Automatic back rubbing assembly

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6174296
  • Patent Number
    6,174,296
  • Date Filed
    Monday, June 14, 1999
    26 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 16, 2001
    24 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Yu; Justine R.
Abstract
An automatic back rubbing assembly has a hollow casing, a water control unit disposed in the hollow casing, a bubble producer disposed in the hollow casing, an elevator box disposed on a bottom of the hollow casing, a rubbing device disposed in the elevator box, an elevator drive mechanism driving the elevator box to move upward and downward, and a back rubbing drive mechanism driving the rubbing device to rotate.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to an automatic back rubbing assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automatic back rubbing assembly which can rub a back of a user automatically.




It is difficult to rub a back with two hands. Most old people cannot lift their hands to reach their backs. Therefore, the backs of the old people cannot be rubbed and cleaned.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic back rubbing assembly which can rub a back of a user upward and downward.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic back rubbing assembly which has an adjustment device to adjust a height of a seating panel.




Accordingly, an automatic back rubbing assembly comprises a hollow casing, a water control unit, a bubble producer, an elevator drive mechanism, an elevator box, a back rubbing drive mechanism, and a rubbing device. The bubble producer is disposed in the hollow casing. The water control unit is disposed in the hollow casing. The water control unit has a liquid soap tank, a joint connected to a bubble producing device, a first valve, and a second valve, a first connection pipe connected to the liquid soap tank and the first valve, a second connection pipe connected to the second valve and a third valve, a water outlet tube connected to the third valve, a third connection pipe connected to the third valve and a fourth valve, and a water outlet pipe connected to the fourth valve and a shower nozzle. An water inlet pipe is connected to the third valve. The water outlet tube has a water outlet. The bubble producer has a positioning seat disposed in a lower interior of the hollow casing, a slot formed on a top portion of the positioning seat, a first motor disposed on the positioning seat, an outer box disposed in the positioning seat, an inner box enclosed by the outer box, a positioning plate disposed in the positioning seat, an eccentric wheel disposed between the positioning seat and the inner box, and a ratchet disposed in the inner box. The first motor has a first shaft inserted through the eccentric wheel and the ratchet. The positioning plate has a recess receiving the eccentric wheel, and two oblong grooves. The outer box has two oblong holes matching the oblong grooves, an upper flange having a through hole receiving the joint, and four slide grooves. The inner box has four slide rails inserted in the slide grooves, a rectangular groove, a through aperture matching the through hole, and a liquid outlet. A cover plate engages with the outer box. The elevator box is disposed on a bottom of the hollow casing. A base seat is disposed in a rear portion of the elevator box. A main seat is disposed in a front portion of the elevator box. The main seat has a hollow housing, and two circular holes receiving a first threaded sleeve and a second threaded sleeve. The hollow housing has a center hole, two inner grooves, and a hollow chamber. A cover panel covers the main seat. The cover panel has an opening receiving an annular seat. Two longitudinal posts pass through the rear portion of the elevator box. An upper end of each longitudinal post is inserted in a bottom of the hollow casing. A first hollow screw rod is inserted through the first threaded sleeve. A first longitudinal pivot is inserted through the first hollow screw rod. The first hollow screw rod has a first outer thread. The first threaded sleeve has a first inner thread. The first outer thread engages with the first inner thread. A second hollow screw rod is inserted through the second threaded sleeve. A second longitudinal pivot is inserted through the second hollow screw rod. The second hollow screw rod has a second outer thread. The second threaded sleeve has a second inner thread. The second outer thread engages with the second inner thread. An upper end of the first longitudinal pivot is inserted in the bottom of the hollow casing. An upper end of the second longitudinal pivot is inserted in the bottom of the hollow casing. The elevator drive mechanism drives the elevator box to move upward and downward. The elevator drive mechanism has the first longitudinal pivot, a second motor having a second shaft inserted in a first drive gear, a first follower gear engaging with the first drive gear, a first driven gear engaging with the first follower gear, and the first driven gear disposed on a top end of the first longitudinal pivot. The back rubbing drive mechanism drives the rubbing device to rotate. The back rubbing drive mechanism has the second longitudinal pivot, a third motor having a third shaft inserted in a second drive gear, a second follower gear engaging with the second drive gear, a second driven gear engaging with the second follower gear, and the second driven gear disposed on a top end of the second longitudinal pivot. The rubbing device is disposed in the elevator box. The rubbing device has two driven pinions, two gear wheels engaging with the second hollow screw rod, two follower shafts connected to the respective driven pinion and the respective gear wheel, two positioning racks disposed on the base seat to support the follower shafts, a rotor device having a threaded portion inserted through the center hole of the hollow housing, a catch ring, two catch blocks, two compression springs, and a push device. The catch ring, the catch blocks, the compression springs, and the push device are disposed in the hollow chamber. The push device is clamped by the catch blocks. Each catch block has an insertion groove. An annular seat is disposed on the rotor device. A foamed pad is inserted in the annular seat. The threaded portion of the rotor device engages with the respective driven pinion.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a front elevational view of an automatic back rubbing assembly of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a side elevational view of an automatic back rubbing assembly of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a sectional view of a bubble producer of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 4

