper side of the slide outer frame 65) of the foot massaging device 5. It is pivotally connected.
Therefore, when the link 20 is in the process of swinging forward with the stationary pivot 32 as a fulcrum, and the movable pivot 33 exceeds the bottom dead center, the erection link 50Z is based on the base pivot 51, The slide outer frame 65 is slid so as to be pushed against the slide inner frame 66 (in other words, the back support frame 27 is extended), and the foot massaging device 5 is projected forward. Thereafter, the back support frame 27 reaches the allowable extension amount and does not extend any more, and the rolling wheel 22 (in short, the entire leg massaging device 5) floats above the floor surface F.

At the use position U of the foot kneading device 5, the front surface of the foot kneading device 5 is in a horizontal state (including some steps) substantially flush with the upper surface of the seat portion 2, or is bent forward and downward. Yes.
The swing drive unit 21 applies a driving force for swinging back and forth with respect to the link 20. In this embodiment, the swing drive unit 21 is provided with an expansion / contraction mechanism 36 that performs an expansion / contraction operation using the electric motor 35 as a drive source. . As the expansion / contraction mechanism 36, for example, a mechanism using a screw shaft (such as a ball screw) or a combination mechanism of a rack and a pinion gear can be employed.
A bracket member 38 is provided on a pivot (rotating integrally with the link 20) that rotatably holds the rear end of the link 20 in the stationary pivot support 32 so as to rotate integrally therewith. The front end portion of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 is connected to the bracket member 38 so as to be relatively rotatable. Further, the rear end portion of the telescopic mechanism 36 is rotatably connected to the vertical flange portion 6 a of the leg frame 6.

Next, the operation of the advance / retreat mechanism 15 configured as described above will be described. First, it is assumed that the foot massaging device 5 is in the storage position P below the seat 2. At this time, the bottom surface of the foot massage device 5 is directed forward, the front surface (the surface provided with the holding

grooves

Accordingly, in the link 20, the moving pivot 33 is swung forward with the stationary pivot 32 as a fulcrum, and as a result, the foot massaging device 5 advances its upper back part forward. . At this time, since the rolling wheels 22 roll on the floor F, the foot kneading device 5 moves smoothly.
As the link 20 swings further forward, the upper part of the back of the foot massaging device 5 starts to rise. Then, if the back upper part of the foot kneading device 5 protrudes forward from the lower front end portion of the seat 2, and the foot kneading device 5 rises as a whole while protruding forward, as shown in FIG. The kneading device 5 has reached the use position U.

A series of these operations is the advance operation of the advance / retreat mechanism 15. The foot massage device 5 that has reached the use position U is in a horizontal state or a front-down direction in which the bottom surface faces the floor surface F, the bottom surface faces forward, and the front surface that massages the lower limbs is substantially flush with the upper surface of the seat 2. It is in a state of facing upwards while continuing in a bent state.
If the user operates the lower limb massage mechanism with one foot inserted into the left and right holding

grooves

10, 10 with respect to the foot massage device 5, the user can comfortably receive massage. At this time, the foot massaging device 5 ascends as a whole and protrudes forward, so that the user can take a relaxed posture such as throwing the foot forward, and there is no need to bend the knee extremely. , To improve the feeling of use.

On the other hand, when the electric motor 35 of the swing drive unit 21 is reversely operated from the use position U, the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 starts to contract. Therefore, the pivot of the stationary support portion 32 rotates in the reverse direction with the front end portion (bracket member 38) of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36, with the vertical flange portion 6a of the leg frame 6 connected to the rear end portion of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 as a support. To start.
Accordingly, the link 20 is configured such that the movable pivot 33 swings backward with the stationary pivot 32 as a fulcrum, and, as a result, the foot massaging device 5 as a whole projects the portion protruding forward to the rear. It descends while retreating, and it further sinks the front upper part downward. When the rear upper part is lowered until the front upper part of the foot kneading device 5 is lower than the lower part of the seat part 2, the foot kneading apparatus 5 moves backward with the lower part of the seat part 2 directed rearward. At this time, since the rolling wheels 22 roll on the floor F, the foot kneading device 5 moves smoothly.

Then, the foot kneading device 5 is returned to the state stored in the storage position P. A series of these operations is the retreat operation of the advance / retreat mechanism 15.
[Third Embodiment]
15 and 16 show a third embodiment of the massage chair according to the present invention.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the advance / retreat mechanism 15 is provided with a connection / disconnection mechanism 120 and a buffer mechanism 150 that temporarily disconnects the interlocking state between the telescopic mechanism 36 and the electric motor 35 (drive source). It is in the point.

