The present invention generally relates to massage chairs, massage devices and apparatuses for massage chairs, and noise-reducing devices and systems. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a massage chair having a noise-reducing, enclosure device.
Massage chairs, massage devices and apparatuses for massage chairs, and noise-reducing devices and systems are known in the art.
In many current massage systems and devices related to massage chairs, the massage system or device usually has an air compressor to pump air into the air cells or bags throughout the massage chair to provide massage effects to users of the massage chair at air massage pressure points. Due to the electro-mechanical movement to generate the compressed air, the air compressor can make a very unpleasant noise when it operates. In addition, the air valves' operation to control the air flow into and out of air cells are also noisy. Thus, a massage chair having a noise-reducing, device or system is desired for reducing noise generated from and/or made by these devices so as to make the massage environment more quiet and relaxing for users of the massage chair.
The present invention overcomes one or more of the shortcomings of massage chairs, massage devices and apparatuses for massage chairs, and noise-reducing devices and systems. 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 chair having a massage chair frame, a massage system that includes a plurality of fluid massage elements, and a noise-reducing (or noise-absorbing, noise-containing or noise-cancelling), enclosure device.
The massage chair frame includes a first end, a second end, a seat or bottom body area portion, and a back body area portion extending upward from the seat or bottom body area portion toward the second end. Preferably, the massage chair frame also includes a thigh body area portion located between the seat or bottom body area portion and the first end, a head and neck body area portion extending upward from the back body area portion and located about the second end, and a lower leg body area portion located downward (or extending downward) from the thigh body area portion and located about the first end.
The massage system comprises at least one fluid massage element, a fluid compressor or pump, and at least one fluid valve device for regulating fluid flow into and out of the at least one fluid massage element. Preferably, the massage system also comprises at least one fluid transport device and a power source. Also preferably, the at least one fluid massage element is a plurality of fluid massage elements, the at least one fluid valve device is a plurality of fluid valve devices, and the at least one fluid transport device is a plurality of fluid transport devices. The massage system is in operational communication with the massage chair frame such that the massage system provides massaging effects to a user positioned in the massage chair.
Each of the plurality of fluid massage elements is adapted for having fluid transported or pumped into it by the fluid compressor or pump and for having fluid withdrawn from it. The plurality of fluid massage elements may be positioned at predetermined massage locations on, about, or in the vicinity of the massage chair frame and/or may be moved or transported to desired massage locations by the user.
The fluid compressor or pump pumps fluid into the plurality of fluid massage elements such that massaging effects can be provided to the user at desired massage locations or pressure points.
The plurality of fluid valve devices regulate fluid flow into and out of the plurality of fluid massage elements.
The plurality of fluid transport devices transport fluid flow into and out of the plurality of fluid massage elements.
The power source provides power to the fluid compressor or pump, and may also be used to provide power to other components of the massage chair.
The noise-reducing (or noise-absorbing, noise-containing, or noise-cancelling), enclosure device comprises an enclosure housing and noise-reducing (or noise-absorbing, noise-containing, or noise-cancelling) material positioned inside the enclosure housing. The enclosure housing encloses the fluid compressor or pump and the plurality of fluid valve devices during operation. The noise-reducing, enclosure device is preferably positioned in proximity of the massage chair frame.
The enclosure housing encloses the fluid compressor or pump and the plurality of fluid valve devices during operation such that noise generated from or made by the fluid compressor or pump and the plurality of fluid valve devices during operation is reduced, contained or eliminated.
Preferably, the noise-reducing (or noise-absorbing, noise-containing, or noise-cancelling) material is positioned inside the enclosure housing in such a way that it surrounds the fluid compressor or pump and the plurality of fluid valve devices such that noise generated from or made by the fluid compressor or pump and the plurality of fluid valve devices during operation is reduced, contained or eliminated.
It should be understood that the above-attached figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.
Referring to
The massage chair frame 110 includes a first end, a second end, a seat or bottom body area portion, and a back body area portion extending upward from the seat or bottom body area portion toward the second end. Preferably, the massage chair frame 110 also includes a thigh body area portion located between the seat or bottom body area portion and the first end, a head and neck body area portion extending upward from the back body area portion and located about the second end, and a lower leg body area portion located downward (or extending downward) from the thigh body area portion and located about the first end. In general, the massage chair frame 110 may be any massage chair frame known to one of ordinary skill in the art that comprises at least a seat or bottom body area portion and a back body area portion.
As a non-limiting example and as best shown in
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 may include gear teeth 138 for engaging with at least one gear member from a mechanical massage device (not shown) when the mechanical massage device 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
Preferably, as 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 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 material or combination of materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art, and any combination thereof. Also, each of the guide rails 120R,120L and plurality of guide rails stabilizing bars 140 may be made or manufactured of steel, metal, wood, plastic, any material or combination of materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art, and any combination thereof.
As best shown in
Each of the plurality of fluid massage elements 180 is adapted for having fluid transported or pumped into it by the fluid compressor or pump 190 and for having fluid withdrawn from it. The plurality of fluid massage elements 180 may be positioned at predetermined massage locations on, about, or in the vicinity of the massage chair frame 110 and/or may be moved or transported to desired massage locations by the user. The plurality of fluid massage elements 180 may be a plurality of fluid massage cells (such as, but not limited to, air cell 180 shown in
The fluid compressor or pump 190 pumps fluid into the plurality of fluid massage elements 180 such that massaging effects can be provided to the user at desired massage locations or pressure points. The fluid compressor or pump 190 comprises a fluid pump body 192, a fluid pump inlet 194, and a fluid pump outlet 196. The fluid compressor or pump 190 (such as the non-limiting example shown in
The plurality of fluid valve devices 200 regulate fluid flow into and out of the plurality of fluid massage elements 180. Each of the fluid valve device 200 comprises a fluid valve body 202, a fluid valve inlet 204, and a fluid valve outlet 206. Each of the plurality of fluid valve devices 200 (such as the non-limiting example shown in
The plurality of fluid transport devices 210 transport fluid flow into and out of the plurality of fluid massage elements 180. Each of the plurality of fluid transport devices 210 (such as the non-limiting example shown in
The power source 220 provides power to the fluid compressor or pump 190, and may also be used to provide power to other components of the massage chair 100. The power source 220 may be a battery, a connector or cord for plugging into a power outlet (such as, but not limited to, a detachable DC power supply cord), a plug for receiving power or electricity, any power source known to one of ordinary skill in the art, and any combination thereof.
As best shown in
As a non-limiting example and as best shown in
Preferably, the noise-reducing (or noise-absorbing, noise-containing, or noise-cancelling) material 260 is positioned inside the enclosure housing 240 in such a way that it surrounds the fluid compressor or pump 190 and the plurality of fluid valve devices 200 such that noise generated from or made by the fluid compressor or pump 190 and the plurality of fluid valve devices 200 during operation is reduced, contained or eliminated. Preferably, as shown in
When in use or in operation, the user (not shown) may activate the massage system 170 of the massage chair 100 by or via pushing, touching, using voice command for use on or with, using a mechanical or remote control 290 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 massage producing-effects of the plurality of fluid massage elements 180 such that the plurality of fluid massage elements 180 provide massage producing-effects to a desired body part area(s), such as the thighs, bottom, lower back, upper back, head and neck, and/or lower leg of the user so that desired body part area(s) of the user can receive massage effects or benefits from the plurality of fluid massage elements 180 when desired.
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.
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