Patent Application
20150157526
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to massage chairs and massage devices and apparatuses for massage chairs. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a massage apparatus for a massage chair wherein massage benefits or effects are provided to a back body area, a bottom body area, and a thigh body area of a user. Massage benefits or effects may also be provided to a head and neck body area of the user.
2. Description of the Related Art
Massage chairs and massage devices and apparatuses for massage chairs are known in the art.
Most or all of the patents, published patent applications, and/or non-patent publications directed at massage chairs and massage devices and apparatuses for massage chairs disclose massage benefits or effects being provided to a back body area of a user. At least one discloses massage benefits or effects being provided from the neck to the shoulder, back, and hips.
The present invention overcomes one or more of the shortcomings of the above described massage chairs and massage devices and apparatuses for massage chairs. The Applicant is unaware of inventions or patents, taken either singly or in combination, which are seen to describe the present invention as claimed.
The present invention is directed to a massage apparatus for a massage chair wherein massage benefits or effects are provided to a back body area, a seat or bottom body area, and a thigh body area of a user. Massage benefits or effects may also be provided to a head and neck body area of the user. The massage apparatus includes a frame and a massage device.
As a non-limiting example, the frame includes a pair of opposing guide rails, a plurality of guide rails stabilizing bars, and a base stand. The guide rails are secured to the base stand, and are positioned generally above the base stand. The base stand supports the weights of the guide rails, massage device, and user of the massage chair.
Each of the guide rails includes a first end, a second end, a thigh body area portion located adjacent the first end, a seat or bottom body area portion located adjacent the thigh body area portion and away from the first end, a back body area portion extending upward from the bottom body area portion, a head and neck body area portion extending upward from the back body area portion and located about the second end, an outer side, an inner side, and a guide channel extending from the thigh body area portion to the back body area portion, preferably to the head and neck body area portion, and running along the inner side of the guide rail. The guide channel includes gear teeth for engaging with at least one gear member from the massage device when the massage device preferably moves upward and downward in a generally vertical direction from the first end toward the second end of the guide rail and vice versa, respectively. Preferably, each of the guide rails has a generally “L-shaped” configuration. In this configuration, the lower portion of the “L” includes the thigh body area portion and bottom body area portion, and the upper portion of the “L” includes the back body area portion and head and neck body area portion. More preferably, each of the guide rails has a reclining “L-shaped” configuration.
The plurality of guide rails stabilizing bars help to stabilize the positioning of the guide rails relative to one another. Each of the guide rails stabilizing bars has a first end, a second end, and a body portion extending from the first end to the second end. The guide rails stabilizing bars are secured at predetermined locations along the outer sides of the guide rails.
The base stand includes a base and a guide rails support structure. The base includes a first or front end, a second or rear end, and a pair of opposing sides. The guide rails support structure is secured about the front end of the base, and is positioned above the base. The guide rails support structure includes a plurality of vertical bars or members and a plurality of horizontal bars or members. The plurality of vertical bars extend upward from the pair of opposing sides of the base, and, along with the plurality of horizontal bars, form a support frame with a “square-shaped” or “rectangular-shaped” box configuration.
The massage device includes a power source, at least one massage element, and at least one gear member. The massage device may be a conventional massage device that is known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
As a non-limiting example, the massage device includes a pair of massage device moving members, a pair of gear members, a pair of massage arms, a first motor, a second motor, a third motor, a rotation shaft driven by the first motor, a pair of rotation to knocking translator members, a rotation shaft driven by the second motor, a pair of rotation to kneading translator members, a rotation shaft for vertical movement gears driving, a speed reduction belt for the first motor, and a speed reduction belt for the second motor.
Each of the pair of massage device moving members is positioned within a corresponding guide channel of a guide rail, and helps the massage device move in a generally vertical direction along the guide channel.
Each of the pair of gear members is positioned within a corresponding guide channel of a guide rail, and engages with the teeth located in the corresponding guide channel.
Each of the pair of massage arms includes a first or upper massage roller and a second or lower massage roller. Each of the pair of massage arms can move vertically. As a non-limiting example, each of the pair of massage arms may be able to move both vertically and laterally. The massage rollers provide massage benefits or effects to a back body area, a bottom body area, and a thigh body area of the user when the massage device is moved to or near that particular body area. The massage rollers may also provide massage benefits or effects to a head and neck area of the user when the massage device is moved to or near the head and neck area.
The first and second motors provide power to the pair of massage arms, respectively, while the third motor provides power for the generally vertical movement of the massage device.
The rotation shaft driven by the first motor causes the first massage arm to be activated and to carry out its massage actions when this rotation shaft is rotated.
Each of the pair of rotation to knocking translator members assists the corresponding massage arm and corresponding massage roller(s) to carry out its knocking massage actions when the corresponding rotation shaft is rotated.
