JP4419194B2 - Foot massage machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foot massage machine, and more particularly to a foot massage machine that can massage with different types of stimulation applied to the foot.

Conventionally, as this kind of foot massage machine, a main body (corresponding to the case of the present invention) on which both feet are placed, a first treatment unit that stimulates the sole side by rotational driving, and a pressing member are reciprocated horizontally. A foot massage machine having a second treatment unit that stimulates the toe side by operating and a third treatment unit that has a pair of arm portions that stimulate (i.e., crawl) the vicinity of the Achilles tendon is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). There is also known a massage device in which a plurality of eccentric operating bodies are rocked and undulated so that their feet are crucified with a kneading pad attached to these eccentric operating bodies (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-245797 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-74527

  However, the foot massage machine like the former has a problem that the entire device becomes large in order to give a plurality of different types of stimulation to the foot, leading to an increase in size and complexity of the entire device and an increase in cost. there were. Moreover, although the toe side is stimulated by moving the pressing member in the horizontal direction, it is insufficient as a structure for stimulating a complicated and fine part such as a toe. Moreover, in the latter type of massage device, it seems that it is possible to give a complex stimulus to the toes by making it compact, but there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to provide a foot massage machine that can perform massage by applying different types of stimulation to the foot with a simple structure.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foot massage machine comprising: a housing having a footrest portion; and a sole of the foot placed on the footrest portion by operating a treatment element provided on the footrest portion. And a second massage mechanism that is provided close to the footrest and that stimulates the toes placed on the footrest, the second massage mechanism includes a drive mechanism having a conversion mechanism for converting the rotational motion of the electric motor and the electric motor into reciprocating motion, and a brush-like treatment element connected to the drive mechanism, wherein the treatment elements are pre SL drive A base that bends in accordance with the operation of the mechanism, and a protrusion that is provided on the base and moves as the base bends, and the treatment element includes a plurality of the protrusions along the outer shape of the base. First protrusions arranged in a ring When those having a second projection group part and the first projection group is provided on the inner side of the first projection group is adapted to overlap.

The foot massage machine according to claim 2 of the present invention is the foot massage machine according to claim 1, wherein a small protrusion is provided inside the first protrusion group and the second protrusion group .

The foot massage machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured as described above, and massages the entire toe and the base of the toe by the first projection group of the second massage mechanism. It is possible to massage the toe of the big toe with the second projection group.

In addition, the foot massage machine according to claim 2 of the present invention is configured as described above, so that the small protrusion moves up and down along with the bending of the base of the treatment element, so that one treatment is performed. The child can give a plurality of different stimuli to the toes and the like.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view thereof. The overall shape of the foot massage machine 1 is substantially similar to a weight scale, and both feet can be massaged simultaneously by placing both feet on the upper surface of the massage machine 1. For this purpose, the plan view and the front view have a symmetrical shape.

  In addition, when using the foot massage machine 1, the sole of the foot is placed on the footrest 2 of the massage machine 1 with the user sitting on the chair. As shown, the upper surface of the massage machine 1 is configured to be inclined about 15 degrees from the horizontal plane so that the toe portion 4 is higher than the heel portion 3 of the foot. This makes it possible to place the back of the foot on the footrest 2 without difficulty even when the chair is seated.

  On the upper surface of the housing 5, the footrest portions 2 for placing feet at positions corresponding to both feet are provided at two positions on the left and right. The left and right footrests 2 are provided with a first massage mechanism 6 that comes into contact with the back surface of the foot including the arch. In addition, on the upper surface of the housing 5, a second massage mechanism 7 that stimulates the toes is provided at two positions on the left and right sides in the vicinity of the toe portion 4 side of the footrest portion 2. The second massage mechanism 7 is further inclined by about 10 degrees with respect to the footrest part 2 inclined by about 15 degrees from the horizontal plane so as to face the footrest part 2.

