Patent Grant
8048010
This application is a National Stage application of co-pending PCT application PCT/JP2005/000330 filed Jan. 14, 2005, which was published in Japanese under PCT Article 21(2) on Aug. 18, 2005, which claims priority from Japanese patent applications 2004-027070 filed Feb. 3, 2004, 2004-027071 filed Feb. 3, 2004, 2004-090622 filed Mar. 25, 2004 and 2004-090623 filed Mar. 25, 2004. These applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Aspects of the present invention relate to a massage nozzle and a massage device and, more particularly, the massage nozzle and massage device to produce negative pressure due to a water vortical flow and enable suction pressure as applied to a human body.
Massage devices to massage a skin surface of a human body and promote a blood circulation for the purpose of beautification and health enhancement have been widely used. As these conventional massage devices, for example, an electrically-operated shoulder tapping machine, a lumbar kneading machine, a device to let a depressurized suction hole suck a portion of a person's skin and the like are known.
As a massage device using water, one example proposes a massage device provided with an opening to introduce pressurized fluid into a cylindrical body whose one end is closed and the other end is opened in the inner-circumference tangential direction, an opening to introduce outside air into the above-mentioned closed end in the center of the cylindrical body and further, a guide cylinder outside the cylindrical body to suck in the vicinity of a spouting port. Here, a person's skin can be sucked with the negative-pressure region in the vicinity of the spouting port expanded by letting the spouted water flow reversely through the guide cylinder.
In addition, another example discloses a suction washing machine provided with an opened flow-out in a front side of an expanded guide section to let spouted water flow out.
Furthermore, yet another example of a washing machine using the suction effect by the vortical flow discloses a massage washing machine provided with an air-flow separation plate which enable a user to use in the air.
The massage device by using water vortical flow has a problem in that water splashes in all directions from the spouting port. For example, one massage device has a problem in that if using the massage device in the air, the spouted water does not splash so much as long as the guide cylinder is pressed against the skin. However, if the guide cylinder is released from the skin, the spouted water splashes conically in all directions and wets the user, persons around the user, and/or a bathroom's wall in an undesirable manner, causing the user or persons to feel uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, a massage washing machine is provided with an air-water separation plate to prevent water from splashing by separating a spouting section and suction section of vortical flow and applying the vortical flow passed through a passage hole of a one-through plate to a splash-prevention bent section. However, in this massage washing machine, since the spouting section and the suction section are separated, the whole length of the machine has to be designed to be longer, reducing the suction force and preventing a depression or vibration effect due to vortical flow from affecting a skin. In addition, the suction section is smaller than the spouting port so that the area receiving the suction force is smaller. Furthermore, since the suction port is closely stuck to the skin, this brings about a problem in that it is hard to move the main unit of the massage machine.
Meanwhile, as a message method to add to a human body various types of bioeffects such as blood circulation and removal of metabolic decomposition product, and psychological effects such as relaxation and the like, a massage method with physical vibration such as “tapping” or “kneading” is effective as well as the suction massage method to suck and deform a site on the person's skin subject to treatment.
However, the conventional massage devices as described above have emphasized only the suction effect but have not considered the enhancement of massage effect by intentionally generating physical vibration.
One or more aspects of the present invention proposed to solve the above problems. One example of an aspect of the present invention may provide a massage nozzle and a massage device using its massage nozzle, in which even if releasing in the atmosphere, water does not splash in all directions, suction can be performed in a large area. Even if moving while coming in contact with the skin, smooth movement can be performed.
Another example may provide a massage nozzle and a massage device using its massage nozzle to enable a significant massage effect due to physical vibration in addition to a suction massage effect based on a novel concept.
A first massage nozzle of an illustrative example of the present invention may include a vortex chamber equipped with a water intake section to produce a vortical flow in a chamber and a spouting port to spout the above-mentioned vortical flow to form a negative-pressure region and a water-spray plate. The water-spray plate, which may be provided at the end of the above-mentioned spouting port, has an opening in the center and has also a plurality of water-spray holes around the above-mentioned opening.
The above-mentioned configuration enables suction massage by providing an opening to serve as a suction port and enables water to be spouted in a shower-like manner by adjusting the vortical flow by a water-spray hole, which can prevent spouted water from spraying even if releasing in the atmosphere. In addition, since the water-spray hole having a water-adjustment effect is provided at the end of the spouting port, the vortical flow can be moved closer to a site on the person's skin subject to treatment and a massage effect due to vortical flow can be obtained. Furthermore, since water can be spouted in a shower-like manner from the water-spray hole in an opened condition, this massage device can be used also as a showerhead.
In addition, a second massage nozzle of another illustrative example of the present invention may include a vortex chamber equipped with a water intake section to produce a vortical flow in a chamber and a spouting port to spout the above-mentioned vortical flow to form a negative-pressure region, a semi-cylindrical guide section provided as protruding from the above-mentioned spouting port and a water-spray plate. The water-spray plate, which is provided at the end of the above-mentioned guide section, has an opening in the center and has also a plurality of water-spray holes around the above-mentioned opening.
Also in the above-mentioned configuration, the same effect as the massage nozzle as described above can be obtained by providing the water-spray plate. Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned configuration, providing the guide section can prevent effectively the vortical flow spouted from the spouting port from splashing. Moreover, if the guide section is designed to be detachable, a user-desired suction force, feeling of stimulation, suction area and the like can be arbitrarily selected.
In this case, if the above-mentioned opening is designed to be larger than the above-mentioned spouting port, a suction region can be sufficiently obtained to enhance a massage effect and bioeffect. In addition, the massage nozzle main body can be designed in a compact size to enable a user to handle more easily.
In addition, if the configuration further includes a baffle plate provided at the opposed face to the above-mentioned spouting port of the above-mentioned water-spray plate or the inner-circumference wall of the above-mentioned guide section, the baffle plate will serve as a stator to enhance a flow-adjustment effect much more.
In addition, in the above-mentioned guide section, when half of the difference between the diameter of the above-mentioned spouting port and the diameter of the above-mentioned opening of the above-mentioned water-spray plate is determined as L1, the angle of the water flow to be spouted from the above-mentioned spouting port with the face including the above-mentioned spouting port is determined as θ, if designed to protrude as the length to the above-mentioned water-spray plate viewing from the above-mentioned spouting port is (L1×tan θ) or more, the vortical flow to be spouted from the spouting port will readily collide with the inner-circumference wall or the water-spray plate to maintain a flow-adjustment effect.
In addition, in the above-mentioned second massage nozzle, if a movable member equipped with a semi-discoid-shaped stopper having an opening in the center, a semi-cylindrical ring section substantially perpendicularly protruding from the circumference of the above-mentioned opening of the above-mentioned stopper to the above-mentioned stopper, is movably provided in the above-mentioned guide section, it is possible to enhance both the splash-prevention effect and the suction massage effect according to the position of the movable member.
In addition, in the above-mentioned guide section, when half of the difference between the diameter of the above-mentioned spouting port and the diameter of the above-mentioned opening of the above-mentioned stopper is determined as L2, the angle of the water flow to be spouted from the above-mentioned spouting port to the face including the above-mentioned spouting port is determined as θ, if designed to protrude as the length to the above-mentioned water-spray plate viewing from the above-mentioned spouting port in an opened spouting condition is (L2×tan θ) or more, the vortical flow to be spouted from the spouting port will readily collide with the inner-circumference wall, the water-spray plate or the movable member to maintain a flow-adjustment effect.
Meanwhile, in the above-mentioned first massage nozzle, if a movable member equipped with a semi-discoid-shaped stopper having an opening in the center, a semi-cylindrical ring section semi-perpendicularly protruding from the circumference of the above-mentioned opening of the above-mentioned stopper to the above-mentioned stopper, is movably provided in the above-mentioned vortex chamber, it is possible to enhance both the splash-prevention effect and the suction massage effect according to the position of the movable member.
In this case, if the maximum outside dimension of the above-mentioned stopper is designed to be larger than the above-mentioned opening of the above-mentioned guide section, it is unlikely that the movable member will pass through the water-spray plate to enable a user to more easily handle.
In addition, if the above-mentioned ring section is provided as possible to protrude from the above-mentioned opening of the above-mentioned water-spray plate, the protruding height of the ring section can be changed easily by applying the ring section to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment, conditions suitable for splash-prevention or suction massage can be arbitrarily changed to use.
In addition, the above-mentioned water-spray plate further includes a circumferential protrusion section protruding from the circumference of the above-mentioned opening of the above-mentioned water-spray plate to the above-mentioned spouting port, when the water-spray plate does not come in contact with the site on the person's skin subject to treatment, a vortical flow can be prevented from overflowing from the opening of the water-spray plate to enhance a flow-adjustment. Meanwhile, when the water-spray plate comes in contact with the site on the person's skin subject to treatment, a vortical flow can overflow beyond this circumferential protrusion section, a massage effect due to “twisting” or “vibration” by the vortical flow can be obtained.
In addition, a third massage nozzle of a third illustrative example of the present invention may include a vortex chamber having a water intake section provided to form vortical flow therein and a spouting port provided to spout the above-mentioned vortical flow to form a negative pressure region; and a movable member having an opening, at least some part of which is inserted into the vortex chamber, the opening being provided to effect the above-mentioned negative region externally, the above-mentioned some part including a first portion which has a larger outside dimension than the above-mentioned spouting port.
