Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MASSAGING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a massaging apparatus, more
particularly to a massaging apparatus that is capable
of massaging a desired area of a user's body.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional massaging apparatus, such asa massage
chair, includes a plurality of massage members mounted
in seat, back and footrest portions of a chair body.
However, since the positions of the massage members 13
mounted in the seat portion 121 and the footrest 123
are fixed, massagable areas for hips and legs of a user
are limited. Furthermore, such a conventional
massaging apparatus cannot massage a user's body at front
and lateral sides, the user's limbs at inner sides and
the user's foot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is
to provide a massaging apparatus that can overcome the
aforesaid drawback of the prior art.
According to one aspect of the present invention,
a massaging apparatus comprises:
a main frame including an upright guiding rail unit
extending in a longitudinal direction, and a mounting
seat mounted slidably on the guiding rail unit;
a drive unit mounted on the main frame for driving
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the mounting seat to move along the guiding rail unit
in the longitudinal direction; and
a massage unit mounted on the mounting seat and
including a massage rod having a head portion, and a
motor having an output shaft journalled on the mounting
seat and connected to the massage rod for driving
eccentric rotation of the massage rod relative to the
output shaft.
According to another aspect of the present invention,
a massaging apparatus comprises:
a main frame including
an upright first guiding rail unit extending in
a longitudinal direction and having opposite elongate
lateral rail rods spaced apart from each other in a
transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal
direction,
a second guiding rail unit mounted slidably on
the first guiding rail unit, and including two parallel
elongate second rail rods that extend in the transverse
direction and that are disposed spacedly between the
lateral rail rods of the first guiding rail unit, and
a mounting seat mounted slidably on the second
rail rods of the second guiding rail unit;
a first drive unit mounted on the main frame for
driving the second guiding rail unit to move along the
lateral rail rods of the first guiding rail unit in the
longitudinal direction;
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a second drive unit for driving the mounting seat
to move along the second rail rods in the transverse
direction;
a massage unit mounted on the mounting seat and
including a massage rod having a head portion, arid a
motor having an output shaft journalled on the mounting
seat and connected to the massage rod for driving
eccentric rotation of the massage rod relative to the
output shaft; and
a control unit connected electrically to the first
drive unit, the second drive unit and the motor of the
massage unit for controlling the first drive unit, the
second drive unit and the motor of the massage unit so
that the head portion of the massage rod is moved to
a desired position through movement of the mounting seat
and the second guiding rail unit so as to contact a user' s
body at a desired acupuncture point and that the motor
of the massage unit drives the massage rod to rotate
at a desired speed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent in the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments with reference
to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is a perspective, partly cutaway view showing
the first preferred embodiment of a massaging apparatus
according to the present invention;
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Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing the first
preferred embodiment;
Figure 3 is a schematic circuit block diagram
illustrating the first preferred embodiment;
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the first
preferred embodiment when in a state of use;
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the first
preferred embodiment when in another state of use;
Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the second
preferred embodiment of a massaging apparatus according
to the present invention;
Figure 7 is a partly schematic sectional view showing
the third preferred embodiment of a massaging apparatus
according to the present invention;
Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the fourth
preferred embodiment of a massaging apparatus according
to the present invention;
Figure 9 is a schematic circuit block diagram
illustrating the fourth preferred embodiment;
Figure 10 is a fragmentary schematic rear view showing
the fourth preferred embodiment;
Figure 11 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view
of the fourth preferred embodiment taken along line XI-XI
in Figure 8;
Figure 12 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view
of the fourth preferred embodiment taken along line
XII-XII in Figure 8; and
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Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the fifth
preferred embodiment of amass aging apparatus according
to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
5 Before the present invention is described in greater
detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted
by the same reference numerals throughout the
disclosure.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the first preferred
embodiment of a massaging apparatus according to the
present invention is shown to include a main frame 1,
a drive unit 2, a massage unit 3, a control unit 4, and
an operating unit 5.