is another sectional view of a bubble producer of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a schematic view illustrating an operation of a bubble producer of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 6

is a partially sectional view of an elevator drive mechanism of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 7

is a partially sectional view of a back rubbing drive mechanism of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 8

is a partially sectional view of a rubbing device of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 9

is another partially sectional view of a rubbing device of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 10

is a schematic view illustrating an operation of a rubbing device of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a partially sectional view of an adjustment device of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; and





FIG. 12

is a front elevational view of an adjustment device of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to

FIGS. 1

to


12


, an automatic back rubbing assembly comprises a hollow casing


110


, a water control unit


11


, a bubble producer


12


, an elevator drive mechanism


13


, an elevator box


14


, a back rubbing drive mechanism


15


, a rubbing device


16


, an adjustment device


17


, and a controller


18


.




The bubble producer


12


is disposed in the hollow casing


110


.




The water control unit


11


is disposed in the hollow casing


110


. The water control unit


11


has a liquid soap tank


115


, a joint


116


connected to the bubble producer


12


, a first valve


114


, and a second valve


113


, a first connection pipe


1141


connected to the liquid soap tank


115


and the first valve


114


, a second connection pipe


1123


connected to the second valve


113


and a third valve


112


, a water outlet tube


1122


connected to the third valve


112


, a third connection pipe


1112


connected to the third valve


112


and a fourth valve


111


, and a water outlet pipe


1111


connected to the fourth valve


111


and a shower nozzle


1113


. An water inlet pipe


1121


is connected to the third valve


112


.




The water outlet tube


1122


has a water outlet


1124


. An upper cover


1151


covers the liquid soap tank


115


.




The bubble producer


12


has a positioning seat


121


disposed in a lower interior of the hollow casing


110


, a slot


1211


formed on a top portion of the positioning seat


121


, a first motor


122


disposed on the positioning seat


121


, an outer box


124


disposed in the positioning seat


121


, an inner box


127


enclosed by the outer box


124


, a positioning plate


123


disposed in the positioning seat


121


, an eccentric wheel


126


disposed between the positioning seat


121


and the inner box


127


, and a ratchet


128


disposed in the inner box


127


. The first motor


122


has a first shaft


1221


inserted through the eccentric wheel


126


and the ratchet


128


.




The positioning plate


123


has a recess


1232


receiving the eccentric wheel


126


, and two oblong grooves


1231


.




The outer box


124


has two oblong holes


1241


matching the oblong grooves


1231


, an upper flange


1243


having a through hole


1242


receiving the joint


116


, and four slide grooves


1244


.




The inner box


127


has four slide rails


1271


inserted in the slide grooves


1244


, a rectangular groove


1272


, a through aperture


1273


matching the through hole


1242


, and a liquid outlet


1274


.




A cover plate


125


engages with the outer box


124


. The cover plate


125


has a bubble outlet


1251


.