As described above, the oscillating drive unit 21 applies a driving force for oscillating back and forth with respect to the link 20. In this embodiment, the oscillating drive unit 21 includes an extension mechanism 36 that extends and contracts using the electric motor 35 as a drive source. It is as a thing.
The swing drive unit 21 is for applying a driving force for swinging back and forth to the link 20, and includes an electric motor 35 and a telescopic mechanism 36 that extends and contracts using the electric motor 35 as a drive source. Yes. Further, the advance / retreat mechanism 15 is provided with a connection / disconnection mechanism 120 that temporarily disconnects the interlocking state between the telescopic mechanism 36 and the electric motor 35 (drive source), and a buffer mechanism 150.

15 and 16 show a cross section of the swing drive unit 21. A buffer mechanism 150 is provided in the swing drive unit 21. In the description of the swing drive unit 21 and the like, the left and right in FIGS. 15 and 16 are referred to as front and rear. FIG. 15 shows a situation in which the power generated by the electric motor 35 expands and contracts the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 and the foot kneading device 5 moves. FIG. 16 shows a situation in which the power transmission to the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 is interrupted by the connection / disconnection mechanism 120 and the foot kneading device 5 is not moved (the foot kneading device 5 can be freely advanced and retracted). .
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 of the swing drive unit 21 is in the same direction as the outer cylinder 110 formed in a cylindrical shape along the expansion / contraction operation direction (front / rear direction). The propulsion shaft 100 is formed in a cylindrical shape along the direction) and inserted into the outer cylinder 110 so as to be movable in and out.

The expansion / contraction mechanism 36 projects (extends) the propulsion shaft 100 forward from the outer cylinder 110 when the foot kneading device 5 is set to the use position U, and retracts the propulsion shaft 100 when the foot kneading device 5 is set to the storage position P. Thus, it is stored (contracted) in the outer cylinder 110. The outer cylinder 110 houses a screw shaft 112 having a thread groove formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the screw shaft 112 is connected to a rotating shaft of an electric motor 35 as a drive source via a worm gear.
A moving element 114 having a through hole and having a thread groove formed on the inner surface thereof is screwed onto the screw shaft 112. The outer shape of the moving element 114 is a truncated cone shape that is tapered toward the propulsion shaft 100 side, and is configured to be divided into two vertically.

On the other hand, a cylindrical cap body 106 is fitted on the rear end side of the propulsion shaft 100. A concave portion (tapered conical surface concave portion) 121 having a tapered tapered conical surface into which the conical surface of the moving element 114 is fitted (having the same taper angle) is formed at the central portion in the radial direction of the cap body 106. That is, the conical surface of the movable element 114 is fitted in the concave portion 121 of the cap body 106, and the wedge body is in a wedge state. That is, the cap body 106 is a wedge member.
A lid member 122 is provided on the rear end side (electric motor 35 side) of the cap body 106, and the tapered conical surface recess 121 is closed by the lid member 122 by the lid member 122.

A coil spring 116 for biasing the cap body 106 toward the mover 114 is provided between the rear end side (the electric motor 35 side) of the mover 114 and the cap body 106 (lid member 122). .
That is, the coil spring 116 is pressed and compressed by the lid member 122, and the cap body 106 to which the lid member 122 is attached is pushed into the moving element 114 (rearward side) with a constant force. A “wedge effect” between the moving element 114 and the cap body 106 is generated. In other words, the tapered conical surface recess 121 of the cap body 106 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the movable element 114 by the force of the coil spring 116, and the movable element 114 that can be divided by the wedge action is pressed and integrated in the radial direction. The screwed state between the moving element 114 and the screw shaft 112 is maintained.

The connection cutting mechanism 120 is composed of the moving element 114, the tapered conical surface recess 121 of the cap body 106, the coil spring 116, and the like described above. This connection cutting mechanism 120 is not limited to the above-described mechanisms (screw shaft 112, moving element 114, and outer wedge 106). For example, you may employ | adopt the mechanism which slips the clutch which is a power transmission plate like a torque limiter.
As described above, the swing drive unit 21 of the advance / retreat mechanism 15 causes the propulsion shaft 100 to protrude forward from the outer cylinder 110 or retract the propulsion shaft 100 into the outer cylinder 110 as the expansion / contraction operation of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36. Or store it. The advancing / retracting mechanism 15 rotates the bracket member 38 around the rotation axis of the stationary pivot 32 by this expansion / contraction operation, and integrally rotates the link 20 together with the bracket member 38 (rotation axis). 5 is moved between the use position P and the storage position U.

