Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Device with applicator having specific movement
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-26
2001-02-20
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Device with applicator having specific movement
C601S135000, C601S093000, C601S095000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190339
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electric massage device (of the hand-held type, the chair-type, or the like) in which the massage action is performed by a pair of massage members.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a known electric massage device in which the massage motion is performed by a pair of massage members and which is intended to produce a massage effect similar to a manual massage conducted by a massager has a structure in which the massage members are moved in a substantially oval locus having: a massage zone where the members approach each other; and a release zone where the members are separated from each other, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei. 4-40025.
In the above massage device, the massage members respectively produce massage actions of different feelings, so that the resulting massage action is similar to that performed by fingers.
In the aforementioned known technique, the massage members move in the same manner both in the massage and release zones. Therefore, it is largely different from the technique which is called the thumb-grasping massage technique to be conducted by a massager (massage technique where the area to be massaged is grasped and lifted up while applying a force by the thumb), and in which the massage action is slowly performed and then the applied force is rapidly released.
Further, in the aforementioned massage device, the massage feeling is varied depending on the physique of a person to be massaged. Even when the same massage action is performed, for example, a person having a thin shoulder portion may feel that the massage action is weak, and a person having a thick shoulder portion may feel that the massage action is too strong. Furthermore, an opening which is formed in a case to allow an arm for each of the massage members to be movable is exposed. Consequently, there is a fear that a finger or the like is caught between an edge of the opening and the arm.
On the other hand, a massage device in which the space between massage members is adjustable has been proposed (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei. 4-827). In the massage device, the space between massage members must be adjusted under a state where the body of the device is held with one hand and one of the massage members is grasped and pulled up with the other hand. Consequently, the adjusting work is cumbersome. The space is adjusted by swinging an arm of the massage member about a support shaft disposed on the basal end side. When the space is adjusted, therefore, the contact point where each massage member contacts with the area to be massaged is changed. The publication says nothing about the stop position of each massage member. In the case where the massage member which performs the massage action is stopped at an arbitrary position, when the massage device is once used on a person and then on another person of a different physique, an index of the space adjustment cannot be obtained unless the massage members are driven.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a massage device which can produce a massage effect similar to that attained by the thumb-grasping massage technique conducted by a massager.
It is another object of the invention to provide a massage device in which the difference in massage feeling due to a difference in physique can be reduced.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a massage device in which a finger or the like is prevented from being caught by a moving massage member.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a massage device in which the space between massage members can be easily adjusted.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a massage device in which the space adjustment can be adequately conducted under a state where massage members are stopped.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a massage device comprising: a pair of massage arms; a pair of massage members being respectively disposed at tip ends of the massage arms; means for driving at least one of the massage arms and one of the massage members so as to change a space between the pair of massage members to perform a massage action; wherein the driving means is constituted so as to cause one driven massage member to perform a circulating motion including (i) a massage zone where one massage member approaches the other massage member in a locus which swells in an outward direction as view from the massage arms, and (ii) a release zone where one massage member separates from the other massage member in a locus which is shorter than the massage zone.
According to a second aspect of the invention, in the massage device according to the first aspect, the driving means causes the other massage member a reciprocal rocking motion between a squeezing position where the space between the other massage member and the one massage member is minimum, and a release position where the space between the other massage member and one massage member is maximum.
According to a third aspect of the invention, in the massage device according to the second aspect, the driving means has a driving system for the other massage member which performs the reciprocal rocking motion, the driving system including: a driving plate which is rotated by a motor; a cam groove which is formed around a rotation center of the driving plate; a cam shaft which engages with the cam groove; and a rocking block which is rocked about a fixed fulcrum by a cam action between the cam groove and the cam shaft, thereby rocking the other massage arm.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the massage device according to the first aspect, the driving means has a driving system for one massage member which performs the circulating motion, the driving system comprising: a rotation plate which is rotated by a motor to give a circular motion force to a motion fulcrum of one massage arm; and a restriction arm which restricts a motion locus of one massage arm so that one massage member performs the circulating motion having the massage zone and the release zone.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the massage device according to the first aspect, the other massage arm is fixed.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the massage device according to the second aspect, the driving means stops the other massage member which performs the reciprocal rocking motion, for a predetermined time period including a timing when one massage member which performs the circulating motion reaches an endpoint of the massage zone.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the massage device according to the second aspect, the driving means stops the other massage member which performs the reciprocal rocking motion at the squeezing position of the other massage member, for a predetermined time period.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the massage device according to the first aspect, at least one of the massage arms is configured as an articulate link mechanism in which two arms are connected at one end to each other by a pin, and a spring which urges the two arms toward a usual action position is disposed in an arcuate portion of one of the massage arms.
According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the massage device according to the first aspect, at least one of the massage arms are positionally changeable, and the device further comprising space adjusting means for adjusting a position of one of the the massage arms in a direction along which a space between the pair of massage members.
According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in the massage device according to the ninth aspect, the space adjusting means moves in parallel the positionally-changeable massage member and massage arm in a state where a massaging face of the positionally-changeable massage member is substantially unchanged in direction at any adjust position.
According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, in the massage device according to t
Hata Keiji
Imazaike Mikiharu
Iwamoto Hironori
Miyake Yoshiyuki
Okada Yoshikazu
Brown Michael A.
Koo Benjamin
Matsushita Electric & Works Ltd.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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