This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-206348, filed on Dec. 20, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Air massagers may include airbags in which compressed air is supplied to and drawn from. U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,224 describes a compression system for use with a compression garment including expandable bladders. U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,224 describes an inlet port of a bi-directional valve controlling opening and closing of expandable bladders and an inlet port of a vent valve that are both connected to the same manifold.
In the pressure system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,224, gas in an expandable bladder is exhausted (or released) through the vent valve. During an operation to force a decrease of an internal pressure of the expandable bladder, it may be difficult to effectively release the gas therefrom, depending on the performance of the vent valve selected.
An example air supply/exhaust system (or air pump system) for an air massager includes an air pump, an air distribution valve unit (or air distribution valve device) connected to the air pump, and a main valve unit (or main valve device) including solenoid valve units (or solenoid valve devices) connected to the air distribution valve unit.
The example air distribution valve unit includes a first portion including a first free port connected to a supply port of the air pump, a first connection port connected to the main valve unit, a second connection port connected to an outside, and a first switching mechanism (or first switch) configured to control opening and closing of the first connection port and opening and closing of the second connection port, and a second portion including a second free port connected to an inlet port (or suction port) of the air pump, a third connection port connected to the main valve unit, a fourth connection port connected to the outside, and a second switching mechanism (or second switch) configured to control opening and closing of the third connection port and opening and closing of the fourth connection port.
According to the air supply/exhaust system for an air massager, the main valve unit is connected to both the supply port and the inlet port of an air pump through the air distribution valve unit. Therefore, by using the air distribution valve unit, not only gas supply to the main valve unit by the air pump but also gas suction from the main valve unit by the air pump can be performed. Thus, according to the air supply/exhaust system for an air massager, the internal pressure of the internal space of the main valve unit or the like can be more readily forced to decrease by controlling the air distribution valve unit.
Each of the solenoid valve units may include a chamber, the first connection port and the fourth connection port may be opened and the second connection port and the third connection port may be closed when the air pump supplies gas, the second connection port and the third connection port may be opened and the first connection port and the fourth connection port may be closed when the air pump is suspended and the internal pressure of at least one chamber is adjusted, and the first connection port and the second connection port may be opened and the third connection port and the fourth connection port may be closed when the air pump is suspended and the internal pressure of each chamber is decompressed. In this case, various pressure control may be performed on the chamber using the air distribution valve unit. Since the gas exhaust port is not limited to one of the second connection port and the fourth connection port, deterioration of one of the first switching mechanism and the second switching mechanism is less likely to be accelerated.
The first switching mechanism may include a first two way valve configured to control opening and closing of the first connection port and a second two way valve configured to control opening and closing of the second connection port, and the second switching mechanism may include a third two way valve configured to control opening and closing of the third connection port and a fourth two way valve configured to control opening and closing of the fourth connection port. In this case, the structure of the air distribution valve unit can be simplified.
The air distribution valve unit and each of the solenoid valve units may have the same configuration. In this case, since the number of common components in the air supply/exhaust system is increased, cost can be reduced and maintenance can be improved.
The second portion may further include a fifth connection port connected to the outside, the first switching mechanism may include a first three way valve and a second three way valve connected in series to each other, the second switching mechanism may include a third three way valve connected to the second free port, the third connection port, and the fourth connection port, the first three way valve may be connected to the first free port, the second connection port, and the second three way valve, and the second three way valve may be connected to the first connection port, the fifth connection port, and the first three way valve. In this case, the number of valves included in the air distribution valve unit can be reduced compared to a case where a two way valve is used.
Each of the solenoid valve units may have a chamber, the first connection port and the fourth connection port may be opened, and the second connection port, the third connection port and the fifth connection port may be closed when the air pump supplies gas, the second connection port and the third connection port may be opened, and the first connection port, the fourth connection port and the fifth connection port may be closed when the air pump sucks gas, and the fifth connection port is opened, and the first connection port, the second connection port, the third connection port and the fourth connection port may be closed when the air pump is in a suspended state and an internal pressure of at least one of the chambers is adjusted. In this case, since the gas exhaust port is not limited to one of the second connection port and the fifth connection port, deterioration of one of the first three way valve and the second three way valve is less likely to be accelerated.
An example air massager is disclosed herein, includes the air supply/exhaust system described herein and an example massage device connected to a main valve unit of the air supply/exhaust system, to more readily achieve a forced internal decompression with respect to the internal space of the massage device or the like by control of the air distribution valve unit.
