Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6174296
-
Patent Number
6,174,296
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Date Filed
Monday, June 14, 199926 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, January 16, 200124 years ago
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CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 601 129
- 601 130
- 601 136
- 601 154
- 601 155
- 601 156
- 601 158
- 601 159
- 601 160
- 601 167
- 601 169
- 601 112
- 601 114
- 601 126
- 601 17
- 004 628
- 004 596
- 004 597
- 004 606
- 015 211
- 015 221
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International Classifications
-
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.
US Referenced Citations (11)