The main frame 1 includes an upright guiding rail
unit extending in a longitudinal direction (Y), such
as a vertical direction, and a mounting seat 13 mounted
slidably on the guiding rail unit. In this embodiment,
the guiding rail unit includes opposite elongate lateral
rail rods 11 (only one is shown in Figure 1) . The
mounting seat 13 has opposite lateral sliding blocks
131 (only one is shown in Figure 1) connected slidably
to a corresponding one of the lateral rail rods 11 of
the guiding rail unit.
The drive unit 2 is mounted on the main frame 1 for
driving the mounting seat 13 to move along the guiding
rail unit in the longitudinal direction (Y) . In this
embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the drive unit 2
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includes a bi-directional motor 24, a transmission wheel
set, and a transmission belt 22. The bi-directional
motor 24 has a motor shaft 25 in the form of a gear and
journalled on the main frame 1. The transmission wheel
set includes a plurality of transmission wheels 23, and
is disposed rotatably on the main frame 1, and is
rotatable in response to operation of the bi-directional
motor 24. The transmission belt 22 is trained on the
transmission wheels 23 and the motor shaft 25 of the
bi-directional motor 24, and has opposite ends 221
connected to the mounting seat 13 of the main frame 1
such that the mounting seat 13 is co-movable with the
transmission belt 22.
The massage unit 3 is mounted on the mounting seat
13, and includes a massage rod 32 having a head portion
31, and a motor 33 having an output shaft 331 journalled
on the mounting seat 13 and connected to the massage
rod 32 for driving eccentric rotation of the massage
rod 32 relative to the output shaft 331.
The control unit 4 is connected electrically to the
bi-directional motor 24 of the drive unit 2, and the
motor 33 of the massage unit 3 for controlling the drive
unit 2 and the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 so that
the head portion 31 of the massage rod 32 is moved to
a desired position through movement of the mounting seat
13 so as to contact a user' s body at a desired acupuncture
point and that the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 drives
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the massage rod 32 to rotate at a desired speed.
The operating unit 5 is connected electrically to
the control unit 4, and includes a plurality of input
keys (not shown) that are operable so as to output a
control signal to the control unit 4 such that the control
unit 4 controls the bi-directional motor 24 of the drive
unit 2 and the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 based on
the control signal from the operating unit 5.
Since the head portion 31 of the massage rod 32 can
be moved to a desired position in the longitudinal
direction (Y), the massaging apparatus of the present
invention is suitable for users with different sizes.
In use, the user can adopt an appropriate posture for
a desired massage area, such as a sitting posture for
the user's back, as shown in Figure 4, a standing posture
for a front side of the user's body, as shown in Figure
5, or a lying posture for the user's foot. Preferably,
when the user adopts the sitting posture, a chair 6
movable relative to a base 7 in a transverse direction
(X) transverse to the longitudinal direction (Y), such
as a horizontal direction, is provided so as to
facilitate position adjustment in the transverse
direction (X) (see Figure 4). Furthermore, during
massage, the user can control a massage pressure applied
to the user's body through his/her weight, thereby
ensuring an approximate massage pressure.
Figure 6 illustrates the second preferred embodiment
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of a massaging apparatus according to this invention,
which is amodification of the first preferred embodiment.
In this embodiment, the mounting seat 13 has a connecting
portion 132 formed with a threaded hole 133 therethrough
that extends in the longitudinal direction (Y).
In this embodiment, the drive unit 2 includes an
elongate threaded rod 26, the bi-directional motor 24,
a transmission wheel 27, and a looped transmission belt
28. The threaded rod 26 is journnalled on the main frame
1, extends in the longitudinal direction (Y) through
the threaded hole 133 in the connecting portion 132 of
the mounting seat 13, and is connected threadedly to
the connecting portion 132 of the mounting seat 13. The
threaded rod 26 is rotatable relative to the main frame
1 so as to drive movement of the mounting seat 13 in
response to rotation of the threaded rod 26. The
transmission wheel 27 is mounted on and is co-rotatable
with the threaded rod 26. The looped transmission belt
28 is trained on the transmission wheel 27 and the motor
shaft 25 of the bi-directional motor 24.