Hereinafter, examples will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same elements or elements having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
An example air massager is configured to massage a body of a subject using high-pressure gas. The air massager is used to stimulate the body of the subject, for example, to “massage” the body of the subject for the purpose of improving the physical condition of the subject, such as improving the stagnation of veins and lymph of the subject and improving the flow of the veins and lymph. The term “high-pressure gas” may refer to a gas having an atmospheric pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. In some examples, the gas is air from the viewpoint of convenience. In other examples, the gas may be an inert gas such as He (helium) and N2 (nitride), and other gases such as O2 (oxide).
As shown in
The massage device 2 is a device for massaging the body of a subject. The massage device 2 is connected to the air supply/exhaust system 3 (air pump system or air supply/exhaust system for an air massager) through a hose H and a connector C as shown in
The first and second massage devices 21, 22 are connected to the air supply/exhaust system 3 through first and second hoses H1, H2 and first and second connectors C1, C2, respectively. However, the massage device 2 is not limited to the boot shape divided into two as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Each of the bladders 211 to 218 and 221 to 228 is formed as a substantially cylindrical bag body so as to surround a part of the body B to be massaged. Each of the bladders 211 to 218 and 221 to 228 is sized to expand to compress a corresponding part of the body B and contract to release compression of the corresponding part of the body B. The shapes and sizes of the bladders 211 to 218 and 221 to 228 can be appropriately determined in accordance with the region of the body B, respectively. In addition, the bladders 211 to 218 and 221 to 228 are not particularly limited as long as they have airtightness for storing high-pressure gas and can be deformed by receiving and discharging the high-pressure gas. The bladders 211 to 218 and 221 to 228 are formed of, for example, a resin material.
The air supply/exhaust system 3 supplies high-pressure gas to the at least one of the bladders 211 to 218 and 221 to 228 and exhausts high-pressure gas from the at least one of the bladders 211 to 218 and 221 to 228. As shown in
The air pump 4 is a device that supplies high-pressure gas to the air distribution valve unit 5 and sucks gas from the air distribution valve unit 5. The air pump 4 may include, for example, a pump that sends out high-pressure gas, a cylinder from which high-pressure gas is ejected by opening a valve, and the like. In a plan view, the air pump 4 is aligned with the main valve unit 6 along a direction X, and is aligned with the air distribution valve unit 5 along a direction Y orthogonal to the direction X. Hereinafter, the direction X may be referred to as a front-rear direction, and the direction Y may be referred to as a left-right direction. In addition, a direction Z orthogonal to the directions X and Y may be referred to as an up-down direction.
The air pump 4 includes a main body 4a, a supply port 4b (cf.
The air distribution valve unit 5 includes a main body 50, a first free port FP1, a second free port FP2, a first connection port P1, a second connection port P2, a third connection port P3, a fourth connection port P4, a first switching mechanism (first switch) 51, and a second switching mechanism (second switch) 52.
The main body 50 includes a first member 50a, a second member 50b, and a sealing member 50c located between the first member 50a and the second member 50b. The first member 50a is a main part of the main body 50, and includes the first free port FP1, the second free port FP2, the first switching mechanism 51, and the second switching mechanism 52. A recess is provided in a portion of the first member 50a that faces the second member 50b, and the first free port FP1 and the second free port FP2 communicate with the recess. The second member 50b is a cover portion of the main body 50, and includes the first connection port P1, the second connection port P2, the third connection port P3, and the fourth connection port P4. The sealing member 50c is a member that provides airtightness between the first member 50a and the second member 50b.
The first member 50a, the second member 50b, and the sealing member 50c are fixed to each other by, for example, a known fixing means such as fitting, screwing, or the like. The first member 50a and the second member 50b may have rigidity such that deformation can be suppressed with respect to the pressing force by the high-pressure gas and the pressing force accompanying opening and closing of the port by the solenoid valve. Each of the first member 50a and the second member 50b is formed of, for example, a resin material, a ceramic material, a metallic material, or the like. The sealing member 50c is, for example, an annular resin member. The resin member may have elasticity, for example.