  A power switch 8, a mode switch 9, and a position switch 11 are provided between the center of the upper surface of the foot massage machine 1, that is, between the footrests 2 and 2 on which the left and right feet are placed. The power switch 8 turns on / off power supply to an electric motor 38 described later, and the mode switch 9 switches the operating frequency of the treatment element 14 and the second massage mechanism 7. The position changeover switch 11 selects the operation of the first massage mechanism 6 and the second massage mechanism 7. Furthermore, a display unit 12 that indicates the operation status is provided above a portion where the various switches 8, 9, and 11 are disposed.

  The footrest portion 2 provided on the upper surface of the housing 5 is configured to operate the first massage pad 13 made of soft synthetic resin that makes contact with the back of the foot other than the arch and the treatment element 14 that makes contact with the arch. The mechanism 6 is configured. The sole pad 13 is fixed to the upper surface of the housing 5, and a number of substantially hemispherical projections 15 are provided on the surface thereof. The protrusions 15 allow the sole pads 13 to contact locally without contacting the entire back surface of the foot. As a result, even if the sole pad 13 itself does not vibrate, the vibration due to the operation of the treatment element 14 is transmitted to the back surface of the foot via the projection 15, so that the entire sole surface is also somewhat affected by the projection 15. You will be stimulated.

  The treatment element 14 is formed in a substantially arch shape in plan view, and is made of a soft synthetic resin material. A hemispherical protrusion 16 having the same size as that of the protrusion 15 provided on the surface of the foot pad 13 is annularly provided on the peripheral portion of the surface of the treatment element 14, and a peripheral portion is provided in the central portion. A hemispherical protrusion 17 larger than that provided on the part is provided. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the treatment element 14 is provided with three large hemispherical protrusions 17.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the treatment element 14 is disposed in an opening 18 having the same shape provided in the sole pad 13. The treatment element 14 is mounted on a linear actuator 19 provided in the housing 5, and reciprocates in the vertical direction by the operation of the linear actuator 19. As the linear actuator 19, a linear actuator 19 having a solenoid 21 and a plunger 23 having a simple structure is used. The plunger 23 is always urged upward by a compression spring (not shown). When a current is intermittently supplied to the solenoid 21 via a drive circuit (not shown), a magnetic field is intermittently formed by the solenoid 21, and a force for raising the plunger 23 is intermittently applied by the magnetic field. As a result, a tapping force is generated in the treatment element 14 connected to the tip of the plunger 23. That is, the tip of the plunger 23 of the linear actuator 19 is connected to a substantially central portion on the back side of the treatment element 14 made of a soft synthetic resin material, and a user places his / her foot on the footrest 2. Thus, when the treatment element 14 is pushed down against the urging force of a compression spring (not shown) by the back of the foot, the plunger 23 connected to the treatment element 14 is also pushed down, and from this state the solenoid 21 is moved to the solenoid 21. When a magnetic field is formed by the flow of electric current, the plunger 23 is attracted and raised by the magnetic field, and the treatment element 14 connected to the tip of the plunger 23 is also raised, and the large hemispherical protrusion 17 causes the It is constructed so that it can be massaged by hitting the back, especially the arch. The current supplied to the solenoid 21 of the linear actuator 19 is intermittently about several Hz by arbitrarily thinning the formed waveform after half-wave rectification of a household AC current of 50 Hz or 60 Hz. It is considered as current. This frequency can be changed by the mode switch 9.

  The second massage mechanism 7 for stimulating the toes is provided close to the toe portion 4 side of the footrest portion 2, and in the state where the foot is placed on the first massage mechanism 6, It is disposed at the location where the finger is located. Even if the size of the foot is an adult, women and men have different sizes and individual differences, but the distance between the arch position and the finger position is not as great as the size of the foot. Therefore, the optimal positions of the first massage mechanism 6 and the second massage mechanism 7 differ depending on the size of the foot. Strictly speaking, the second massage mechanism 7 moves in the length direction of the foot. Since it has an oval shape with a certain width, the position of the first massage mechanism 6 and the position of the second massage mechanism 7 are fixed if the size of the foot of a normal adult is fixed. However, foot massage does not cause much trouble.