The negative-pressure region formed by the vortical flow can readily affect a site on the person's skin subject to treatment of a human body by providing a movable member with a through-hole. In addition, physical vibration can be added to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment by rotating of the movable member in an eccentric or inclined condition by effect due to the vortical flow. That is, collisional stimulation is provided by collision of the movable member with the site on the person's skin subject to treatment and vibration-like stimulation is provided by rotation of the movable member. Particularly, a “kneading relax effect” remarkably increases by rotation of the movable member around the circumference while providing collisional stimulation to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment which is sucked into the massage nozzle. This effect is the same as many subjects actually felt in the sensory evaluation conducted by the inventor of the present invention. As a result, the suction effect due to the vortical flow and the massage effect due to vibration synergistically generate a highly-effective beautification effect and various bioeffects. In addition, designing the movable member with at least some part having an outside dimension which is larger than that of the spouting port can prevent the movable member from passing through the vortex chamber and provide an easy-to-handle and an operational-highly-reliable massage nozzle.
If the above-mentioned movable member has a section externally protruding from the above-mentioned spouting port in a condition that the above-mentioned first portion abuts the vortex chamber inner wall in the vicinity of the above-mentioned spouting port, applying the movable member to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment causes the movable member to become unbalanced so as to bring about precession movement and similar movement easily. At this time, since the movable member is pressed against the site on the person's skin subject to treatment due to a spouted water flow, a vibration massage effect due to shaking can be much more readily obtained. In addition, protruding the movable member enables the vibration stroke to become larger at the section abutting the site.
If the above-mentioned section externally protruding has a second portion, which has a larger outside dimension than the above-mentioned spouting port, this can prevent the movable member from sinking into the vortex chamber and can readily provide a highly-effective vibration effect.
A fourth massage nozzle of a fourth illustrative example of the present invention includes a vortex chamber having a water intake section provided to form a vortical flow therein and a spouting port provided to spout the above-mentioned vortical flow to form a negative pressure region; a guide section in a semi-cylindrical shape protruding further with respect to the above-mentioned spouting port and having an inside diameter larger than that of the above-mentioned spouting port; a protrusion section protruding from an inner wall of the above-mentioned guide section toward a rotation axis of the above-mentioned vortical flow; and a movable member having an opening, at least some of the moveable member being inserted into the above-mentioned guide section, the opening being provided to effect the above-mentioned negative region externally, the above-mentioned some part having a stopper capable of abutting the above-mentioned protrusion section.
According to the present massage nozzle, providing a movable member having a through-hole enables a negative region formed by a vortical flow affect a site on the person's skin subject to treatment of a human body. In addition, the precession movement and the similar movements of the movable member due to the effect of vortical flow can provide physical vibration to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment of the human body. As a result, the suction effect due to vortical flow and massage effect synergistically generate a highly-effective beautification effect and various bioeffects.
In addition, providing a guide section having an inside diameter which is larger than that of the spouting port expands a suction area to a site on the person's skin subject to treatment of a human body, enabling more effective suction vibration massage. At the same time, the massage nozzle main body can be designed in a compact size so easy to be handled. In addition, setting an amplitude of movable member operation to be larger can enhance the “kneading relax effect” and the like. Furthermore, it is possible to set a movable member's inclination angle, moving range, motion cycle and the like to the predetermined range and to obtain a favorable vibration effect without preventing a vortical flow from being formed. In addition, letting the stopper of the movable member abut on the protrusion section of the guide section can prevent the movable member from passing through the guide section and can provide an easy-to-handle and operational highly reliable massage nozzle.
In this case, the above-mentioned protrusion section is provided in a substantially annular fashion and has a plurality of water-spray holes and the central axis of the above-mentioned movable member can be designed to be inclinable to the central axis of the above-mentioned vortex chamber. Providing the protrusion section in a semi-circular manner enables the movable member to rotate more smoothly. In addition, providing water-spray holes enables water to be spouted in a shower-like manner in an opened spouting condition due to the flow-adjustment effect with the water-spray hole, and prevents spouted water from splashing. The movable member provides a vibration-like feeling of stimulation due to the “procession movement” of the movable member and the similar movements.
If the above-mentioned movable member has a section externally protruding from the above-mentioned guide section in a condition that the above-mentioned stopper abuts the above-mentioned protrusion section, applying the movable member to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment causes the movable member to be unbalanced to bring about precession movement and similar movements easily. At this time, since the movable member is pressed against the site on the person's skin subject to treatment due to a spouted water flow, a vibration massage effect due to shaking can be readily obtained. In addition, protruding the movable member enables the vibration stroke to become larger at the section abutting the site.
Meanwhile, a fifth massage nozzle of a fifth illustrative example the present invention includes a vortex chamber having a water intake section provided to form a vortical flow therein and a spouting port provided to spout the above-mentioned vortical flow to form a negative pressure region; a plurality of protrusions provided around the above-mentioned spouting port and protruding from the above-mentioned spouting port; a protrusion section protruding from each of the above-mentioned protrusions toward a rotation axis of the above-mentioned vortical flow; and a movable member having an opening, at least some part of which is inserted into between the above-mentioned plurality of protrusions and the above-mentioned spouting port, the opening being provided to effect the above-mentioned negative region externally, the above-mentioned some part having a stopper capable of abutting the above-mentioned protrusion section.
According to this massage nozzle, the negative-pressure region formed by the vortical flow can readily affect a site on the person's skin subject to treatment of a human body by providing a movable member with a through-hole. In addition, the precession movement and the similar movements of the movable member due to the effect of the vortical flow can provide physical vibration to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment of the human body. As a result, the suction effect due to vortical flow and massage effect synergistically generate a highly-effective beautification effect and various bioeffects. In addition, a plurality of protrusions comes in contact with the site on the person's skin subject to treatment of the human body to provide a depressing massage effect. Furthermore, letting the stopper of the movable member abut on the protrusion section can prevent the movable member from passing the protrusion and provide an easy-to-handle and operational highly reliable massage nozzle.
If the above-mentioned movable member has a part externally protruding from a plurality of protrusions in a condition that the above-mentioned stopper abuts the above-mentioned protrusion section, applying the movable member to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment causes the movable member to be unbalanced to bring about precession movement and similar movements easily. At this time, since the movable member is pressed against the site on the person's skin subject to treatment by the spouted water flow, a vibration massage effect due to shaking can be readily obtained. In addition, protruding the movable member enables the vibration stroke to become larger at the section abutting the site.
In addition, if the above-mentioned movable member includes a semi-cylindrical ring section having the above-mentioned opening inside and a stopper protruding from an outer circumferential wall of the above-mentioned ring section, this can provide a reliable vibration effect to the ring section and maintain the reliability of the operation by the stopper.
Meanwhile, a massage device includes a water supply means and a massage nozzle according to any one of above massage nozzles, wherein water is supplied from the above-mentioned water supply means to the above-mentioned vortex chamber through the above-mentioned water intake section so that a suction massage can be practiced by a user utilizing a negative pressure region formed in the above-mentioned spouting port of the above-mentioned massage nozzle.
According to the above-mentioned configuration, when the water-spray plate does not come in contact with the site on the person's skin subject to treatment, spouted water is prevented from splashing and the nozzle can be used as a shower. In addition, one or more aspects of the present invention may provide a massage device which can be moved smoothly widely through multiple sites of a human body during suction massage.
In addition, according to the above-mentioned configuration, a massage effect due to physical vibration can be generated synergistically in addition to the suction effect. Therefore, one or more aspects of the present invention can provide also a massage device enabling very highly effective massage.
a) is a schematic perspective view showing a seventh variation of a movable member which can be used for the massage nozzle having the guide section 10 and
a) is an A-A line sectional view of
The details of various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, as a first embodiment of the present invention, a massage nozzle having a water-spray plate equipped with a plurality of water-spray holes is hereinafter described.
The massage nozzle 1 according the present embodiment has a vortex section 2 and a connection 4. The vortex section 2 has a vortex chamber 8 which is surrounded by a circumferential wall 8W and whose section is semi-circular. One end of the vortex chamber 8 is opened and forms a spouting port 7.
The circumferential wall 8W is provided with a water intake section 6. In a substantially tangential direction from the water intake section 6 to the circumferential wall 8W of the vortex chamber 8, water is introduced and a vortical flow CF along the circumferential wall 8W is formed. A connection 4 is provided with an introduction route 5 opened as connecting to the water intake section 6.
Meanwhile, an end of a spouting port 7 is provided with a water-spray plate 12. The water-spray plate 12 is provided with an opening 12b in the center and a plurality of water-spray holes 12a are provided around the opening 12b.
In order to form the vortical flow CF efficiently in the vortex chamber 8, it is preferable that the water intake section 6 is opened in the tangential direction to the circumferential wall 8W of the vortex chamber. However, even when the water intake section 6 is not opened accurately in the tangential direction and there is some misalignment in the opening direction and position with the tangential direction, the vortical flow CF has only to be formed.
In this case, the “water intake section 6” as shown in
If the connection 4 is threaded like a general showerhead, it is convenient to connect to water piping such as a hose and the like.
Meanwhile the section between the vortex section 2 and the water-spray plate 12 may be designed to be detachable. If the section between the vortex section 2 and the water-spray plate 12 is designed to be detachable, it is possible to replace the water-spray plate 12 arbitrarily as desired by a user and select a desired suction area and feel of stimulation such as a twisting vibration as described below in detail. In addition, it becomes easier to attach/detach and replace a movable member 20 (not illustrated) described below in detail.