The air distribution valve unit 5 includes a first portion 5a and a second portion 5b arranged along the direction Y. The first portion 5a and the second portion 5b are independent of each other. That is, the internal space of the first portion 5a and the internal space of the second portion 5b are partitioned from each other. Therefore, the gas flowing into the first portion 5a does not directly flow into the second portion 5b. In other words, in the air distribution valve unit 5, the gas in the first portion 5a and the gas in the second portion 5b are not mixed with each other.
The first portion 5a includes a chamber CA1, the first free port FP1 connected to the supply port 4b of the air pump 4, the first connection port P1 connected to the main valve unit 6, the second connection port P2 connected to the outside, and the first switching mechanism 51 for controlling opening and closing of the first connection port P1 and opening and closing of the second connection port P2. The second portion 5b includes a chamber CA2 different from the chamber CA1, the second free port FP2 connected to the inlet port 4c of the air pump 4, the third connection port P3 connected to the main valve unit 6, the fourth connection port P4 connected to the outside, and the second switching mechanism 52 for controlling opening and closing of the third connection port P3 and opening and closing of the fourth connection port P4. The outside of the air distribution valve unit 5 is, for example, an outside air of the air supply/exhaust system 3.
As shown in the
The first free port FP1 is a port extending toward the rear side of the air supply/exhaust system 3 in the direction X. The first free port FP1 is connected to the air pump 4 through, for example, a tube, a tank, or the like. Each of the first connection port P1 and the second connection port P2 is a port that extends toward the bottom side of the air supply/exhaust system 3 in the direction Z.
As shown in the
The second free port FP2 is a port that extends toward the rear side of the air supply/exhaust system 3 in the direction X. The second free port FP2 is connected to the air pump 4 through, for example, a tube or a tank. Each of the third connection port P3 and the fourth connection port P4 is a port that extends toward the bottom side of the air supply/exhaust system 3 in the direction Z.
The first switching mechanism 51 is a mechanism for switching the flow path of gas flowing into the chamber CA1 of the first portion 5a, and includes a first solenoid valve P1 for opening and closing the first connection port V1 and a second solenoid valve P2 for opening and closing the second connection port V2. The first solenoid valve V1 is a two way valve that opens and closes the first connection port P1 by being driven by electricity. The second solenoid valve V2 is a two way valve that opens and closes the second connection port P2 by being driven by electricity. In some examples, the first solenoid valve V1 and the second solenoid valve V2 have the same structure each other.
The second switching mechanism 52 is a mechanism for switching the flow path of the gas flowing into the chamber CA2 of the second portion 5b. As shown in
The first solenoid valve V1 includes a valve seat Va, a valve element Vb, an electromagnet Vc, and an energization element Vd. The valve seat Va is adjacent to the first connection port P1 to be opened and closed, and is a portion on which the valve element Vb is provided to be able to abut. The valve seat Va is formed in such a manner that the first connection port P1 is closed when the valve element Vb is brought into contact therewith. The valve seat Va has, for example, a substantially cylindrical trapezoidal shape extending toward the valve element Vb.
The valve element Vb is a portion that opens and closes the first connection port P1 in cooperation with the valve seat Va, and is a rod-shaped portion extending along the direction Z. The valve element Vb moves, for example, between a position where the valve element Vb abuts on the valve seat Va and a position where the valve seat Va is exposed. The valve element Vb is movable along the direction Z by the electromagnetic force from the electromagnet Vc and the biasing force from the energization element Vd. The valve element Vb includes a magnetic material such as iron so as to be driven by the electromagnetic force from the electromagnet Vc. A distal end portion of the valve element Vb that abuts on the valve seat Va may be formed of an elastic body such as rubber. In this case, when the distal end portion of the valve element Vb comes into contact with the valve seat Va, the distal end portion of the valve element Vb can deform following the shape of the valve seat Va. Accordingly, the valve seat Va and the valve element Vb come into close contact with each other.
The electromagnet Vc applies an electromagnetic force to the valve element Vb by being supplied with electric power. In some examples, the electromagnet Vc is configured to be capable of applying an electromagnetic force, which energizes the valve element Vb in a direction away from the valve seat Va when power is supplied, to the valve element Vb. However, the electromagnet Vc may be configured to be capable of applying an electromagnetic force, that energizes the valve element Vb toward the valve seat Va, to the valve element Vb when powered. Although the electromagnet Vc is not particularly limited, a cylindrical solenoid coil in which the valve element Vb is accommodated may be adopted from the viewpoint of the simplicity of the structure.