  5 and 6 show a plan view of the second massage mechanism 7 on which the finger of the right foot is placed among both feet. The second massage mechanism 7 includes a brush-like treatment element 24 made of a single elastic body having an elliptical shape so that the entire five toes from the thumb of one foot to the little finger can be placed, and the treatment The drive mechanism 47 is configured to reciprocate the child 24. A first protrusion group 26 is annularly arranged along the outer shape of the base 25 of the elliptical treatment element 24. The shape of each protrusion 27 of the first protrusion group 26 arranged in this elliptical shape is substantially frustoconical, and is different from the hemispherical protrusion 15 provided on the footrest 2. Make different. In addition, since the shape of each protrusion 27 has a substantially frustoconical shape, the lateral rigidity of the root 27a close to the base 25 is high in the protrusion 27, and the lateral rigidity of the tip 27b. Becomes lower. That is, the tip 27b of the protrusion 27 has a characteristic that it is elastically deformed in the lateral direction relatively easily.

  The toes are different in size and movement between the thumb 28 and the other four fingers 29 other than the thumb 28, and the thong is sandwiched between the thumb 28 and the index finger. Since the thumb 29 plays an important role during exercise and the like, in particular, the thumb 29 plays an important role at the portion of the treatment element 24 where the thumb 28 abuts. In addition, a plurality of protrusions 31 are arranged in an annular shape so as to surround the thumb 28. That is, a second protrusion group 32 is provided which is provided inside the first protrusion group 26 and is configured to partially overlap the first protrusion group 26. Furthermore, a plurality of small projections 33 are provided inside the second projection group 32 from the projections 31 constituting the second projection group 32. As a result, the surface of the big toe 28 having a complicated surface shape can be well massaged.

  A plurality of small protrusions 34 are also provided on the inner side of the first protrusion group 26 and on the outer side of the second protrusion group 32, that is, on a portion where a finger 29 other than the thumb 28 is placed. Provided. As a result, the fingers 29 other than the big toe 28 can be massaged well.

  The protrusion 27 provided on the second massage mechanism 7 has a substantially frustoconical shape, but the distal end surface 27b is not formed parallel to the base 25, and the first The outer portion of the projection group 26 is raised and the inner portion is lowered. Therefore, the front end surface 27b of the protrusion 27 is an inclined surface facing the inner side of the ring. Similarly, the front end surface of the protrusion 31 has a higher outer portion of the second protrusion group 32 and a lower inner portion. Therefore, the front end surface of the protrusion 31 is an inclined surface facing the inner side of the annular shape. By setting it as such a shape, the front end surface 27b of the said projection part 27 and the front end surface of the processus | protrusion 31 can be made to contact | abut with sufficient fit also to the surface of the toe | toe which has a complicated surface shape.