The rotation shaft driven by the second motor causes the second massage arm to be activated and to carry out its massage actions when this rotation shaft is rotated.
Each of the pair of rotation to kneading translator members assists the corresponding massage arm and corresponding massage roller(s) to carry out its kneading massage actions when the corresponding rotation shaft is rotated.
The rotation shaft for vertical movement gears driving causes the massage device to move upward or downward when this rotation shaft is rotated.
The speed reduction belt for the first motor adjusts the speed of the first massage arm.
The speed reduction belt for the second motor adjusts the speed of the second massage arm.
It should be understood that the above-attached figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.
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Preferably, the guide rails 120R,120L are substantially similar or mirror images of one another. Each of the guide rails 120R,120L includes a first end 122R,122L, a second end 124R,124L, a thigh body area portion 125R,125L located adjacent the first end 122R,122L, a seat or bottom body area portion 126R,126L located adjacent the thigh body area portion 125R,125L and away from the first end 122R,122L, a back body area portion 128R,128L extending upward from the bottom body area portion 126R,126L, a head and neck body area portion 130R,130L extending upward from the back body area portion 128R,128L and located about the second end 124R,124L, an outer side 132R,132L, an inner side 134, and a guide channel 136 extending from the thigh body area portion 125R,125L to the back body area portion 128R,128L, preferably to the head and neck body area portion 130R,130L, and running along the inner side 134 of the guide rail 120R,120L. The guide channel 136 includes gear teeth 138 for engaging with at least one gear member from the massage device 170 when the massage device 170 moves upward and downward in a generally vertical direction from the first end 122R,122L toward the second end 124R,124L of the guide rail 120R,120L and vice versa, respectively. Preferably, each of the guide rails 120R,120L has a generally “L-shaped” configuration. In this configuration, the lower portion of the “L” includes the thigh body area portion 125R,125L and bottom body area portion 126R,126L, and the upper portion of the “L” includes the back body area portion 128R,128L and head and neck body area portion 130R,130L. As best shown in
The plurality of guide rails stabilizing bars 140 help to stabilize the positioning of the guide rails 120R,120L relative to one another. Each of the guide rails stabilizing bars 140 has a first end 142, a second end 144, and a body portion 146 extending from the first end 142 to the second end 144. Preferably, each of the guide rails stabilizing bars 140 has a generally “U-shaped” configuration. The guide rails stabilizing bars 140 are secured at predetermined locations along the outer sides 132R,132L of the guide rails 120R,120L.
The base stand 150 includes a base 152 and a guide rails support structure 160. The base 152 includes a first or front end 154, a second or rear end 156, and a pair of opposing sides 158R,158L. The guide rails support structure 160 is secured about the front end 154 of the base 152, and is positioned above the base 152. The guide rails support structure 160 includes a plurality of vertical bars or members 162 and a plurality of horizontal bars or members 164. The plurality of vertical bars 162 extend upward from the pair of opposing sides 158R,158L of the base 152, and, along with the plurality of horizontal bars 164, form a support frame with a “square-shaped” or “rectangular-shaped” box configuration.
Since the base stand 150 supports the weights of the guide rails 120R,120L, massage device 170, and user of the massage chair, the base stand 150 is preferably made or manufactured of a strong material, such as, but not limited to, steel, metal, wood, hard plastic, any combination of the listed materials, and any material or combination of materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Also, the guide rails 120R,120L may be made or manufactured of steel, metal, wood, plastic, any combination of the listed materials, and any material or combination of materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
The massage device 170 includes a power source, at least one massage element, and at least one gear member. The massage device 170 may be a conventional massage device or any applicable massage device that is known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
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When in use or in operation, the user (not shown) may activate the massage device 170 of the massage apparatus 100 for a massage chair by or via pushing, touching, using voice command for use on or with, using a mechanical or remote control for use on or with, or any other activation method known to one of ordinary skill in the art, an activation, start, control or command button, touch area, box or panel, or any other activation method or element known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Preferably, the user is able to control the generally vertical movement of the massage device 170 and massage rollers 182R,182L,184R,184L upward and downward along the guide rails 120R,120L such that the massage device 170 and massage rollers 182R,182L,184R,184L are positioned about, near or at a desired body part area, such as the thighs, bottom, lower back, upper back, and head and neck, of the user so that desired body part area of the user can receive massage effects or benefits from the massage rollers 182R,182L,184R,184L when desired. Preferably, the user is also able to control the timing, movement, etc. of the massage rollers 182R,182L,184R,184L such that that the massage rollers 182R,182L,184R,184L can provide different massage effects or benefits, such as knocking, keading, etc., to the desired body part area of the user at a particular moment or time.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or as shown in the attached figures, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the spirit of the invention.