As a mechanism for attachment/detachment of the water-spray plate 12, for example, various types of mechanism such as a screw fitting, fitting mechanism between L-shaped groove and protrusion and the like can be arbitrarily used. However, in order to prevent detachment and/or looseness due to the vortical flow, it is preferable that a mechanism fixes (tightens) the water-spray plate in the same direction of that of the vortical flow.
Since it is only natural that a general user turns clockwise to tighten, the water intake section 6 is preferably provided so that the vortical flow is turned clockwise. Thus, it is easy to attach/detach and can prevent inadvertent detachment due to the vortical flow.
The water fed by a water-supply means which is not illustrated, passes through an introduction route 5 in the connection 4 and is introduced into the vortex chamber 8 from the water intake section 6 in the vortex section 2. At this time, as the water intake section 6 is opened in the tangential direction to the vortex chamber 8, the water introduced into the vortex chamber 8 forms the vortical flow CF. This vortical flow CF reaches a spouting port 7 while rotating along the circumferential wall 8W and finally reaches the water-spray plate 12.
At this time, a centrifugal force with the vortical flow CF produces a negative-pressure region around the center of the vortex chamber 8, therefore, a force to pull into the vortex chamber 8 from the outside of the massage nozzle 1 along the central axis of the opening 12b of the water-spray plate 12 (hereinafter referred to as “vortical suction force”) is generated.
Meanwhile, the vortical flow reaching the water-spray plate 12 is spouted forward from the water-spray holes 12a as indicated by the arrow mark A1 in
Next, the massage conditions are described hereinafter. As shown in
Meanwhile, a uniform water flow A1 spouted from the water-spray holes 12a is formed between the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 and the water-spray plate 12. In addition, if the water amount of the vortical flow CF exceeds the water amount spouted from the water-spray holes 12a, a water flow B1 overflowed from the opening 12b forms a water film.
The site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 is depressed in a doughnut-shaped manner due to the water film formed by these water flows A1 and B1; the central section is sucked into the opening 12b by intensive vortical suction force F and is deformed three-dimensionally to undergo effective suction massage. That is, the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 undergoes depression force at the periphery and intensive suction force in the center at the same time. In addition, the water flow A1 and water flow B1 provides the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 with vibration. The site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 is deformed three-dimensionally by the above-mentioned actions and undergoes “kneading relax effect” due to vibration.
In addition, since the water film formed by the water flow A1 and B1 always exist between the water-spray plate 12 and the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210, the massage nozzle 1 can be smoothly moved while applying the massage nozzle 1 to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 undergoing suction massage, enabling the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 to undergo suction massage widely.
In this case, if the ratio of the area of the opening 12b to the spouting port 7 is designed to be smaller, it becomes easier to relatively increase the spouting amount from the water-spray holes 12a provided around the opening 12b. That is, it enables the ratio of water to be spouted in a shower-like manner from the water-spray holes 12a to increase and the ratio of water overflowed from the opening 12b to decrease. As a result, it becomes easier to increase the bundling degree of water to be spouted from the massage nozzle 1.
In addition, since a uniform water film is formed by the water flow spouted from the water-spray holes 12a and the opening 12b, the massage nozzle 1 could be smoothly moved to freely perform suction massage in the predetermined range while applying the massage nozzle 1 to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210.
As described above, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, when discharging water in the atmosphere in an opened condition, bundled spouted water flow in a shower-like manner can be formed. As a result, the aspects of present invention were made to solve the above-mentioned problems in which spouted water splashes in all directions, furthermore, to let the massage nozzle serve as a general showerhead. That is, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, one massage nozzle can be used arbitrarily as a shower or a suction massage, providing users with a convenient use style.
Next, a massage nozzle equipped with a guide section is described hereinafter.
The massage nozzle 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a ring-shaped guide section 10 outside of a spouting port 7 through a flange 9. The end of the guide section 10 is provided with a water-spray plate 12. The water-spray plate 12 is provided with an opening 12b in the center and a plurality of water-spray holes 12a are provided around the opening 12b.
In this case, as shown in
At least, either one of sections between the vortex section 2 and the flange 9, between the flange 9 and the guide section 10, and between the guide section 10 and the water-spray plate 12 may be designed detachably. For example, if the section between the vortex section 2 and the flange 9 is designed to be detachable, the flange 9 (including the guide section 10 and the water-spray plate 12) can be replaced arbitrarily by a user and desired suction force and feel of simulation due to twisting and vibration can be selected as described below. In addition, it becomes easier to attach/detach and replace a movable member 20 (not illustrated) hereinafter described in the detail.
As a mechanism for attachment/detachment of the flange 9, guide section 10 and water-spray plate 12, for example, various types of mechanism such as a screw fitting, fitting mechanism between L-shaped groove and protrusion and the like can be used. However, in order to prevent detachment and/or looseness due to the vortical flow, it is preferable that a mechanism fixes (tightens) the water-spray plate in the same direction of that of the vortical flow.
In addition, as described above in
That is, the introduced water from the water intake section 6 to the vortex chamber 8 forms the vortical flow CF. This vortical flow CF reaches the spouting port 7 while rotating along the circumferential wall 8W and finally reaches the water-spray plate 12 while rotating along the inner-circumference wall 10W of the guide section 10 provided further outside.
At this time, a centrifugal force with the vortical flow CF produces a negative-pressure region around the center of the vortex chamber 8, therefore, the vortical suction force F to pull into the vortex chamber 8 from the outside of the massage nozzle 1 along the central axis of the opening 12b of the water-spray plate 12 is generated.
Meanwhile, the vortical flow reaching the water-spray plate 12 is spouted forward from the water-spray holes 12a as indicated by the arrow mark A1 in
In addition, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, in order to prevent the vortical flow CF from splashing, first it is necessary that the vortical flow CF spouted from the spouting port 7 collides with the inner-circumference wall 10W or the water-spray plate 12 of the guide section 10 before reaching the opening 12b. For this purpose, as shown in
Next, for the conditions during massage, as shown in
Also in the present embodiment, a uniform water flow A1 spouted from the water-spray holes 12a is formed between the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 and the water-spray plate 12. In addition, if the water amount of the vortical flow CF exceeds the water amount spouted from the water-spray holes 12a, a water flow B1 overflowed from the opening 12b forms a water film.
The site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 is depressed in a doughnut-shaped manner due to the water film formed by these water flows A1 and B1; the central section is sucked into the opening 12b by intensive vortical suction force F and is deformed three-dimensionally to undergo effective suction massage. That is, the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 undergoes depression force at the periphery and intensive suction force in the center at the same time. In addition, the water flow A1 and water flow B1 provides the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 with vibration. The site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 is deformed three-dimensionally by the above-mentioned actions and undergoes “kneading relax effect” due to vibration.
In addition, since the water film formed by the water flow A1 and B1 always exist between the water-spray plate 12 and the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210, the massage nozzle 1 can be smoothly moved while applying the massage nozzle 1 to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 undergoing suction massage, enabling the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 to undergo suction massage widely.
According to the present embodiment, if the area of the opening 12b is designed to be larger than that of the spouting port 7, a region to undergo vortical suction force F can be sufficiently maintained to obtain a highly-effective massage effect by providing effective deformation to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210. In addition, if the opening 12b is designed to be larger than the spouting port 7, the massage nozzle main body (a housing section forming a vortex chamber 8) can be designed in a compact size to be easier to be handled while maintaining the suction region determined by the opening 12b.
However, the present embodiment is not limited to these specific examples. That is, the area of the spouting port 7 may be almost the same as that of opening 12b or the area of the opening 12b may be smaller than that of the spouting port 7. If the ratio of the opening 12b to the spouting port 7 is designed to be smaller, it becomes easier to increase the spouted amount from the water-spray holes 12a provided in the circumference of the opening 12b. That is, it can increase the ratio of water to be spouted in a shower-like manner from the water-spray holes 12a and reduce the water amount overflowed from the opening 12b. As a result, it becomes easier to increase the bundling degree of water to be spouted from the massage nozzle 1.
First,
Next,
Next,
As described above, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, when discharging water in the atmosphere in an opened condition, bundled spouted water flow in a shower-like manner can be formed. As a result, the present embodiment was made to solve the above-mentioned problems in which spouted water is sprayed in all directions, furthermore, to let the massage nozzle serve as a general showerhead. That is, according to the prevent embodiment, one massage nozzle can be used arbitrarily as a shower or a suction massage, providing users with a convenient use style.
Next, a flow-adjustment effect of the water-spray holes 12a provided in the massage nozzle 1 of the present embodiment.
In this case, in order that the water to be spouted from the water-spray holes 12a is spouted in the arrow mark A1 direction without splashing in a rotation direction as shown by the arrow mark A2 in the same drawing, it is necessary that the water-spray holes 12a have a flow-adjustment effect.