The buffer mechanism 150 has a linear damper 151 (linear damper means) provided along the propulsion shaft 100. The linear damper 151 prevents the overload from being transmitted to the advancing / retreating mechanism 15 when an “overload”, which is a downward load exceeding the allowable value, is applied to the foot kneading device 5 held at the use position. It has become.
A specific structure of the linear damper 151 is that a coil spring 153 is housed in a cylinder of the propulsion shaft 100 formed in a cylindrical shape, and this coil spring 153 is coupled to the rear end side of the propulsion shaft 100. The cap body 106 and the hinge head 155 inserted into the front end side of the propulsion shaft 100 so as to freely enter and exit are sealed in a state of being sandwiched between the front and rear.

The hinge head 155 is formed to be narrower than the cylindrical inner diameter of the propulsion shaft 100, but a spring receiver 156 that is equal to or slightly smaller in diameter than the cylindrical inner diameter of the propulsion shaft 100 is coupled to the rear end portion of the hinge head 155. ing. The front end of the coil spring 153 comes into contact with the spring receiver 156.
Further, a sleeve body 154 through which the hinge head 155 passes but not through the spring receiver 156 is coupled to the front end side of the propulsion shaft 100, and the hinge head 155 is prevented from coming off the propulsion shaft 100 by the sleeve body 154. . A bracket member 38 is swingably connected to the hinge head 155 via a hinge shaft 157.

The coil spring 153 is in a state in which the cap body 106 and the hinge head 155 are stretched in opposite directions (pressing and urging state) at both ends thereof, and the compression allowance is still left in the axial direction (front-rear direction). It is supposed to be in a state. Accordingly, the linear damper 151 can shorten the distance between the cap body 106 and the hinge head 155 within a range in which the compression margin held by the coil spring 153 can be reduced.
However, the compression margin remaining on the coil spring 153, that is, the state in which the cap body 106 and the hinge head 155 are stretched in opposite directions (spring force), causes the propulsion shaft 100 to project forward from the outer cylinder 110 as the expansion mechanism 36. When the foot kneading device 5 is moved from the storage position U to the use position P, it is maintained (not compressed).

The coil spring 153 is compressed when an overload is applied to the foot kneading device 5 when the foot kneading device 5 is in a suspended state after reaching the use position P. .
Regarding the advancing / retreating mechanism 15 having the above-described configuration, the operation, that is, the advancing / retreating operation of the foot massage device 5 will be described.
First, it is assumed that the foot massaging device 5 is in the storage position P below the seat 2. At this time, the bottom surface of the foot massage device 5 is directed forward, the front surface (the surface provided with the holding

grooves

10 and 10 into which the user's lower limbs are fitted) is directed upward, and the bottom surface is the front end of the seat portion 2. It is almost flush with the part.

When the electric motor 35 of the swing drive unit 21 is operated, the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 starts to expand. Therefore, the rotation shaft of the stationary pivot 32 starts to rotate at the front end (bracket member 38) of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36, with the vertical flange 6a of the leg frame 6 connected to the rear end of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 as a support. Will come to do. At this time, the state is as shown in FIG.
Accordingly, in the link 20, the moving pivot 33 is swung forward with the stationary pivot 32 as a fulcrum, and as a result, the foot massaging device 5 advances its upper back part forward. . At this time, since the rolling wheels 22 roll on the floor F, the foot kneading device 5 moves smoothly.

As the link 20 swings further forward, the upper part of the back of the foot massaging device 5 starts to rise. And if the back upper part of the foot kneading device 5 comes out ahead of the front end lower part of the seat part 2 and the foot kneading device 5 comes to rise as a whole, this foot kneading device 5 has reached the use position U. It will be.
A series of these operations is the advance operation of the advance / retreat mechanism 15. The foot massaging device 5 that has reached the use position U has a back surface facing the floor surface F, the bottom surface facing forward, and a front surface that massages the lower limbs (corresponding to the groove bottoms in the left and right holding grooves 10, 10). It is in a state of facing upward while being connected in a horizontal state or a front-down bent state substantially flush with the upper surface of the portion 2.