  Next, the operation principle of the second massage mechanism 7 will be described. The operating principle of the second massage mechanism 7 is completely different from that of the first massage mechanism 6. 7 and 8 show a cross section of the brush-like treatment element 24 provided in the second massage mechanism 7, and FIG. 7 shows a case where the rod 35 as an operating rod is at the top dead center. FIG. 8 shows a case where the rod 35 as an operating rod is at the bottom dead center. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the periphery of the base 25 of the treatment element 24 made of an elastic body having a large number of protrusions on the surface is fixed to the housing 5. In addition, the base 25 of the treatment element 24 is formed in a convex shape with a central portion higher than the peripheral portion in a free state where no external force is applied, and a locking portion is provided on the concave surface on the back side of the base portion 25. 36 is provided. The rod 35 is locked to the locking portion 36 via a locking tool 37.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. As shown in the figure, an electric motor 38 is incorporated in the housing 5, and the rotational speed of the motor shaft 39 of the electric motor 38 is decelerated by the worm 40 and the worm gear 41 and transmitted to the crankshaft 42. . The crankshaft 42 is provided with cranks 43 at two locations, and the base ends of connecting rods 44 are swingably attached to the cranks 43, and the bases of the rods 35 are attached to the leading ends of the connecting rods 44. As described above, the locking tool 37 provided at the tip of the rod 35 is connected to the back of the base portion 25 of the treatment element 24 constituting the second massage mechanism 7 as described above. It is latched by the latching part 36 provided in the.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tip of the connecting rod 44 is housed in a cylinder 45, so that the rod 35 swingably connected to the tip of the connecting rod 44 is prevented from swinging. Only axial reciprocation is allowed. That is, when the shaft 39 of the electric motor 38 is rotated, this rotation is decelerated and then converted from a rotary motion to a reciprocating motion of the rod 35 by a crank mechanism 46 as a conversion mechanism. The upper end of the rod 35 is locked to the locking portion 36 of the base 25 of the treatment element 24 via the locking tool 37, and the periphery of the base 25 of the treatment element 24 is the casing 5. Therefore, when the shaft 39 of the electric motor 38 rotates, the base 25 of the treatment element 24 reciprocates up and down while being bent. Then, when the base portion 25 is lowered while being bent, the base portion 25 is deformed into a concave shape as shown in FIG. 8, so that the protrusion 27 provided on the base portion 25 is deformed as the base portion 25 is deformed. 31 and the small projections 33 and 34 fall inward. On the other hand, when the base portion 25 is pushed up, the base portion 25 is restored to a protruding shape as shown in FIG. 7, so that the protrusion 27 provided on the base portion 25 is restored as the base portion 25 is restored. 31 and small projections 33 and 34 stand up.
10 and 11 show a state in which the toes are placed on the brush-shaped treatment element 24, and correspond to FIGS. 7 and 8 showing a state in which the toes are not placed. It is. In FIGS. 10 and 11, a part corresponding to the thumb 28 is particularly described. As shown in FIG. 10, when the base 25 of the treatment element 24 is at the top dead center, when the thumb 28 is placed on the second protrusion group 32 of the treatment element 24, the outer side of the annular arrangement is arranged. The protrusions 27 and 31 are bent and deformed so as to open outward from the center of the base 25. From this state, as shown in FIG. 11, when the base 25 of the treatment element 24 is elastically deformed until it reaches the bottom dead center, the base 25 of the treatment element 24 is bent and the surface shape becomes concave. The protrusions 27 and 31 operate to tilt inward. On the other hand, since the base portion 25 of the treatment element 24 is bent and the surface shape becomes concave, the small protrusion 33 provided in the second protrusion group 32 is pulled down and separated from the thumb 28. Further, when the base 25 of the treatment element 24 is restored until the top dead center is reached again, the protrusions 27 and 31 are operated to open outward again. On the other hand, since the base 25 of the treatment element 24 is bent and the surface shape becomes convex, the small protrusion 33 provided in the second protrusion group 32 is pushed up and collides with the belly of the thumb 28. . As a result, by repeatedly bending the base portion 25 of the treatment element 24, the distal end portion 27b of the projection portion 27 and the distal end portion of the projection 31 provided on the surface of the base portion 25 are mainly operated in the lateral direction. In addition to stimulating the fingers to be pinched, the small protrusions 33 are mainly actuated in the vertical direction to stimulate the fingers. That is, when the base 25 of the treatment element 24 repeats the up and down movement, the toe 28 can be massaged satisfactorily by a plurality of different stimuli.

  10 and 11 show a state in which the big toe 28 is placed on the brush-shaped treatment element 24, but a finger 29 other than the big toe 28 is placed on the treatment element 24. FIG. Similar effects can be obtained in some cases. However, in the case of the big toe 28, massage is performed mainly by the projections 27 and 31 and the small projections 33 arranged in an annular shape constituting the second projection group 32 of the treatment element 24. In the case of a finger 29 other than the toe 28, massage is performed mainly by the protrusions 27 and the small protrusions 34 arranged in an annular shape constituting the first protrusion group 26 of the treatment element 24. Different.