Provisionally as shown in
Meanwhile, as shown in
That is, the water-spray holes 12a increases a flow-adjustment effect, enabling the vortical component included in the vortical flow CF to be suppressed and the water to be spouted as water flow bundled in the arrow mark A1 direction.
a) shows a spouted water flow when the thickness of the water-spray plate 12 is determined as 1 mm. Since the water flow spouted from the water-spray holes 12a is inclined in the rotation direction of the vortical flow, it is found that the spouted water flow splashes. That is, it is found that the vortical component is not suppressed.
b) shows a spouted water flow when the thickness of the water-spray plate 12 is determined as 2 mm. Since the water flow spouted from the water-spray holes 12a faces the opening 12b in the semi-perpendicular direction, the spouted water is bundled. That is, it is found that the vortical component included in the vortical flow is suppressed.
c) shows a spouted water flow when the thickness of the water-spray plate 12 is determine as 3 mm. The water flow spouted from the water-spray holes 12a faces the opening 12b in the perpendicular direction and the spouted water is sufficiently bundled. That is, it is found that the water-spray holes 12a produce a sufficient flow-adjustment effect to suppress the vortical component.
a) shows a spouted water flow when the thickness of the water-spray plate 12 is determined as 1 mm. As described above in
c) shows a spouted water flow when the thickness of the water-spray plate 12 is determined as 3 mm. The water flow spouted from the water-spray holes 12a is further bundled forward, it is found that the flow-adjustment effect due to the water-spray holes 12a increases. The spouted water flow shown in
Next,
In addition, the inventor of the present invention conducted the same test after the length of the guide section 10 was changed to 15 mm. However, the results were almost the same as those shown in
As described above, in order to bundle the water flow spouted from the massage nozzle 1, it is found that the flow-adjustment effect due to the water-spray holes 12a is important. That is, as shown in
In order to suppress the vortical component included in the vortical flow, a baffle plate may be provided.
That is, providing the back side (near side to a spouting port 7) of the water-spray plate 12 with a protruding baffle plate 14 enables the vortical component included in the vortical flow CF to be suppressed and bundled water flow to be spouted perpendicularly from the water-spray holes 12a. In addition, such a baffle plate may be provided in the circumferential wall of the guide section 10. Furthermore, if the height of the baffle plate 14 is designed to be lower and placed on a position closer to the water-spray plate 12, the vortical flow can be maintained up to the position closer the water-spray plate 12, the effect due to the vortical flow can be added more strongly to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 to be sucked from the opening 12b of the water-spray plate 12.
Next, the water flow to be overflowed from the opening 12b of the massage nozzle 1 is hereinafter described.
The water mount of water flow B1 to be spouted from the opening 12b depends on the size of the opening 12b. That is, if the opening 12b is larger, the amount of the water flow B1 tends to be larger.
a) shows a spouted water flow from the massage nozzle 1 having the opening 12b with 50 mmφ diameter. Meanwhile,
If the diameter is larger, the ratio of the vortical flow B1 spouted from the opening 12b becomes larger. For this reason, it is found that the splashing element included in the spouted water increases. According to the massage nozzle 1, as the curtain of the water flow A1 to be spouted in a shower-like manner from the water-spray holes 12a is formed, the water flow B1 having the splashing element tends to be blocked by the curtain of this water flow A1. In addition, if the water flow B1 becomes stronger, it shoots through the curtain of the water flow A1 to form an expanded spouted water flow.
According to one or more aspects of the present invention, however, it is unnecessary to suppress the vortical flow B1 completely, it can be arbitrarily determined according to the characteristics and application required by the massage nozzle. That is, as described above in
That is, if maintaining the water flow B1 spouted from the opening 12b as preventing the spouted water from splashing in a wide range, further high-effective massage can be obtained in some cases.
As a means to suppress the water flow B1 spouted from the opening 12b, there is a method in which the back side of the water-spray plate 12 is provided with a circumferential protrusion section.
According to the present specific example, a circumferential protrusion section 15 which is protruding in the direction from the circumference of the opening 12b to the spouting port 7 is provided. Providing such a circumferential protrusion section 15 suppresses the vortical flow which reached the water-spray plate 12 from overflowing from the opening 12b. That is, the circumferential protrusion section 15 serves as a dam, which can prevent the vortical flow from overflowing from the opening 12b.
The massage nozzle 1 used here has the same configuration parameter as described above in
a) shows a spouted water flow in the case where the circumferential protrusion section 15 is not provided. A slightly-splashing water flow element is observed in addition to the water flow spouted in a shower-like manner from the water-spray holes 12a. It is assumed that this is an element of the water flow B1 which shoots through the curtain of the water flow A1 and expands.
b) shows a spouted water flow in case that the circumferential protrusion section 15 having 2.5 mm of edge from the back side of the water-spray plate 12 is provided. It is found that providing the circumferential protrusion section 15 clearly reduces splashing element including the spouted water flow. That is, it is found that the vortical flow B1 spouted the opening 12b is suppressed.
c) shows a spouted water flow in case that the circumferential protrusion section 15 having 5 mm of edge is provided. It is found that increasing the height of the circumferential protrusion section 15 further suppresses the splashing element included in the spouted water flow. That is, the vortical flow B1 to be spouted from the opening 12b is further suppressed.
As described above, providing the circumferential protrusion section 15 or not, and adjusting its height can adjust the balance between the water flow A1 to be spouted from water-spray holes 12a and the water flow B1 to be spouted from the opening 12b. Accordingly, for example, when the spouting flow is desired to be suppressed in an opened condition as much as possible, the water flow B1 to be spouted from the opening 12b has only to be suppressed by increasing the height of the circumferential protrusion section 15. On the contrary, when the kneading relax effect such as “twisting” and “vibration” due to the vortical flow is desired to increase in suction massage, the water flow B1 has only to increase by lowering the height of the circumferential protrusion section 15 or without providing the circumferential protrusion section 15.
As the first embodiment of the present invention, the massage nozzle having the water-spray plate equipped with a plurality of water-spray holes is described above.
Next, as a second embodiment, a massage nozzle providing a massage effect due to physical vibration of a movable member is hereinafter described.
The massage nozzle 1 of the present embodiment has a vortex section 2 and a connection 4. The vortex section 2 is surrounded by the circumferential wall 8W and has the vortex chamber 8 whose section is semi-circular. The vortex chamber 8 has the narrowing section 8N whose inside diameter is gradually narrowed and forms the spouting port 7 whose end is opened.
The circumferential wall 8W is provided with the water intake section 6. As shown in
In order to efficiently form the vortical flow CF in the vortex chamber 8, it is preferable that the water intake section 6 is opened in the tangential direction of the circumferential wall 8W. However, even if the water intake section 6 is not opened correctly in the tangential direction of the circumferential wall 8W and the opening direction or opening position is misaligned with the tangential direction, the vortical flow CF has only to be formed.
In this case, the “water intake section 6” as shown in
If the connection 4 is threaded like a general showerhead, it is convenient to connect to water piping such as a hose and the like.
In addition, according to the massage nozzle 1, the semi-cylindrical movable member 20 is inserted into the vortex chamber 8. As described below in detail, the movable member 20 performs the precession movement and the similar movements due to vortical flow CF to provide a highly-effective massage effect due to physical vibration.
In addition, the movable member 20, as shown in
In addition, as shown in
Next, the massage nozzle 1 of the present embodiment is hereinafter described.
First, the suction effect with the massage nozzle 1 is described and the operation of the movable member 20 is described below.
The water fed by a water-supply means, which is not illustrated, passes through an introduction route 5 in the connection 4 and is introduced into the vortex chamber 8 from the water intake section 6 in the vortex section 2. At this time, as the water intake section 6 is opened in the tangential direction of the vortex chamber 8, the water introduced into the vortex chamber 8 forms the vortical flow CF. This vortical flow CF reaches a spouting port 7 while rotating along the circumferential wall 8W and increasing the flow rate at the narrowing section 8N, and finally is spouted outside.
At this time, a centrifugal force with the vortical flow CF produces a negative-pressure region around the center of the vortex chamber 8, therefore, a force to pull into the vortex chamber 8 from the outside of the massage nozzle 1 along the central axis of the spouting port 7 (hereinafter referred to as “vortical suction force”) is generated.
If the above massage nozzle 1 is drawn close to a treatment site (210) on a person's body, as shown in
In addition, since the water film formed by the water flow D1 always exists between the spouting port 7 and the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210, the massage nozzle 1 can be smoothly moved while applying the massage nozzle 1 to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 undergoing suction massage, enabling the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 to undergo suction massage widely.
The suction massage effect with the massage nozzle 1 is described above.
Next, operations of the movable member 20 are hereinafter described.
The movable member 20 undergoes the effect of the vortical flow CF and performs the precession movement or the similar movements. First, the precession movement is hereinafter described.
That is,
In addition,
In addition,
As shown in these drawings, the movable member 20 performs the “precession movement” at a slant due to the vortical flow CF. That is, the movable member 20 is changed as it autorotates around the central axis 20z (shown in
The reason why the movable member 20 moves as above shown is hereinafter described.
That is,
Next,
However, the movable member 20 is located eccentrically in the radial direction (for example, in the arrow mark M3 direction) from the center of the vortex chamber due to various factors as shown
If the movable member 20 is eccentrically located in the vortex chamber 8 as described above, the exhaust force of the vortical flow affecting the movable member 20 does not become isotropic. That is, as shown in
The movable member 20 rotates due to the rotational force of the vortical flow at a slant as described above. That is, the movable member 20 autorotates around the central axis 20z. In addition, the central axis 20z rotates around the rotation axis Z while the central axis 20z maintains the inclined position to the central axis Z of the vortex chamber 8.