If the user operates the lower limb massage mechanism with one foot inserted into the left and right holding

grooves

10, 10 with respect to the foot massage device 5, the user can comfortably receive massage. Further, at this time, the foot massaging device 5 ascends as a whole, so that the user can take a relaxed posture such as throwing his legs forward, and it is not necessary to bend the knees extremely, so the feeling of use is improved. It can be enhanced.
In addition, when the mechanism which makes it possible to switch the foot kneading device 5 in the use position to the forward projecting state as necessary is provided, and the user feels the foot kneading device 5 cramped with respect to the length of the leg, The foot kneading device 5 may be made to protrude forward. After the foot kneading device 5 is used, the foot kneading device 5 is brought close to the seat 2.

On the other hand, when the electric motor 35 of the swing drive unit 21 is reversely operated from the use position U, the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 starts to contract. For this reason, the rotation shaft of the stationary pivotal support portion 32 rotates in the reverse direction at the front end portion (bracket member 38) of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36, with the vertical flange portion 6a of the leg frame 6 to which the rear end portion of the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 is connected. Will begin to move. At this time, the state is as shown in FIG.
Along with this, the link 20 is configured such that the moving pivot 33 swings backward with the stationary pivot 32 as a fulcrum, and as a result, the foot massaging device 5 is lowered as a whole, and the front upper portion thereof is moved. It will sink down.

When the rear upper part is lowered until the front upper part of the foot kneading device 5 is lower than the lower part of the seat part 2, the foot kneading apparatus 5 moves backward with the lower part of the seat part 2 directed rearward. At this time, since the rolling wheels 22 roll on the floor F, the foot kneading device 5 moves smoothly.
Then, the foot kneading device 5 is returned to the state stored in the storage position P. A series of these operations is the retreat operation of the advance / retreat mechanism 15.
When the foot massage device 5 is placed in the storage position P, the bottom surface thereof faces forward and does not protrude from the front end portion of the seat portion 2, so that the “user who does not receive a massage” sitting on the chair type massage machine 1 While maintaining an easy posture, the appearance of the chair type massage machine 1 is simple and refreshing.

When the telescopic mechanism 36 is contracted and there is an obstacle such as a user's lower limb between the foot massage device 5 and the seat 2, the state shown in FIG. Even if it rotates so as to retract 15, the propulsion shaft 100 does not move in the direction in which it is stored in the outer cylinder 110.
Furthermore, when the advancing / retreating mechanism 15 is electrically out of order (at least when the electric motor 35 is not rotating), the foot grinder 5 is moved forward to manually move the foot grinder 5 to the use position U side. 16, the state is as shown in FIG. 16, the internal thread of the moving element 114 gets over the external thread of the screw shaft 112, and the propulsion shaft 100 moves so as to protrude from the outer cylinder 110. It is easily pulled out to the use position U side.

As described above, since the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 is provided with a power transmission cutoff mechanism that transmits and shuts off the driving force from the electric motor 35, it is possible to eliminate the need for an electric circuit configuration. Inconvenient situations such as hurting the lower limbs can be surely prevented. Further, even if an electrical failure occurs, the foot massage device 5 can be easily pulled out to the use position U side.
And when holding the foot massage device 5 in the use position (when floating in the air), for example, a child rides on the foot massage device 5 with mischief, or an adult sits carelessly, Or suppose that something happened, such as putting luggage. At this time, the foot massaging device 5 is overloaded.

In this case, the link 20 provided between the foot massaging device 5 and the advancing / retracting mechanism 15 has a pivoting action such that the bracket member 38 is pushed back with the pivoting shaft of the stationary pivotal support 32 as a fulcrum. (See the white arrow Y in FIG. 15). Accordingly, in the expansion / contraction mechanism 36 of the advance / retreat mechanism 15, the hinge head 155 of the propulsion shaft 100 is pushed backward, and the linear damper 151 provided on the propulsion shaft 100 compresses the coil spring 153. .
As a result, the overload is prevented from being directly transmitted to the advance / retreat mechanism 15, and the portion supporting the foot massaging device 5 and the advance / retreat mechanism 15 are prevented from being damaged or broken by the overload. Will be able to.

The coil spring 153 is compressed (the buffer mechanism 150 buffers the overload) until the foot kneading device 5 (rolling wheel 22) reaches the floor surface. Further, when the overload on the foot massaging device 5 is eliminated, the linear damper 151 returns the compression force to the original, and the propulsion shaft 100 automatically generates a forward pushing action on the foot massaging device 5 normally. Will return to the correct state.
Note that the linear damper 151 can have a structure using oil pressure, air pressure, or the like, instead of the one using the coil spring 153.
[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 17 shows a fourth embodiment of the chair type massage machine according to the present invention.