Figure 7 illustrates the third preferred embodiment
of a massaging apparatus according to this invention,
which is a modification of the second preferred
embodiment. In this embodiment, the massaging
apparatus further includes a thermal generating unit
mounted to the main frame 1 for radiating heat toward
the user's body. In this embodiment, the thermal
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generating unit includes two infrared heaters 6 disposed
in the main frame 1 and flanking the massage unit 3 for
generating heat so as to heat air in the main frame 1,
and two fans 7 disposed in the main frame 1 and
corresponding respectively to the infrared heaters 6
for blowing heated air out of the main frame 1 toward
the user's body.
Referring to Figures 8 and 9, the fourth preferred
embodiment of a massaging apparatus according to the
present invention is shown to include a main frame 1' ,
a first drive unit 8, a second drive unit 9, the massage
unit 3, a control unit 4', and an operating unit 5'.
The main frame 1' includes an upright first guiding
rail unit 14, a second guiding rail unit 15, and amounting
seat 13'. The first guiding rail unit 14 extends in
the longitudinal direction (Y), and has opposite
elongate lateral rail rods 141 spaced apart from each
other in the transverse direction (X) in this embodiment.
The second guiding rail unit 15 is mounted slidably on
the first guiding rail unit 14, and includes two parallel
elongate second rail rods 151 that extend in the
transverse direction (X) and that are disposed spacedly
between the lateral rail rods 141 of the first guiding
rail unit 14, and two sliding blocks 152 (only one is
shown) each interconnecting corresponding ends of the
second rail rods 151. Each sliding block 152 has two
engaging extensions 153 extending into and engaging
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slidably an engaging groove 142 in a corresponding
lateral rail rod 141 such that each sliding block 152
is connected slidably to the corresponding lateral rail
rod 141 of the first guiding rail unit 14. The mounting
5 seat 13' is mounted slidably on the second rail rods
151 of the second guiding rail unit 15, and has parallel
first and second connecting plates 134, 135 extending
rearwardly and spaced apart from each other in the
transverse direction (X) (see Figure 8) in this
10 embodiment. Each of the first and second connecting
plates 134, 135 is formed with a through hole 1341, 1351
extending in the transverse direction (X) , as best shown
in Figure 12.
The first drive unit 8 is mounted on the main frame
1' for driving the second guiding rail unit 15 to move
along the driving lateral rail rods 141 of the first
guiding rail unit 14 in the longitudinal direction (Y) .
In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the first drive
unit 8 includes a bi-directional motor 81, a transmission
wheel set 83, and a transmission belt unit. The
bi-directional motor 81 has a motor shaft 82. The
transmission wheel set 83 is disposed rotatably on the
main frame 1' , and is rotatable in response to operation
of the bi-directional motor 81. The transmission belt
unit includes a looped first transmission belt 84 trained
on the transmission wheel set 83 and the motor shaft
82, and a second transmission belt 85 trained on the
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transmission wheel set 83 and having opposite ends 851
connected respectively to the second rail rods 151 of
the second guiding rail unit 15.