The elevator box


14


is disposed on a bottom of the hollow casing


110


. A base seat


141


is disposed in a rear portion of the elevator box


14


. A main seat


142


is disposed in a front portion of the elevator box


14


. The main seat


142


has a hollow housing


1422


, and two circular holes


1420


receiving a first threaded sleeve


136


and a second threaded sleeve


156


. The hollow housing


1422


has a center hole


1423


, two inner grooves


1424


, and a hollow chamber


1425


. A cover panel


143


covers the main seat


142


. The cover panel


143


has an opening


1431


receiving an annular seat


163


.




Two longitudinal posts


140


pass through the rear portion of the elevator box


14


. An upper end of each longitudinal post


140


is inserted in a bottom of the hollow casing


110


.




A first hollow screw rod


135


is inserted through the first threaded sleeve


136


. A first longitudinal pivot


130


is inserted through the first hollow screw rod


135


. The first hollow screw rod


135


has a first outer thread


1351


. The first threaded sleeve


136


has a first inner thread


1361


. The first outer thread


1351


engages with the first inner thread


1361


.




A second hollow screw rod


155


is inserted through the second threaded sleeve


156


. A second longitudinal pivot


150


is inserted through the second hollow screw rod


155


. The second hollow screw rod


155


has a second outer thread


1551


. The second threaded sleeve


156


has a second inner thread


1561


. The second outer thread


1551


engages with the second inner thread


1561


.




An upper end of the first longitudinal pivot


130


is inserted in the bottom of the hollow casing


110


. An upper end of the second longitudinal pivot


150


is inserted in the bottom of the hollow casing


110


.




Two pairs of connection devices


1421


are disposed on the main seat


142


connected to the first hollow screw rod


135


and the second hollow screw rod


155


.




The elevator drive mechanism


13


drives the elevator box


14


to move upward and downward. The elevator drive mechanism


13


has the first longitudinal pivot


130


, a second motor


131


having a second shaft


1311


, a first drive gear


132


receiving the a second shaft


1311


, a first follower gear


133


engaging with the first drive gear


132


, a first driven gear


134


engaging with the first follower gear


133


, and the first driven gear


134


disposed on a top end of the first longitudinal pivot


130


.




The back rubbing drive mechanism


15


drives the rubbing device


16


to rotate. The back rubbing drive mechanism


15


has the second longitudinal pivot


150


, a third motor


151


having a third shaft


1511


a second drive gear


152


receiving the third shaft


1511


, a second follower gear


153


engaging with the second drive gear


152


, a second driven gear


154


engaging with the second follower gear


153


, and the second driven gear


154


disposed on a top end of the second longitudinal pivot


150


.




The rubbing device


16


is disposed in the elevator box


14


. The rubbing device


16


has two driven pinions


1612


, two gear wheels


1611


engaging with the second hollow screw rod


155


, two follower shafts


161


connected to the respective driven pinion


1612


and the respective gear wheel


1611


, two positioning racks


1610


disposed on the base seat


141


to support the follower shafts


161


, a rotor device


162


having a threaded portion


1621


inserted through the center hole


1423


of the hollow housing


1422


, a catch ring


1620


, two catch blocks


1622


, two compression springs


1623


, and a push device


1624


. The catch ring


1620


, the catch blocks


1622


, the compression springs


1623


, and the push device


1624


are disposed in the hollow chamber


1425


. The push device


1624


is clamped by the catch blocks


1622


. Each catch block


1622


has an insertion groove


1625


. An annular seat


163


is disposed on the rotor device


162


. A foamed pad


1631


is inserted in the annular seat


163


. The threaded portion


1621


of the rotor device


162


engages with the respective driven pinion


1612


.




The adjustment device


17


is connected to the first longitudinal pivot


130


, the second longitudinal pivot


150


, and the longitudinal posts


140


.




The adjustment device


17


has a seating panel


170


, two positioning mounts


171


, two screw posts


172


, and two pinion sets


173


.




Each of the positioning mounts


171


has a first blind hole


1712


receiving a lower end of the respective longitudinal post


140


and a second blind hole


1711


receiving a lower end of the respective longitudinal pivot


130


or


150


.




Each of the screw posts


172


has a thread


1721


. Each of the screw posts


172


encloses a lower portion of the respective longitudinal post


140


.