As described above, “precession movement” is given as a specific example of various movements of the movable member 20 of the massage nozzle 1. Thus, the “precession movement” of the movable member 20 while being located eccentrically from the vortical flow CF can provide physical vibration to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210. That is, the movable member 20 alternately affects the pressure force on the site on the person's skin subject to treatment pulled into the vortex chamber 8 due to the vortical suction force F from the circumference while rotating. In the sensory evaluation through sensory evaluation conducted by the inventor of the present invention, the movable member 20 performing the precession movement is applied to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment from the circumference, which causes vibration as shaking in the rotation direction of the vortical flow CF and in combination with the suction effect synergistically generates a highly-effective massage feeling. That is, providing the movable member 20 can provide a comfortable and effective vibration effect and in addition, enables more effective suction massage.
For the vibration effect with which the movable member 20 provides the site on the person's skin subject to treatment, the inventor of the present invention measured using a high-speed video camera and a vibration pickup. As a result, the frequency of the vibration due to the movable member 20 was found to be about 10 to 40 Hz and the frequency of vibration tended to increase as water flow rate increases. According to the research thus far by the inventor of the present invention, the vibration frequency at which a person using the massage nozzle feels the most comfortable is several dozen hertz. According to the present embodiment, it was found that the vibration with this band range of frequency is obtained. In addition, these facts are the same as those of a massage nozzle with a guide section 10 as described below.
As described below in detail, the movable member 20 performs various movements in addition to the “precession movement” is some cases. The inclination conditions of the movable member 20 and the mode of autorotation or orbital rotation vary depending on the size of the movable member 20 and the vortex chamber 8 and the configuration parameter such as size, shape and the like. Depending on combination of configuration parameters, the movable member 20 almost is not located eccentrically or inclined but only autorotates around the central axis 20z. In another case, the movable member 20 may orbit the central axis Z and may autorotate without being inclined and with being located eccentrically to the central axis Z. In addition, the movable member 20 does not autorotate but only orbits the central axis Z. Furthermore, the central axis 20z of the movable member 20 does not intersect with the central axis Z of the vortex chamber but maintains the inclined “twist” direction relationship and rotates and orbits. In the specification of one or more aspects of the present invention, these movements are referred as the “similar movement” to the “precession movement”.
These ribs 20d have the effects to firmly receive the exhaust force moving toward the spouting port 7 of the vortical flow CF and increase the pressure to press the movable member 20 against the spouting port 7. As a result, it contributes to enhance the collisional stimulation and vibration-like stimulation.
In addition, a movable member as described above may be designed to be detachable to/from the main body of the massage nozzle 1. For example, in case of the massage nozzle 1 illustrated in
Thus, the movable members 20 based on user's desired shape or size arbitrarily can be selected and classified into each user, providing users with a convenient use style.
The massage nozzle 1 of the present specific example is provided with the movable member 20 having a slightly longer whole length. As shown in
Thus, the movable member 20 is not pressed into the vortex chamber 8 and the suction condition with the opening 20b of the movable member 20 in contact with the site on the person's skin subject to treatment is maintained even if the massage nozzle 1 is applied to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment.
That is,
As shown in these drawings, also according to the present specific example, the movable member 20 maintains the inclined position to the rotation axis Z of the vortical flow and performs “precession movement” and the similar movements. However, according to the present specific example, the movable member 20 maintains the protruding position from the spouting port 7. Accordingly, if the suction massage is performed, the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 can undergo a shaking massage in a circumferential direction according to the “precession movement” of the movable member 20 and the similar movements while being sucked by the opening 20b of the movable member 20.
That is, according to the present specific example, in addition to the suction effect due to the vortical flow, the “precession movement” and the similar movements of the opening 20b provides the whole suction section with a shaking-like vibration to greatly promote the massage effect.
According to the massage nozzle 1 of the present specific example, the movable member 20 having a longer whole length is provided to extend into the vortex chamber 8. As shown in
As shown in
In addition, according to the present specific example, arbitrarily setting the length of the ring section 20a can adjust the relative position between the movable member 20 and the spouting port 7. That is, among the sites subject to treatment to be sucked into the inside from the spouting port 7, the ratio of a part which is sucked into the opening 20b of the movable member 20 and undergoes direct shaking-like vibration due to the “precession movement” and the similar movements can be arbitrarily set. If the length of the ring 20a is designed to be longer, since the movable member 20 more strongly comes in contact with the site on the person's skin subject to treatment, collisional stimulation and vibration-like stimulation can be provided more strongly.
Also according to the present specific example, the movable member 20 can be designed to be detachable to/from the main body of the massage nozzle 1. For example, some part of the narrowing section 8N can be detachable from the vortex section 2 and the movable member 20 may be replaced from there arbitrarily.
Thus, the length of the ring 20a movable member bases on user's desired shape or size arbitrarily can be selected and classified into each user, providing users with a convenient use style.
According to the massage nozzle 1 of the present specific example, the movable member 20 having the support shaft 20g protruding toward the vortex chamber 8 is provided. That is, as shown in
Meanwhile, on the bottom side of the vortex chamber 8, the protrusion section 8P protruding conically around the rotation axis Z is provided.
If this massage nozzle 1 is provided with water in an opened condition, as shown in
Meanwhile, when performing the massage while applying the massage nozzle 1 to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment, as shown in
According to the present specific example, providing the support 20g and the protrusion section 8P enables the movable member 20 to be forcibly inclined to generate the “precession movement” and the similar movements.
In addition, also according to the present specific example, arbitrarily setting the lengths of the ring section 20a and the support shaft 20g can adjust the relative position between the opening movable member 20b and the spouting port 7. That is, if the length of the ring 20a is designed to be longer, since the movable member 20 more strongly comes in contact with the site on the person's skin subject to treatment, collisional stimulation and vibration-like stimulation can be provided more strongly.
In addition,
According to the massage nozzle 1 of the present specific example, a ring-shaped guide section 10 is provided outside of the spouting port 7 via the flange 9. The protrusion section 11 is provided at the end of the inner-circumference wall of the guide section 10. The inside diameter of the guide section 10 is designed to be larger than that of the spouting port 7 and is provided so that the vortical flow spouted from the spouting port 7 collides with the inner-circumference wall 10W of the guide section 10. Providing the guide section 10 like this can prevent the vortical flow CF spouted from the spouting port 7 from splashing in all directions.
Meanwhile, as shown in
In this case, as shown in
As to the description of the above operation, as shown in
Meanwhile, in a condition where the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 undergoes suction massage, the movable member 20 is pressed into the guide section 10 and is greatly eccentrically located and performs the “precession movement” with a large amplitude and the similar movements as well as autorotation.
As shown in these drawings, according to the present embodiment, since the inside dimensions of the guide section 10 are slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the movable member 20, the eccentric amount of the movable member 20 becomes larger in the guide section 10 in association with the “precession movement” and the similar movements. For example, in the conditions shown in
As a result, the amplitude with which the site on the person's skin subject to treatment is provided becomes larger. That is, the site on the person's skin subject to treatment is greatly shaken in the guide section 10 in association with the operation of the movable member 20, which can promote the massage effect due to vibration furthermore.
In addition, when a ring-shaped guide section 10 is provided as the present embodiment, if the length of the guide section 10 (the distance between the spouting port 7 and the protrusion section 11 in
An example of the tests conducted by the inventor of the present invention is described. When 3 types of guide sections 10 having 15 mm, 25 mm and 35 mm length with the thickness of the stopper 20c of the movable member set to 2 mm, the length of ring 20a set to 10 mm (12 mm if including the stopper 20c) are used, the most favorable massage feeling was obtained in the massage nozzle with the guide section 10 having the 25 mm length.
Also according to the present embodiment, the sections between the vortex section 2 and the flange 9, and between the flange 9 and the guide section 10 may be designed detachably. For example, if the section between the vortex section 2 and the flange 9 is detachable, the flange 9 (including the guide section 10) can be arbitrarily replaced and desired suction force and feel of simulation due to vibration can be selected by a user. In addition, it becomes easier to attach/detach and replace a movable member 20 if the section between the flange 9 and the guide section 10 is designed detachably.
As a mechanism for attachment/detachment of these flange 9 and guide 10 and the like, for example, various types of mechanism such as a screw fitting, fitting mechanism between L-shaped groove and protrusion and the like can be used. However, in order to prevent detachment and looseness due to the vortical flow, it is preferable that a mechanism fixes (tightens) the water-spray plate in the same direction of that of the vortical flow.
Since it is only natural that a general user turns clockwise to tighten, the water intake section 6 is preferably provided so that the vortical flow is turned clockwise. Thus, it is easy to attach/detach and can prevent inadvertent detachment due to the vortical flow.
Next, variations of a movable member which can be used for the massage nozzle 1.
That is, according to the present variation, the movable member 20 has the semi-cylindrical ring section 20a and the stopper 20c protruding from the outer circumference at the back side. In case of the present variation, the stopper 20c serves as an impeller. Therefore, it becomes easier to rotate due to the vortical force of the vortical flow. This movable member 20 is suitable for a massage nozzle described below in
That is, according to the present variation, as shown in
Also according to the present variation, as shown in
Providing the notch 20j like this causes the force due to the vortical flow CF affecting the movable member 20 to be nonuniform facing the circumferential direction. As a result, slightly-random vibration can be generated to enable the massage effect due to vibration to increase.