This embodiment is most different from the third embodiment in the specific structure of the buffer mechanism 150 provided in the advance / retreat mechanism 15.
Further, in the second embodiment, the rotation shaft 170 provided so as to be rotatable with the axial center directed in the left-right direction with respect to the stationary pivot support portion 32 on the seat portion 2 side includes the input shaft 170a and the input shaft 170a. The connecting shaft structure has an output shaft 170b that is coaxial with the shaft 170a and is faced in a relatively rotatable state.
And the bracket member 38 rock | fluctuated with the propulsion shaft 100 of the expansion-contraction mechanism 36 with respect to such a rotation axis | shaft 170 is made into the structure rotated integrally with the input shaft 170a, and makes the foot massage apparatus 5 the use position P. It is assumed that the link 20 that is moved between the storage position U and the output shaft 170b rotates together.

The buffer mechanism 150 according to the second embodiment increases the torsional pressure by elastic deformation around the connecting portion of the input shaft 170a and the output shaft 170b with respect to the rotation shaft 170 of the stationary pivot support portion 32, or based on this torsional pressure. Rotating damper 171 (rotating damper means) that returns to the above is configured.
As a specific structure of the rotary damper 171, a coil spring 173 that connects the input shaft 170 a and the output shaft 170 b of the rotary shaft 170 is provided. The coil spring 173 is coaxially disposed so as to be wound around the outer side of the rotating shaft 170. One end of the coil spring 173 is connected to the input shaft 170a, and the other end of the coil spring 173 is connected to the output shaft 170b. They are connected so that the rotational force of the input shaft 170a can be transmitted to the output shaft 170b.

In the buffer mechanism 150, when the foot kneading device 5 is held at the use position (when it is suspended in the air), for example, a child rides on the foot kneading device 5 in a mischief or carelessly an adult. Suppose something happens to sit down or leave a baggage. At this time, the foot massaging device 5 is overloaded.
Then, the link constituting rod 34 swings downward around the output shaft 170b, and the output shaft 170b rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the right side of FIG. However, this rotation is absorbed by the torsional elastic deformation of the rotation damper 171 and is not transmitted directly to the input shaft 170a. As a result, the overload is buffered and is not transmitted to the advance / retreat mechanism 15, so that it is possible to prevent the portion supporting the foot gripping device 5 and the advance / retreat mechanism 15 from being damaged or broken due to the overload. Become.

Note that the rotating damper 171 employed in the fourth embodiment can have a torsional damper structure using oil pressure, air pressure, or the like, instead of using the coil spring 173.
It should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

The present invention can be applied to a foot massage device attached to a massage chair, and can also be applied to a sofa or a vehicle seat.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Massage chair 2 Seat part 3 Backrest part 5 Foot massage device 15 Advance / retreat mechanism 20 Link 22 Rolling wheel 21 Oscillation drive part 32 Stationary pivot part 33 Movement pivot part 35 Electric motor 36 Telescopic mechanism 50 Rotation angle restriction member (pin member)
50Z erection link 60 forward projecting mechanism 61 gas pressure cylinder 150 buffer mechanism 151 linear damper 171 rotation damper F floor surface P storage position U use position