The second drive unit 9 drives the mounting seat 13'
to move along the second rail rods 151 in the transverse
direction(X). In this embodiment, ref erring to Figures
to 12, the second drive unit 9 includes an elongate
threaded rod 91, a transmission sleeve 92, two bearings
93,a bi-directional motor 94, and a looped transmission
10 belt 95. The threaded rod 91 is mounted fixedly on the
second guiding rail unit 15, extends in the transverse
direction (X) through the through holes 1341, 1351 in
the first and second connecting plates 134, 135 of the
mounting seat 13', and is disposed between the second
rail rods 151 of the second guiding rail unit 15. The
transmission sleeve 92 is sleeved rotatably on and is
connected threadedly to the threaded rod 91, and has
opposite first and second end portions 921, 922 that
extend respectively through the through holes l341,1351
in the first and second connecting plates 134, 135 of
the mounting seat 13', and an intermediate gear portion
923 interconnecting the first and second end portions
921, 922, and disposed between and abutting against the
first and second connecting plates 134, 135 of the
mounting seat 13'. The bearings 93 are sleeved
respectively on the first and second end portions 921,
922 of the transmission sleeve 92, and are disposed
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respectively in the through holes 1341, 1351 in the first
and second connecting plates 134, 135 of the mounting
seat 13'. The bi-directional motor 94 is mounted on
the second connecting plate 135 of the mounting seat
1.3' , and has a motor shaft 941. The transmission belt
95 is trained on the intermediate gear portion 923 of
the transmission sleeve 92 and the motor shaft 941 of
the bi-directional motor 94. The transmission sleeve
92 is rotatable relative to the threaded rod 91 in
response to operation of the bi-directional motor 94
so as to move relative to the threaded rod 91 such that
the intermediate gear portion 923 of the transmission
sleeve 92 drives the mounting seat 13' to move in response
to movement of the transmission sleeve 92.
The massage unit 3 is mounted on the mounting seat
13' , and has the same configuration as that in the first
preferred embodiment of Figure 2.
The control unit 4' is connected electrically to the
bi-directional motor 81 of the first drive unit 8, the
bi-directional motor 94 of the second drive unit 9 and
the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 for controlling the
first drive unit 8, the second drive unit 9 and the motor
33 of the massage unit 3 so that the head portion 31
of the massage rod 32 is moved to a desired position
through movement of the mounting seat 13' and the second
guiding rail unit 15 so as to contact a user' s body at
a desired acupuncture point and that the motor 33 of
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the massage unit 3 drives the massage rod 32 to rotate
at a desired speed.
The operating unit 5' is connected electrically to
the control unit 4', and is operable so as to output
a control signal to the control unit 4' such that the
control unit 4' controls the bi-directional motor 81
of the first drive unit 8, the bi-directional motor 94
of the second drive unit 9, and the motor 33 of the massage
unit 3 based on the control signal from the operating
unit 5.
In such a configuration, by controlling the first
and second drive units 8 and 9, the head portion 31 of
the massage rod 32 is movable in the transverse and
longitudinal directions (X, Y) so as to contact the
user's body at various acupuncture points, thereby
resulting in a relatively wide massage area as compared
to the abovementioned conventional massage chair.
Figure 13 illustrates the fifth preferred embodiment
of a massaging apparatus according to this invention,
which is a modification of the fourth preferred
embodiment. Unlike the fourth preferred embodiment,
the second guiding rail unit 15' further has two
connecting portions 154 (only one is shown) each formed
with a threaded hole therethrough that extends in the
longitudinal direction (Y).
In this embodiment, the first drive unit 8' includes
an elongate threaded rod 86, a bi-directional motor 87,
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a transmission wheel 88, and a looped transmission belt
89. The threaded rod 86 is journalled on the main frame
1', extends in the longitudinal direction (Y) through
the threaded holes 1541 in the connecting portions 154
of the second guiding rail unit 15. The threaded rod
86 is rotatable so as to drive movement of the second
guiding rail unit 15 in response to rotation of the
threadedrod86. The bi-directional motor 87 is mounted
on the main frame 1' and is connected electrically to
and is controlled by the control unit, and has a motor
shaft 871. The transmission wheel 88 is mounted on and
is co-rotatable with the threaded rod 86, and is
rotatable in response to operation of the bi-directional
motor 87. The transmission belt 89 is trained on the
transmission wheel 88 and the motor shaft 871 of the
bi-directional motor 87.
While the present invention has been described in
connection with what are considered the most practical
and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments
but is intended to cover various arrangements included
within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications
and equivalent arrangements.