Each of the pinion sets


173


has a rectangular box


1731


disposed on the respective screw post


172


, a follower shaft


1732


disposed in the rectangular box


1731


and passing through a first pinion


1735


and a second pinion


1736


, a driven shaft


1733


disposed in the rectangular box


1731


, and the driven shaft


1733


having a threaded portion


1737


engaging with the first pinion


1735


. The second pinion


1736


engages with the thread


1721


of the respective screw post


172


. A handle


1734


is connected to one of the driven shafts


1733


. The seating panel


170


is disposed between two rectangular boxes


1731


.




It is an option to provide a first micromotion switch


137


disposed on the bottom of the hollow casing


110


and a second micromotion switch


174


disposed on one of the longitudinal posts


140


in order to control the second motor


131


.




It is another option to provide a controller


18


to control the first valve


114


, the second valve


113


, the third valve


112


, and the fourth valve


111


.




Referring to

FIGS. 1

to


12


again, the handle


1734


is operated in order to move the seating panel


170


upward and downward.




The fourth valve


111


is opened while the automatic back rubbing assembly of the present invention is not operated. Water flows from the water inlet pipe


1121


to the third connection pipe


1112


, then to the water outlet pipe


1111


, and then to the shower nozzle


1113


.




The fourth valve


111


is closed while the automatic back rubbing assembly of the present invention is operated. The first valve


114


, the second valve


113


, the third valve


112


, and the first motor


122


are actuated. Water flows from the water inlet pipe


1121


to the water outlet tube


1122


and the second connection pipe


1123


.




When the first valve


114


is actuated to open, the liquid soap in the liquid soap tank


115


flows into the bubble producing device


12


via the first connection pipe


1141


. The first motor


122


drives the eccentric wheel


126


and the ratchet


128


to rotate. The rotation of the ratchet


128


will produce bubbles. The bubbles will flow from the liquid outlet


1274


to the bubble outlet


1251


.




When the second motor


131


rotates, the first longitudinal pivot


130


will rotate so that the elevator box


14


will move upward and downward.




When the third motor


151


rotates, the second longitudinal pivot


150


will rotate so that the follower shafts


161


will rotate also. The respective driven pinion


1612


will drive the respective threaded portion


1621


of the rotor device


162


to rotate. The foamed pad


1631


will rotate. When the back of the user contacts the foamed pad


1631


, the foamed pad


1631


will rub the back of the user automatically.




The controller


18


can control the time period of the operation of the first valve


114


, the second valve


113


, the third valve


112


, and the fourth valve


111


.




When the controller


18


is operated, the fourth valve


111


is closed. After the first valve


114


, the second valve


113


, the third valve


112


, and the first motor


122


are actuated for five seconds, the second motor


131


and the third motor


151


are actuated. Water flows from the water inlet pipe


1121


to the water outlet tube


1122


and the second connection pipe


1123


. When the second motor


131


rotates, the first longitudinal pivot


130


will rotate so that the elevator box


14


will move upward and downward. When the third motor


151


rotates, the second longitudinal pivot


150


will rotate so that the follower shafts


161


will rotate also. The respective driven pinion


1612


will drive the respective threaded portion


1621


of the rotor device


162


to rotate. The foamed pad


1631


will rotate.




The second valve


113


will be closed fifteen seconds later. The first motor


122


will be closed sixty seconds later.




The third motor


151


can be controlled manually.