Claims

In a massage chair having a seat, a backrest provided at the rear of the seat, and a foot massage device installed at the front of the seat,
An advance / retreat mechanism connected to the foot grinder is provided below the seat,
When the advance / retreat mechanism moves forward, the foot kneading device floats above the floor in front of the seat and moves to a use position where the user's lower limb can be massaged, and the advance / retreat mechanism retracts backward. Then, the massage chair provided with the foot massage device, wherein the foot massage device is stored in a storage position formed below the seat.
The foot massage device in the use position is in a state where the back surface faces the floor surface and the bottom surface faces the front,
The foot massaging device in the storage position is in a state in which the bottom surface thereof faces frontward and the front surface of the seat portion is substantially flush with the front surface for massaging the lower limbs. A massage chair provided with the described foot massage device.
The advancing and retreating mechanism is an advance operation for bringing the foot grinder to the use position by raising the back upper part of the foot grinder in the storage position forward from the front end of the seat or in the middle of the advance. It is configured to perform a retreat operation for returning the foot grinder to the storage position by lowering the back upper portion until the front upper portion of the foot grinder in the use position is lower than the seat lower portion, and then retreating downward to the seat portion. The massage chair provided with the foot massage apparatus of Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.
The advancing / retreating mechanism is connected between a stationary pivot provided at the lower part of the seat and a movable pivot provided at the upper back of the footgrip device so that the movable pivot can be swung back and forth around the stationary pivot. A link to be held, a rocking drive unit that applies a driving force for rocking back and forth to the link, and a rolling wheel that is provided at the lower end of the back of the foot kneading device and is movably held on the floor surface. Have
When the link swings to the rear side of the swinging area of the link, the foot kneading device moves to the storage position, and when the link swings to the front side of the swinging area of the link, the foot kneading device moves to the use position. It is comprised so that it may carry out. The massage chair provided with the foot massage apparatus of Claim 2 or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.
A rotation angle limiting member that prevents the angle between the link and the foot massaging device from becoming equal to or less than a predetermined angle is provided at the connecting portion between the moving support portion of the foot massaging device and the link,
5. The massage provided with a foot massage device according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined angle is set to an angle at which the foot massage device is not in contact with the floor surface at the use position of the foot massage device. Chair.
The rotation angle limiting member is a pin member that is parallel to a rotation axis that rotatably connects the moving pivot part and the link of the foot massage device, and the pin member includes a link and a movement pivot part. The massage chair provided with the foot kneading device according to claim 5, wherein the massage chair is disposed on the link and / or the moving pivot so as to be sandwiched between the legs.
The said link is formed with the single member which connects the stationary pivot part provided in the left-right direction center part of a seat part, and the movement pivot part provided in the left-right direction center part of a foot massage apparatus. The massage chair provided with the foot massage apparatus of claim | item 6.
The said link is formed in the shape which curves in the side view C type | mold which follows a top part from the front upper part of a foot kneading device, when the said foot kneading device is located in a storage position. A massage chair provided with the foot massage device described in 1.
The massage chair provided with the foot kneading device according to claim 6, wherein the swing drive unit of the advance / retreat mechanism has an expansion / contraction mechanism driven by an electric motor.
The massage chair provided with the foot kneading device according to claim 5, wherein the advance / retreat mechanism has a front projecting mechanism that allows the foot kneading device in a use position to project forward in a floating state. .
The forward projecting mechanism has a slide mechanism at the front end of the link that allows the foot grinder to slide in the front-rear direction.
The massage chair provided with the foot massage device according to claim 10, wherein the slide mechanism includes a biasing member that biases the foot massage device backward.
The advancing / retreating mechanism is connected between a stationary pivot provided at the lower portion of the seat and a movable pivot provided at the upper back of the footgrip device so that the movable pivot can be swung back and forth around the stationary pivot. A link to be held, a swing drive unit that applies a driving force for swinging back and forth to the link, a rolling wheel that is provided at the lower back end of the foot kneading device and is held movably on the floor surface, It is spanned between the middle part of the link and the back part of the foot-climbing device, and is rotatable with respect to the link and the back part of the foot-gear device, and is slidable along the back side of the foot-growth device. An erection link, and
When the link swings to the rear side of the swinging area of the link, the foot kneading device moves to the storage position, and when the link swings to the front side of the swinging area of the link, the foot kneading device moves to the use position. It is comprised so that it may carry out. The massage chair provided with the foot massage apparatus of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.
A back support frame comprising a lower slide frame and an upper slide frame that are slidable with respect to each other is provided on the back portion of the foot massage device,
The foot slide device is attached to the lower slide frame, and the erection link is rotatably connected.
The massage chair provided with the foot massaging device according to claim 12, wherein a moving pivotal support portion is provided at an upper end portion of the upper slide frame, and a tip end portion of the link is swingably connected.
When an overload, which is a downward load that exceeds an allowable amount, is applied to the foot-clamping device held in the use position, the portion that connects the advancing / retreating mechanism or the foot-gearing device with the advancing / retreating mechanism causes the overload to move back and forth. The massage chair provided with the foot kneading device according to claim 1, further comprising a buffer mechanism for preventing transmission to the body.
The advance / retreat mechanism has a propulsion shaft that moves back and forth with its axis oriented in the front-rear direction, and is capable of moving the foot grinder between the use position and the storage position by the back-and-forth movement of the propulsion shaft,
The massage chair according to claim 14, wherein the buffer mechanism includes linear damper means provided on the propulsion shaft to absorb overload.
The advancing / retracting mechanism has a rotation shaft that rotates the axis center in the left-right direction, and the rotation of the rotation shaft enables the foot grinder to move between the use position and the storage position. And
The massage chair provided with a foot kneading device according to claim 14, wherein the buffer mechanism has a rotation damper means provided on the rotation shaft to absorb an overload.