The energization element Vd energizes the valve element Vb in a predetermined direction in order to maintain the open state or the closed state of the first connection port P1. The energization element Vd energizes the valve element Vb toward the valve seat Va, for example, to maintain the closed state. In this case, the first solenoid valve V1 is a normally closed valve that is maintained in a closed state when power is not supplied. The energization element Vd may bias the valve element Vb in a direction away from the valve seat Va to maintain the open state. In this case, the first solenoid valve V1 is a normally open valve that is maintained in an open state when power is not supplied. The energization element Vd is not particularly limited as long as it can energize the valve element Vb in a predetermined direction, and may be a known spring or the like.
Referring back to
In some examples, each of the solenoid valve units 61 to 64 has the same structure as the air distribution valve unit 5. Therefore, each of the solenoid valve units 61 to 64 includes two chambers (a first chamber and a second chamber), two free ports, four connection ports, and four solenoid valves. In each of the solenoid valve units 61 to 64, each free port is a port extending toward the bottom side of the housing 30 in the direction Z, and each connection port is a port extending toward the front side of the housing 30 in the direction X. Therefore, in the direction X, the respective connection ports, and the first free port FP1 and the second free port FP2 of the air distribution valve unit 5 extend in opposite directions to each other. Accordingly, the solenoid valve units (solenoid valve device) 61 to 64, as well as air distribution valve unit (air distribution valve device) 5 may be provided by identical modular devices, so as to be interchangeable. A single modular device may form the air distribution valve unit (air distribution valve device) 5 or the main valve unit (main valve device) 6, according to examples. In some examples, two or more modular devices may be combined to form the main valve unit (main valve device) 6. The modular device may be coupled between a gas supply device and gas consumption device. For example, in a case where the modular device is set as the air distribution valve unit (air distribution valve device) 5, the modular device is coupled between the air pump 4 as a gas supply device, and the main valve unit (main valve device) 6 as the gas consumption device. In a case where the modular device is set as one of the solenoid valve units (solenoid valve device) 61 to 64, the modular device is coupled between the main valve unit (main valve device) 6 as a gas supply device, and the massage device 2 as a gas consumption device.
As shown in
The tank 33 is a closed chamber portion, which is referred to as a common tank, to which the first connection port P1 and the third connection port P3 of the air distribution valve unit 5 and each free port included in the main valve unit 6 are connected, and includes relay ports 331 to 340. The relay port 331 is a portion connected to the first connection port P1 of the air distribution valve unit 5, and the relay port 332 is a portion connected to the third connection port P3 of the air distribution valve unit 5. Each of the relay ports 333 to 340 is a portion connected to any of the free ports included in the main valve unit 6. The internal pressure of the tank 33 may be measured by a barometer or the like.
Each of the chambers 35 and 36 is an unclosed chamber connected to the outside through the openings 30b. The second connection port P2 of the air distribution valve unit 5 is connected to a relay port 351 provided in the chamber 35. The fourth connection port P4 of the air distribution valve unit 5 is connected to a relay port 361 provided in the chamber 36.
Returning to
Next, the operation of the air supply/exhaust system 3 of some examples will be described with reference to
First, an operation of supplying gas to the main valve unit 6 by the air supply/exhaust system 3 will be described with reference to
Next, an internal pressure adjustment operation by the air supply/exhaust system 3 will be described with reference to
Next, a natural decompression operation by the air supply/exhaust system 3 will be described with reference to
Next, the forced decompression operation by the air supply/exhaust system 3 will be described with reference to
Next, the operation of the air massager 1 of some examples will be described with reference to
When a massage is applied to the body in order to improve the flow of blood and/or lymph, the body may be pressed in order from the distal end portions of the four limbs toward the trunk. As a massage pattern by the massage device 2 corresponding to this, as shown in
Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-082607 incorporated herein by reference, describes examples of operating the air supply/exhaust system 3 in the squeeze mode and in the wave mode. The controller 7 is not limited to the squeeze mode and the wave mode described above and may implement various kneading patterns by controlling the air distribution valve unit 5 and the main valve unit 6.
According to the air massager 1 including the air supply/exhaust system 3 of some examples, the main valve unit 6 is connected to both the supply port 4b and the inlet port 4c of the air pump 4 through the air distribution valve unit 5. Therefore, using the air distribution valve unit 5, the main valve unit 6 can perform both gas supply from the air pump 4 and gas suction by the air pump 4. Accordingly, by using the air supply/exhaust system 3, the internal pressure of the internal space of the main valve unit 6, the bladders 211 to 218 and 221 to 228 of the massage device 2, and the like may be more readily decompressed.