According to the present movable member 20, since the ring section 20a is located eccentrically, the amplitude of the vibration with which the site on the person's skin subject to treatment is provided in accordance with rotation of the movable member 20. That is, the massage effect due to vibration can be further increased. According to the present specific example, even if rotating the movable member 20 with the central axis 20z almost in parallel with the central axis Z of the vortex chamber without letting the movable member perform the precession movement, a favorable massage effect can be obtained. That is, if the movable member 20 is rotated around the central axis Z of the vortex chamber, the ring section 20a located eccentrically provides a strong vibration-like stimulation to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment. As a result, a strong “kneading relax effect” can be obtained.
According to the present variation, the movable member 20 has a discoid-shaped stopper 20c and a plurality of protrusions 20h protruding from its main surface. Providing the protrusions 20h like this can provide the site on the person's skin subject to treatment with a strong stimulation. That is, as described above in
a) is a schematic perspective view showing a seventh variation of a movable member which can be used for the massage nozzle 1 having the guide section 10 and
According to the present variation, the movable member 20 has a semi-conical side. According to the present specific example, among the conical side, some part which abuts the protrusion section 11 of the guide section 10 serves as the stopper 20c and the downstream side (front) becomes the ring section 20a.
The movable member of the present specific example does not have to be equipped with a collar-shaped stopper, carrying the advantage that the structure is simple and easy to manufacture.
In addition to the movable members described above, various movable members can be used. For example, various types of movable members which are unaxisymmetric in weight can be used as well as the movable members illustrated in
Furthermore, as a material for the movable member 20, in addition to plastic, ceramics and metal, for example, flexible materials such as a rubber and the like can be used. If a rubber is used, impact and vibration with which the site on the person's skin subject to treatment is provided becomes milder, complying with the demand of a user who does not like intensive stimulation.
In addition, if the movable member is made of a flexible material such as a rubber and the like, it becomes easier to deform, carrying the advantage that the movable member can be easily inserted into the guide section 10 of the massage nozzle or the vortex chamber 8. However, according to the prototype test by the inventor of the present invention, if the material for the movable member is too soft, this brought about a problem in that the rotation movement was not performed smoothly and the movable member 20 exited out of the spouting port 7 and guide section 10 in some cases. Although it depends on the shape and size of the movable member 20, for example, when using the materials having the 50 or 60 hardness, favorable results were not obtained, when using the materials having the 70 hardness, almost favorable results were obtained and when using the materials having the 80 or 90 hardness, favorable results were obtained.
In addition, some part of the stopper 20c may be made of hard materials such as plastic and the like and the end part of the ring section 20a (which comes in contact with a human body) may be made of flexible materials such as a rubber and the like. Thus, this ensures not only rotation movement but also provides mild stimulation.
Meanwhile, various movable members described above can be detachable to/from the main body of the massage nozzle 1. For example, in case of the massage nozzle 1 illustrated in
Thus, the movable members 20 bases on user's desired shape or size arbitrarily can be selected and classified into each user, providing users with a convenient use style.
In addition,
Also in the massage nozzle 1 of the present specific example, the guide section 10 is provided outside of the spouting port 7 via the flange 9. The circumferentially slightly-protrusion section 13 is provided around the end of the inner-circumference wall of the guide section 10.
Meanwhile, as shown in
According to the massage nozzle 1 of the present specific example, the vortical flow CF can be prevented from splashing in an opened condition (not letting the massage nozzle touch on the site on the person's skin subject to treatment) by providing the movable member 20 with a plurality of water-discharging holes 20k. That is, as shown in
In addition, if the spouting amount from the water-discharging holes 20k is insufficient, as shown by the arrow mark C2, the vortical flow CF is to be overflowed from the opening 20b of the movable member 20. However, also in this case, if the water flow shown by the arrow mark C2 is not too strong, since the vortical flow CF will be blocked by a shower-like water film shown by the water flow A1, spouted water will not splash in all directions.
Meanwhile, in a condition where massage is performed while applying to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment, as described in
According to the massage nozzle 1 of the present specific example, holding claws 15 protrude out of the spouting port 7 as a plurality of protrusions via the flange 9. The holding claws 15 have the claw section 16 at the end as a protrusion protruding inward.
Meanwhile, the movable member 20 has the same shape as shown in
In addition, the movable member 20, as shown in
Also in the massage nozzle of the present specific example, in an opened condition, as shown in
Also according to the present specific example, a depressing effect by applying a plurality of holding claws 15 to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment can be obtained at the same time.
In addition, although the cases where the movable member 20 having the shape illustrated in
Next, as a third embodiment of the present invention, a massage nozzle in combination with the above-described first and second embodiments described above.
In addition,
According to the present specific example, the movable member 20 is provided in the guide section 10. Since the movable member 20 is not fixed, it can freely move in a space regulated by the flange 9, guide 10 and water-spray plate 12.
In addition, one or more aspects of the present invention are not limited to this specific example, as described above in
As shown in
In addition, as shown in
The use conditions of the massage nozzle 1 of the present embodiment are described while referring to
At this time, the stopper 20c virtually does not block the water-spray holes 12a provided in the water-spray plate 12 and the vortical flow CF which reached the water-spray plate 12 is spouted in a shower-like manner from the water-spray holes 12a. In addition, providing the movable member 20 enables the opening 12b of the water-spray plate to be designed to be virtually small and the splash of the vortical flow to be further efficiently suppressed. That is, in the conditions as shown in
Furthermore, in a condition where the movable member 20 is placed as shown in
Meanwhile, the vortical flow flowed in the opening 12b of the water-spray plate 12 is spouted in the arrow mark C1 direction in
As described above, providing the movable member 20 can suppress the vortical flow from splashing from the opening 12b of the water-spray plate 12 on an opened spouted condition furthermore.
In this condition, a negative region due to vortical flow CF is formed inside the ring section 20a. In addition, when letting the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 get close to it, as shown in
In addition, if a user strengthens the force to press the massage nozzle 1, the movable member 20 stands against the pressure of the vortical flow CF and goes backward to enable the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 to be sucked more widely by the opening 12b of the water-spray plate 12. At this time, as described above in
That is, in a condition where the movable member 20 is pressed into the guide section 10 (or the vortex chamber 8), the area of the opening to the water-spray plate can be expanded and the suction effect (bioeffect) can be enhanced. At the same time, since the water amount (B1) to be flowed from the opening of the water-spray plate increases, the effect to form the water film in front of the water-spray plate 12 increases to improve the movability of the nozzle.
As can be seen if comparing with the conditions shown in
Also at this time, the movable member 20 rotates and vibrates due to the vortical effect of the vortical flow CF to provide physical stimulation to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210. For this reason, the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 undergoes stimulation from the movable member 20 in addition to the “twisting” and “vibration” due to the vortical flow CF to promote the massage effect.
That is, as shown in
a) shows a case where the movable member 20 is not provided. At this time, as described above in
b) shows a case where the movable member 20 is provided. Providing the movable member 20 suppresses the vortical component of the vortical flow to be spouted from the opening 12b of the water-spray plate 12 and shows that the bundled spouting flow less splashing is obtained. In this condition, letting the massage nozzle 1 get close to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 can perform a highly-effective suction massage as described above in
The balance between the water flow A1 to be spouted from the water-spray holes 12a and the water flow B1 to be spouted from the opening 12b of the water-spray plate 12. That is, this can prevent splashing in an opened spouting condition while adjusting the effect of vortical flow due to suction massage in a well-balanced manner.
In addition, providing the movable member 20 furthermore can satisfy both of splash prevention and promotion of the massage effect due to suction massage at a higher level.
In addition, if the movable member 20 is provided, in order to suppress the vortical flow CF from splashing, it is necessary to let the vortical flow CF to be spouted from the spouting port 7 collide with the stopper 20c. For this purpose, as shown in
In addition, in
In addition, except for the above examples, various types of movable members 20 according the 2nd embodiment can be used.
In addition, when performing suction massage, slightly pressing on the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 enables the suction massage via the ring section 20a as shown in
In addition, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, the position of the movable member 20 may be adjustable using a mechanical vertical adjustment mechanism instead of letting the movable member 20 be located eccentrically by the spring 18. That is, proving the movable member 20 in the guide section 10 enables the position to be adjusted arbitrarily by a lever or a button, the condition shown in
Next, the results of measured suction pressure of the massage nozzle 1 are hereinafter described.
That is,
The massage nozzle 1 of the sample 1 shown in
In these massage nozzles of the sample 1 and 2, the nozzle main body i.e., the vortex section 2 and the connection 4 are formed in an integrated condition with an opaque resin. In addition, the flange 9, guide section 10 and the water-spray plate 12 are formed in an integrated condition with a transparent resin, which are adhered to the main body (vortex section 2) with adhesive.
Meanwhile, the movable member 20 of the massage nozzle of the sample 1 is formed by a rubber. As the size of each component is shown in
In addition, as described below while referring to
Meanwhile, 40 pieces of water-spray holes 12a having 4 mm of diameter are provided in the water-spray plate 12. The diameter of the circle (pitch circle diameter: P. C. D.) of the center of the water-spray holes 12a forms is 66 mm. As can be seen in
In the massage nozzle of the sample 1 as above configured, the spouting condition was checked, as a result, it was found that a favorable shower spouting was performed. That is, even if the stopper 20c of the movable member is slightly overlapped with the water-spray holes 12a, it was found that the water-spray holes 12a are not virtually blocked. Forming the stopper 20c of the movable member in a larger size enable the movable member 20 to be readily pushed forward due to the water flow of the vortical flow CF in a condition where the massage nozzle 1 is spouted in the atmosphere (in an opened spouting condition).