  The protrusions 27 and 31 and the small protrusions 33 and 34 operate in a complicated manner in accordance with the bending of the base 25 of the treatment element 24 as described above, so that the toe 28 has a complicated shape as a whole. , 29 and their base parts can be effectively massaged. In addition, the second massage mechanism 7 for operating the protrusions 27 and 31 and the small protrusions 33 and 34 in a complicated manner is connected to the base 25, the protrusions 27 and 31, and the small protrusions 33 and 34. The brush-shaped treatment element 24 and the drive mechanism 47 that converts the rotation of the electric motor 38 into a reciprocating motion by a crank mechanism 46 as a conversion mechanism can be simply configured. The massage machine 1 can be configured inexpensively or in a small size.

  Further, as described above, by providing the first projection group 26 on the brush-shaped treatment element 24, the toe 29 and its root are formed by the projection 27 constituting the first projection group 26. A portion can be massaged, and the second projection group 32 is provided so that the projections 27 and 31 constituting the second projection group 32 can focus on the thumb 28 and its base portion. Can be massaged. In addition, as described above, the second massage mechanism 7 is provided so as to be inclined so as to face the first massage mechanism 6, so that the second massage mechanism 7 is naturally placed on the treatment element 24. The toes 28 and 29 bent upward can be favorably massaged.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the Example, this invention can carry out various deformation | transformation implementation. For example, in the above embodiment, the treatment element 14 and the brush-like treatment element 24 using a soft synthetic resin material have been described. However, the materials of the treatment element 14 and the brush-like treatment element 24 are those materials. It is not limited to this, and an elastic material such as rubber can also be used. Further, the protrusion shape of the treatment element 14 provided in the first massage mechanism 6 is not limited to a hemispherical shape, and may have another shape such as a polyhedral shape.

It is a top view which shows the Example by this invention. It is a front view same as the above. It is a left side view same as the above. It is sectional drawing which shows the AA arrow of FIG. It is a top view which shows the 2nd massage mechanism of the Example by this invention. It is a top view of the state in which the toe was mounted same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the state which exists in the top dead center of the brush-shaped treatment element provided in a 2nd massage mechanism. It is sectional drawing of a state in a bottom dead center same as the above. It is sectional drawing which shows the BB arrow of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the state which exists in the top dead center of the brush-shaped treatment element in the state in which the toe was put on the 2nd massage mechanism. It is sectional drawing of a state in a bottom dead center same as the above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Foot massage machine 2 Footrest part 5 Housing | casing 6 1st massage mechanism 7 2nd massage mechanism 14 Treatment element 24 Brush-shaped treatment element 25 Base 26 First protrusion group 27, 31 Projection part 32 Second Protrusion group 33, 34 Small protrusion 38 Electric motor (electric motor)
46 Conversion mechanism
47 Drive mechanism

Claims (2)

A housing having a footrest, a first massage mechanism for massaging the soles of the feet placed on the footrest by operating a treatment element provided on the footrest, and the footrest A second massage mechanism that is provided close to and stimulates the toes placed on the footrest, and
The second massage mechanism has a drive mechanism having an electric motor and a conversion mechanism that converts the rotational movement of the electric motor into a reciprocating movement, and a brush-like treatment element connected to the drive mechanism,
The treatment element may possess a base to flex with the operation of the prior SL drive mechanism, and a protrusion with provided to the base move with the flexure of the base,
A first protrusion group configured by annularly arranging the plurality of protrusions along the outer shape of the base, and the first protrusion provided inside the first protrusion group; A foot massage machine comprising a second protrusion group configured to partially overlap the group . The first projection group and the second foot massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the small protrusion is characterized that you have provided on the inner side of the projection group.

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