In some examples, each of the solenoid valve units 61 to 64 includes a chamber in which the first connection port P1 and the fourth connection port P4 are opened and the second connection port P2 and the third connection port P3 are closed when the air pump 4 supplies gas, the second connection port P2 and the third connection port P3 are opened and the first connection port P1 and the fourth connection port P4 are closed when the air pump 4 is suspended and the internal pressure of at least one chamber is adjusted. When the air pump 4 is suspended and each chamber is decompressed, the first connection port P1 and the second connection port P2 are opened and the third connection port P3 and the fourth connection port P4 are closed. Therefore, the air distribution valve unit 5 may be used to control various pressures in the chambers of the main valve unit 6. In addition, since a gas exhaust port in the air supply/exhaust system 3 is not limited to one of the second connection port P2 and the fourth connection port P4, deterioration of one of the first switching mechanism 51 and the second switching mechanism 52 is less likely to be accelerated.
In some examples, the first switching mechanism 51 includes the first solenoid valve V1 which is a first two way valve for controlling opening and closing of the first connection port P1 and the second solenoid valve V2 which is a second two way valve for controlling opening and closing of the second connection port P2, and the second switching mechanism 52 includes the third solenoid valve V3 which is a third two way valve for controlling opening and closing of the third connection port P3 and the fourth solenoid valve V4 which is a fourth two way valve for controlling opening and closing of the fourth connection port P4. Therefore, the structure of the air distribution valve unit 5 can be simplified.
In some examples, the air distribution valve unit 5 and each of the solenoid valve units 61 to 64 have the same configuration. In this case, since the number of common components in the air supply/exhaust system 3 is increased, cost can be reduced and maintenance can be improved.
Hereinafter, an air supply/exhaust system according to another example and an air massager including the same will be described. In the following, descriptions overlapping with those of the previously described examples may be omitted. That is, the description of the previously described features may be applied to the following examples, as appropriate.
Next, the operation of the air supply/exhaust system of some examples will be described with reference to
First, a gas supply operation to the main valve unit 6 of some examples will be described with reference to
Next, the internal pressure adjusting operation and the natural decompression operation will be described with reference to
Next, the forced decompression operation will be described with reference to
According to the above-described example, the number of solenoid valves included in the air distribution valve unit 5A can be reduced.
It is to be understood that not all aspects, advantages and features described herein may necessarily be achieved by, or included in, any one particular example. Indeed, having described and illustrated various examples herein, it should be apparent that other examples may be modified in arrangement and detail. For example, features of the above-described examples may be appropriately combined. For example, the air distribution valve unit may be provided with both a two way valve and a three way valve.
In addition, although the main valve unit described includes four solenoid valve units, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The number of solenoid valve units may be determined by the number of bladders included in the massage device, for example.
Additionally, whereas each of the solenoid valve units may be connected to only one of the first massage device and the second massage device, other examples may be suitably modified in configuration. For example, each of the solenoid valve units may be connected to both the first massage device and the second massage device. In this case, some connection ports of each solenoid valve unit are connected to the first massage device, and the other connection ports are connected to the second massage device. Alternatively, a part of the solenoid valve units may be connected to only the first massage device, another part of the solenoid valve units may be connected to only the second massage device, and still another part of the solenoid valve units may be connected to both the first massage device and the second massage device.
In Additionally, whereas the two portions included in each of the solenoid valve units are connected to one of the first massage device and the second massage device, other examples may be suitably modified in configuration. For example, in each of the solenoid valve units, one portion may be connected to one of the first massage device and the second massage device, and the other portion may be connected to the other of the first massage device and the second massage device.
In some examples, the third connection port and the fourth connection port are opened during the internal pressure adjustment, however the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first connection port and the second connection port may be opened during the internal pressure adjustment. In this case, the third connection port and the fourth connection port may be opened during natural decompression. During the natural decompression, the first connection port, the second connection port, the third connection port, and the fourth connection port may be opened. In this case, the time required for decompression can be shortened.
In addition, although the air distribution valve unit and the solenoid valve unit have the same shape in some examples, they may have different shapes in other examples.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021-206348 | Dec 2021 | JP | national |