The invention is not limited to the above embodiment but various modification thereof may be made. Further, various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. An automatic back rubbing assembly comprising:a hollow casing, a water control unit, a bubble producer, an elevator drive mechanism, an elevator box, a back rubbing drive mechanism, and a rubbing device, the bubble producer disposed in the hollow casing, the water control unit disposed in the hollow casing, the water control unit having a liquid soap tank, a joint connected to the bubble producer, a first valve, and a second valve, a first connection pipe connected to the liquid soap tank and the first valve, a second connection pipe connected to the second valve and a third valve, a water outlet tube connected to the third valve, a third connection pipe connected to the third valve and a fourth valve, and a water outlet pipe connected to the fourth valve and a shower nozzle, an water inlet pipe connected to the third valve, the water outlet tube having a water outlet, the bubble producer having a positioning seat disposed in a lower interior of the hollow casing, a slot formed on a top portion of the positioning seat, a first motor disposed on the positioning seat, an outer box disposed in the positioning seat, an inner box enclosed by the outer box, a positioning plate disposed in the positioning seat, an eccentric wheel disposed between the positioning seat and the inner box, and a ratchet disposed in the inner box, the first motor having a first shaft inserted through the eccentric wheel and the ratchet, the positioning plate having a recess receiving the eccentric wheel, and two oblong grooves, the outer box having two oblong holes matching the oblong grooves, an upper flange having a through hole receiving the joint, and four slide grooves, the inner box having four slide rails inserted in the slide grooves, a rectangular groove, a through aperture matching the through hole, and a liquid outlet, a cover plate engaging with the outer box, the cover plate having a bubble outlet, the elevator box disposed on a bottom of the hollow casing, a base seat disposed in a rear portion of the elevator box, a main seat disposed in a front portion of the elevator box, the main seat having a hollow housing, and two circular holes receiving a first threaded sleeve and a second threaded sleeve, the hollow housing having a center hole, two inner grooves, and a hollow chamber, a cover panel covering the main seat, the cover panel having an opening receiving an annular seat, two longitudinal posts passing through the rear portion of the elevator box, an upper end of each said longitudinal post inserted in a bottom of the hollow casing, a first hollow screw rod inserted through the first threaded sleeve, a first longitudinal pivot inserted through the first hollow screw rod, the first hollow screw rod having a first outer thread, the first threaded sleeve having a first inner thread, the first outer thread engaging with the first inner thread, a second hollow screw rod inserted through the second threaded sleeve, a second longitudinal pivot inserted through the second hollow screw rod, the second hollow screw rod having a second outer thread, the second threaded sleeve having a second inner thread, the second outer thread engaging with the second inner thread, an upper end of the first longitudinal pivot inserted in the bottom of the hollow casing, an upper end of the second longitudinal pivot inserted in the bottom of the hollow casing, the elevator drive mechanism driving the elevator box to move upward and downward, the elevator drive mechanism having the first longitudinal pivot, a second motor having a second shaft, a first drive gear receiving the second shaft, a first follower gear engaging with the first drive gear, a first driven gear engaging with the first follower gear, and the first driven gear disposed on a top end of the first longitudinal pivot, the back rubbing drive mechanism driving the rubbing device to rotate, the back rubbing drive mechanism having the second longitudinal pivot, a third motor having a third shaft, a second drive gear receiving the third shaft, a second follower gear engaging with the second drive gear, a second driven gear engaging with the second follower gear, and the second driven gear disposed on a top end of the second longitudinal pivot, the rubbing device disposed in the elevator box, the rubbing device having two driven pinions, two gear wheels engaging with the second hollow screw rod, two follower shafts connected to the respective driven pinion and the respective gear wheel, two positioning racks disposed on the base seat to support the follower shafts, a rotor device having a threaded portion inserted through the center hole of the hollow housing, a catch ring, two catch blocks, two compression springs, and a push device, the catch ring, the catch blocks, the compression springs, and the push device disposed in the hollow chamber, the push device clamped by the catch blocks, each said catch block having an insertion groove, an annular seat disposed on the rotor device, a foamed pad inserted in the annular seat, and the threaded portion of the rotor device engaging with the respective driven pinion.
  • 2. The automatic back rubbing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein an adjustment device is connected to the first longitudinal pivot, the second longitudinal pivot, and the longitudinal posts.
  • 3. The automatic back rubbing assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adjustment device has a seating panel, two positioning mounts, two screw posts, and two pinion sets, each said positioning mount has a first blind hole receiving a lower end of the respective longitudinal post and a second blind hole receiving a lower end of the respective longitudinal pivot, each said screw post has a thread, each said screw post encloses a lower portion of the respective longitudinal post, each said pinion set has a rectangular box disposed on the respective screw post, a follower shaft disposed in the rectangular box and passing through a first pinion and a second pinion, a driven shaft disposed in the rectangular box, and the driven shaft having a threaded portion engaging with the first pinion, and the second pinion engages with the thread of the respective screw post.
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