In addition, even in the condition where the central axis of the movable member 20 is misaligned with the rotation axis, it is unlikely that a “clearance” is produced between the stopper 20c and the opening 12b of the water-spray plate 12. That is, it ensures the effect of the “dam” due to the stopper 20c. As a result, the flow-adjustment effect by discharging from the water-spray holes 12a can be readily obtained.
In addition, since the movable member receives the force moving toward the front of the nozzle, the vibration stimulation can be provided to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment.
In addition, if the stopper 20c is formed in a larger size, it is easier that some part affects the vortical flow CF. That is, the motion of the movable member 20 changes the direction of the vortical flow CF and also enables the suction region to be changed dynamically. That is, with the motion of the movable member 20, the distribution of the negative region (suction region) is changed and accompanying the vibration effect and twisting effect promote the massage effect furthermore.
The suction pressure of these massage nozzles was measured by the inventor of the present invention.
That is, a pressure-reception plate 300 having a small hole 300a was provided in the font of the massage nozzle 1 to measure the pressure—P at this small hole using a manometer. In addition, measurement was performed with the massage nozzle 1 immersed into the water and the interval between the front side of the water-spray plate 12 and the pressure-reception plate 300 was set to 7 mm in both the samples 1 and 2. In addition, 90 mm square material was used for the pressure-reception plate 300 and the small hole 300a was set to 2 mm as a diameter. In addition, in this measurement, the movable member 20 was rotated within the guide section 10 as shown in
In addition, the small 300a is provided in the center of the pressure-reception plate 300 and is placed to comply with the central axis of the massage nozzle 1. Also in this measurement, the flow rate Q and pressure P supplied to the massage nozzle 1 were measured.
That is, even if adding the flange 9, guide 10, water-spray plate 12, movable member 20 and the like, it was found that the pressure loss hardly increases. This shows that the pressure loss in the massage nozzle 1 is caused mainly by the forming of the vortical flow CF in the vortex chamber 8 and the decrease in efficiency by providing the water-spray plate 12 and the movable member 20 is greatly low.
In case of the massage nozzles 1 of the samples 1 and 2, with the flow rate in the range from 17 to 28 liters, the suction pressure from 3000 to 9000 Pascals was obtained to achieve a favorable suction feeling.
As a result of sensory evaluations conducted by a plurality of subjects at the same time, it was found that the movable member 20 tends to move but not provide stimulation sufficiently when the flow rate is less than 10 liters per minute, meanwhile, the movable member 20 tends to move vigorously and provide a strong stimulation due to shear stress of rotation when the flow rate is 43 liters or more per minute. From the synthetic judgment of sensory evaluations by many subjects, many opinions say that an excessive stimulation was obtained when the flow rate is set to 15 liters or more per minute. In addition, a water-supply pump having 50 to 200 watts or the like is used often in a normal household. From these standpoints, the upper limit of the flow rate is about 30 liters per minute.
The water-supply pump with high output power generates a somewhat noisy sound; therefore, it is not suitable for household use. However, it can be used for commercial use at aesthetic salon, medical use and the like, making it possible to provide a highly-effective massage effect and bioeffect, and strong feeling of stimulation due to larger amount of flow rate.
Next, as a fourth embodiment of the present invention, other characteristics to be added to the massage nozzle of the first to third embodiments are hereinafter described.
First, the shape of the water intake section 6 of the massage nozzle 1 of the embodiments 1 to 3 is described. That is, in order to obtain a strong suction force, it is important to efficiently generate a vortical flow CF along the circumferential wall 8W in the vortex chamber 8. For this purpose, the method to form the opening of the water intake section 6 in an oblong fashion is effective.
That is,
As shown in
However, it is unnecessary to maintain the above-described relationship between the width W1 and W2 entirely in the water intake section 6. Only in some part, the above-described relationship between the width W1 and W2 has to be achieved. For example, from the standpoints of effect extent to the vortical flow, it is preferable that the above-described relationship between the width W1 and W2 is achieved at the water intake opening 6B or in the vicinity of that and the water intake route 6A is smoothly connected to the water intake opening 6B from the introduction route 5 to reduce the pressure loss.
Next, the shape of the vortex chamber 8 of the massage nozzle 1 is hereinafter described. The vortex chamber 8 may have a single semi-cylindrical space opening straight toward the spouting port 7. That is, the massage nozzles 1 illustrated in
Furthermore, it is very easy to manufacture a single cylindrical vortex chamber as described above, enabling us to decrease the cost. In addition, if the suction massage nozzle 1 of the present example is molded using a resin injection mold technique, a “taper” is added to the shape of the vortex chamber 8 in some cases. That is, in order to mold a resin in a cast and thereafter smoothly pull out a cast protrusion section to form an inside space of the vortex chamber 8, it is preferable that the inside diameter of the vortex chamber 8 is not uniform and the inside diameter is expanded toward the spouting port 7. The present prevention also includes a taper-shaped vortex chamber 8 as described above.
Meanwhile, some part or whole of the vortex chamber 8 may be conical. For example, the “narrowing section” whose inside diameter becomes smaller gradually can be provided.
In case of the specific example shown in
Meanwhile, in case of the specific example shown in
Next, a variation of the water intake section 6 of the massage nozzle 1 is hereinafter described.
The massage nozzle is described above while referring to the
That is, at least either of the guide section 10, vortex section 2, flange 9, water-spray plate 12 and movable member 20 may be formed using a transparent material. In addition, the entire of either element is not formed using a transparent material but only some part may be formed using a transparent material.
For example, forming some part of the guide section 10 using a transparent material enable a user to readily check the site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 visually.
According to the prototype study by the inventor of the present invention, if the guide section 10 is made of a transparent material, many subjects were surprised to visually confirm that a greatly larger displacement was obtained than the feeling by receiving from the skin. That is, when the suction massage is performed using the massage nozzle, the actual displacement to be observed visually is greatly larger than the feeling to be received from the skin in many cases. In addition, checking this displacement visually can obtain an expectation feeling, reliability feeling and security feeling to this effect to enable a massage effect and other various bioeffects to increase.
In addition, motion of the movable member 20 can be visually checked to also check the movement conditions, obtain the expectation feeling, reliability feeling and security feeling and promote the massage effect and other various bioeffects.
Also in this case, since the deformation conditions of the site on the person's skin subject to treatment has only to be visually checked, it is unnecessary to form the guide section 10 entirely using a transparent material. In addition, it is unnecessary to use a transparent and colorless material as a component material but may be even transparent and colored or semi-transparent if possible to identify the inside visually. Meanwhile, using transparent materials for the flange 9 and the water-spray plate 12 as well as the guide section 10 increases the checking ability as described above.
In addition, only some part of the vortex section 2 (for example, side or bottom) has only to be formed using a transparent material. This makes it possible to visually check the skin conditions to be sucked into the vortex chamber from the spouting port. In addition, it is possible to visually check the skin deformed conditions at a slant or from the front as well as a transverse direction, increasing the above-described checking effect.
Next, as a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the massage device using the massage nozzles of the 1st to 4th embodiments are hereinafter described.
That is, combing the massage nozzles as described above in
In addition,
That is, as an appearance, the massage device has a housing 70, a flexible hose 30 leading from the front and a massage nozzle 1 provided at the end. The housing 70 is provided with a power switch 72, a flow rate adjustment valve 74, a water-intake port 76, a pick-up hole 78 and a power cord 80 appropriately. A water-supply means 50 is included in the housing 70. The water-supply means 50, for example, incorporates a water-resistant power-operated water-supply pump and feeds water (hot water) spouted from the water-intake port 76 to the massage nozzle 1 via the flexible hose 30. The water-supply pump may be supplied from AC or DC power outside the housing 70 or may be supplied from a rechargeable battery incorporated in the housing 70. In either case, a predetermined water-resistant treatment has been appropriately taken.
Meanwhile, the massage nozzle 1 has the appearance similar to a showerhead as illustrated in
In these massage nozzles 1 (1A, 1B), as described above in the first embodiment, providing the water-spray plate 12 enables the water flow bundled in a shower-like manner to be spouted from the water-spray holes 12a in an opened status and prevents the spouted water from splashing. In addition, as described above in the second example, providing the movable member 20 can obtain a highly-effective massage due to collisional stimulation and vibration-like stimulation.
According to the massage device of the present example, as described above in the first embodiment, providing the water-spray plate 12 enables spouted water bundled in a shower-like manner in an opened status to be formed. Accordingly, during suction massage in the hot water 110 as shown in
In addition, according to the massage device of the present example, as described above in the second embodiment, providing the movable member 20 causes the movable member 20 to perform the “precession movement” and the similar movements in an eccentric manner, providing a shaking-like vibration to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment in addition to the suction effect. As a result, a further effective massage can be provided to enhance various bioeffects such as beautification, improved blood circulation and the like.
In addition, according to the present example, since the massage nozzle 1 is connected to the housing 70 via the flexible hose 30, the massage nozzle 1 can be applied to a site on the person's skin subject to treatment 210 of any part of a user's human body flexibly or arbitrarily.
In addition, according to the present example, the user 200 can operate the massage nozzle 1 while sitting on the compact-sized housing 70. As a result, the user 200 can always perform suction massage in a relaxed manner. In addition, an upper body, for example, if the underarm to the upper arm undergoes suction massage, the user can perform with the massage nozzle 1 immersed into the hot water 110 of the bath tub. In addition, even for the hip or the back side of the upper thigh which doe not undergo treatment easily, sitting on the housing causes a human body to be floated away from the bottom of the bath tub and provides a treatment space, enabling a lower body, for example, a hip or back side of the upper thigh to undergo suction massage uniformly. Accordingly, kneading “cellulite (metabolic decomposition product and fat mass) can promote the metabolic decomposition product to be exhausted and improve the cellulite into a normal fat. As a result, “tightening effect” of human body can be obtained.
Employing the configuration as described above enable the user to perform the blow bath and suction massage at the same time within the capacity range of the water-supply means 50 to increase the conformability. In addition, changing over the water supply to the blow flow exhaust piping 156 and the massage nozzle 1 can switch the blow bath and suction massage arbitrarily by the user's desire.
In addition, as described above in the first embodiment, providing the water-spray plate 12 enables spouted water bundled in a shower-like manner in an opened status to be formed. Accordingly, during suction massage in the hot water (water) with which the bathtub 100 was filled, even if letting the massage nozzle 1 expose to the atmosphere carelessly, spouted water does not splash in all directions, but enabling an effective suction massage by eliminating uncomfortable feeling. In addition, the massage nozzle 1 can be used as a general showerhead, enabling the user to use it very conveniently.
In addition, as described above in the second embodiment, providing the movable member 20 causes the movable member 20 to perform the “precession movement” and the similar movements in an eccentric manner, providing a shaking-like vibration to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment in addition to the suction effect. As a result, a further effective massage can be provided to enhance various bioeffects such as beautification, blood circulation and the like.
According to the present example, the inside of the bathtub 100 is provided with the nozzle storage section 120 and the massage nozzles 1, which were described above in
According to the present example, as shown in
Meanwhile, as shown in
In addition, also according to this example, the hot water (water) in the bathtub 100 is supplied to the massage nozzle 1 via the water-supply means 50. That is, since the hot water in the bathtub 100 is circulated, a high water-saving effect can be obtained.
According to the massage nozzle 1, as described above in the first embodiment, providing the water-spray plate 12 enables spouted water bundled in a shower-like manner in an opened status to be formed. Accordingly, during suction massage in the hot water of the bathtub 100, even if letting the massage nozzle 1 expose to the atmosphere carelessly, spouted water does not splash in all directions, but enabling an effective suction massage by eliminating uncomfortable feeling. In addition, the massage nozzle 1 can be used as a general showerhead, enabling the user to use it very conveniently.
In addition, as described above in the second embodiment, providing the movable member 20 causes the movable member 20 to perform the “precession movement” and the similar movements in an eccentric manner, providing a shaking-like vibration to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment in addition to the suction effect. As a result, a further effective massage can be provided to enhance various bioeffects such as beautification, blood circulation and the like.
According to the present example, a hot water (or water) supply section 400 is provided instead of the water-supply means to circulate the hot water in the bathtub 100. The supply section 400 can serve as a water heater. Or a water tap may substitute the supply section 400.
According to the present example, providing the supply section 400 enable the user to undergo suction and depressing massage using the massage nozzle 1 even if there is no water in the bathtub 100. Movable members to say, also in a condition where the bathtub 100 is filled with hot water, suction and depressing massage can be performed at the same time.
In addition, as shown in
According to the massage nozzle 1, as described above in the first embodiment, providing the water-spray plate 12 enables spouted water bundled in a shower-like manner in an opened status to be formed. Accordingly, during suction massage in the hot water of the bathtub 100, even if letting the massage nozzle 1 expose to the atmosphere carelessly, spouted water does not splash in all directions, but enabling an effective suction massage by eliminating uncomfortable feeling. In addition, the massage nozzle 1 can be used as a general showerhead, enabling the user to use it very conveniently.
In addition, as described above in the second embodiment, providing the movable member 20 causes the movable member 20 to perform the “precession movement” and the similar movements in an eccentric manner, providing a shaking-like vibration to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment in addition to the suction effect. As a result, a further effective massage can be provided to enhance various bioeffects such as beautification, blood circulation and the like.
According to the present example, the nozzle storage section 120 is provided in the rim of the bathtub 100, so-called “apron” section. During suction and depressing massage, the massage nozzle 1 can be easily removed and easily applied to each site of a user. Providing the nozzle storage section 120 in the apron of the bathtub 100 enables the user to remove the massage nozzle 1 much more easily. In addition, it is unlikely that the massage nozzle 1 becomes an obstacle while taking bath in the bathtub 100.
In addition, connecting the nozzle storage section 120 to the massage nozzle 1 enables the user to treat the massage nozzle 1 freely.
Also according to the present example, since the hot water in the bathtub 100 is circulated, a high water-saving effect can be obtained. In addition, as described above in the first embodiment, providing the water-spray plate 12 enables spouted water bundled in a shower-like manner in an opened status to be formed. Accordingly, during suction massage in the hot water with which the bathtub 100 was filled, even if letting the massage nozzle 1 expose to the atmosphere carelessly, spouted water does not splash in all directions, but enabling an effective suction massage by eliminating uncomfortable feeling. In addition, the massage nozzle 1 can be used as a general showerhead, enabling the user to use it very conveniently.
In addition, according to the massage nozzle, as described above in the first embodiment, providing the water-spray plate 12 enables spouted water bundled in a shower-like manner in an opened status to be formed. Accordingly, during suction massage in the hot water with which the bathtub 100 was filled, even if letting the massage nozzle 1 expose to the atmosphere carelessly, spouted water does not splash in all directions, but enabling an effective suction massage by eliminating uncomfortable feeling. In addition, the massage nozzle 1 can be used as a general showerhead, enabling the user to use it very conveniently.
In addition, as described above in the second embodiment, providing the movable member 20 causes the movable member 20 to perform the “precession movement” and the similar movements in an eccentric manner, providing a shaking-like vibration to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment in addition to the suction effect. As a result, a further effective massage can be provided to enhance various bioeffects such as beautification, blood circulation and the like.
Also according to the present example, the nozzle storage section 120 is provided in the rim “apron” section” of the bathtub 100. Thanks to the above installation, the massage nozzle 1 can be easily removed. In addition, it is unlikely that the massage nozzle 1 becomes an obstacle while taking bath in the bathtub 100.
In addition, according to the present example, connecting the nozzle storage section 120 to the massage nozzle 1 enables the user to treat the massage nozzle 1 freely. In addition, it is unnecessary to provide the water-supply means 50 and water piping 60 for circulation as described in
In addition, as described above in the second embodiment, providing the movable member 20 causes the movable member 20 to perform the “precession movement” and the similar movements in an eccentric manner, providing a shaking-like vibration to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment in addition to the suction effect. As a result, a further effective massage can be provided to enhance various bioeffects such as beautification, blood circulation and the like.
In addition, according to the present example, in the same manner as the fifth example, the nozzle storage section 120 is provided in the rim of the bathtub 100, so-called “apron” section. As shown in
As described above in the first embodiment, providing the water-spray plate 12 enables spouted water bundled in a shower-like manner in an opened status to be formed. Accordingly, during suction massage in the hot water of the bathtub 100, even if letting the massage nozzle 1 expose to the atmosphere carelessly, spouted water does not splash in all directions, but enabling an effective suction massage by eliminating uncomfortable feeling. In addition, the massage nozzle 1 can be used as a general showerhead, enabling the user to use it very conveniently.
In addition, as described above in the second embodiment, providing the movable member 20 causes the movable member 20 to perform the “precession movement” and the similar movements in an eccentric manner, providing a shaking-like vibration to the site on the person's skin subject to treatment in addition to the suction effect. As a result, a further effective massage can be provided to enhance various bioeffects such as beautification, blood circulation and the like.
The embodiments of the present invention are described above while referring to the specific examples. However, the present embodiment is not limited to these specific examples.
That is, even if a design change is added to either element which includes the massage nozzle and massage device of one or more aspects of the present invention by a person with an ordinary skill in the art, if a device has the gist of the present invention, it is included in the present invention.
For example, regarding the appearance of the massage nozzle, a number of water-spray holes on the water-spray plate or shape or position, rate of size to the spouting port or position relationship of the water entry section, if the above configurations can provide a vortical flow and as a result, they are within the range where a negative pressure is produced, they are included in the present invention.
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even if using the device in an open environment, suction with a large area can be performed without splashing in all directions, even if moving the device with it applied to the skin. Further, the device can be moved smoothly. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a massage nozzle which can be used also as a normal showerhead or a massage device using this massage nozzle.
In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a massage nozzle and a massage device using this massage nozzle to synergistically generate a massage effect due to physical vibration in addition to a suction effect.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-027070 | Feb 2004 | JP | national |
| 2004-027071 | Feb 2004 | JP | national |
| 2004-090622 | Mar 2004 | JP | national |
| 2004-090623 | Mar 2004 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2005/000330 | 1/14/2005 | WO | 00 | 3/28/2007 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2005/074856 | 8/18/2005 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20070173751 A1 | Jul 2007 | US |
