The present invention relates to a massage machine for providing a massage to a user according to a massage program having a plurality of massage stages with different massage parameters.
Due to recent developments in control engineering, complex massage actions such as acupressure actions, kneading actions and combinations thereof have become possible in addition to a relatively simple massage action such as tapping. By carrying out these massage actions according to a predetermined program, high massage effects have been obtained, which are comparable to them brought by skilled massage therapists.
For example, as this kind of massage machine, Japanese Patent Early Publication [kokai] No. 6-327739 discloses a chair-type massage machine with an automatic massage course function. This massage machine comprises a repetition unit for ordering the repetition of a desired massage action during an execution of the massage course, and a control unit for performing the massage action ordered by the repetition unit again at that time. As a result, a degree of satisfaction of the user receiving the massage course can be improved by quickly responding to the user's request.
However, in this massage machine, the repetition of the massage action is available only in the executed massage course. Therefore, it is needed to input the order for the repetition of the desired massage action again at the next execution of the massage course. This leads to an inconvenience of forcing the user in a relaxed state by the massage to perform the same input operation every execution of the massage course.
Thus, since the massage course can not be modified to meet the user's preference in consideration of changes made every execution of the massage course, the conventional massage machine still has plenty of room for improvement.
Therefore, a concern of the present invention achieved for solving the above problem is to provide a massage program control method for modifying a massage program so as to meet a user's preference by reflecting a change in massage parameter performed during an execution of the massage program on the next execution of the massage program.
That is, on the condition of using a massage machine for providing a massage according to a massage program having a plurality of massage stages with different massage parameters, the massage program control method of the present invention is characterized by comprising the steps of storing a change in massage parameter performed in a desired massage stage during an execution of the massage program in a memory, and modifying the desired massage stage according to the change in massage parameter stored in the memory at the next execution of the massage program.
According to the control method of the present invention, since the change in massage parameter performed to meet the user's preference during the execution of a predetermined massage program can be reflected on the subsequently performed massage program, it is possible to modify the contents of the massage program to meet the user's preference, without performing the same operation of changing the massage parameter every execution of the massage program.
In addition, when a change in total time required for the massage program occurs due to the change in massage parameter in the desired massage stage, it is preferred to change a corresponding massage parameter in another massage stage other than the desired massage stage such that the massage program is completed within a predetermined time period.
In this case, even when the massage parameter, for example, the number of actions of a massage applicator is changed in the desired massage stage, the massage program can be always completed within the required time period by adjusting the number of actions of the massage applicator in another massage stage.
Specifically, it is preferred that the memory comprises a memory table for storing a required number of massage stages having a same massage parameter, and when the desired massage stage is stored in the memory table as a result of the change in massage parameter, another massage stage stored in a predetermined position in the memory table is deleted from the memory table, and the massage parameter in the another massage stage deleted from the memory table is changed such that the massage program is completed within a predetermined time period.
As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the memory comprises a memory table for storing a required number of massage stages having a same number of massage actions. In this case, when the desired massage stage is stored in the memory table as a result of a change in the number of massage actions in the desired massage stage, another massage stage stored in a predetermined position in the memory table is deleted from the memory table, and the number of massage actions in the another massage stage deleted from the memory table is changed such that the massage program is completed within a predetermined time period.
In addition, it is preferred that the massage program comprises a plurality of massage stages having a same massage parameter, and when a change in massage parameter performed in one of the massage stages having the same massage parameter is stored in the memory, the massage stages having the same massage parameters are modified in one lump according to the change in massage parameter stored in the memory at the next execution of the massage program.
In this case, it is possible to effectively provide the massage program, while keeping the user in a relaxed state, without performing the operation of inputting the change in massage parameter every execution of the massage stage having the same massage parameter.
Specifically, it is preferred that the massage parameter comprises a combination of range of massage action and at least one of the kind of massage action, the number of massage actions, massage strength and massage speed, and the massage program comprises a plurality of massage stages having a same range of massage action. In this case, when a change in massage parameter performed in one of the massage stages having the same range of massage action is stored in the memory, the massage stages having the same range of massage action are modified in one lump according to the change in massage parameter stored in the memory at the next execution of the massage program.
As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the massage parameter comprises a combination of range of massage action in a width direction, range of massage action in a height direction, and at least one of the kind of massage action, the number of massage actions, massage strength and massage speed, and the massage program comprises a plurality of massage stages having at least one of a same range of massage action in the width direction and a same range of massage action in the height direction. In this case, when a change in massage parameter performed in one of the plurality of massage stages is stored in the memory, the massage stages having at least one of the same range of massage action in the width direction and the same range of massage action in the height direction are modified in one lump according to the change in massage parameter stored in the memory at the next execution of the massage program.
In addition, it is preferred that the massage parameter comprises range of massage action provided by a plurality of blocks, each of which is composed of a plurality of combinations of range of massage action in a width direction and range of massage action in a height direction. In this case, an optimum block is determined from the plurality of blocks according to a predetermined correlation between the range of massage action and body-type information, and the body-type information of a user to be massaged, and one of the plural combinations of the range of massage action in the width direction and the range of massage action in the height direction is determined in the optimum block to meet the user's preference.
In this invention, it is possible to prevent that the user mistakenly selects a range of massage action considerably deviated from an optimum range of massage action recommended from the body-type information of the user during the execution of the massage program. In addition, a comfortable massage effect can be provided to the user unskilled in the massage machine by a relatively simple operation.
A further concern of the present invention is to provide a massage machine using the control method described above. That is, this massage machine is characterized by comprising an input unit configured to input a change in massage parameter, first memory for temporarily storing the change in massage parameter input by the input unit in a desired massage stage during an execution of a massage program, second memory for storing the change in massage parameter provided from the first memory after the completion of the massage program, and a control unit for modifying the desired massage stage according to the change in massage parameter stored in the second memory at the next execution of the massage program.
Furthermore, another concern of the present invention is to provide a controller for the massage machine. That is, this controller is detachable to a massage machine comprising a first memory for temporarily storing a change in massage parameter in a desired massage stage during an execution of a massage program, second memory for storing the change in massage parameter provided from the first memory after the completion of the massage program, and a control unit for modifying the desired massage stage according to the change in massage parameter stored in the second memory at the next execution of the massage program. The controller is characterized by comprising an input unit configured to input the change in massage parameter, and a screen for displaying the massage parameter.
Additional features of the present invention and effects brought thereby will be understood from the best mode for carrying out the invention described below.
Referring to the attached drawings, the present invention is explained in details according to preferred embodiments.
As shown in
In the massage machine of this embodiment, as shown in
In the massage machine of this embodiment, the number of massage actions, a magnitude of load applied to the user through the massage heads 4 (hereinafter referred to “massage strength”), and massage speed can be changed as the massage parameter as well as the kind of massage action provided by the massage heads 4 and the action range (Wx, Hy) of massage (the massage heads).
In the massage machine of the present embodiment, a massage program for providing a plurality of massage stage with different massage parameters in a predetermined order to the user is installed. The motion of the massage heads 4 based on this massage program is controlled by a control unit described later of the massage machine.
An input for changing the massage parameter can be performed through a controller for the massage machine shown in
As shown in
When the user changes a massage parameter in the desired massage stage, the massage machine of this embodiment has a function of changing the massage parameter in one lump with respect to the desired massage stage and another massage stage(s) having the same massage parameter at the next execution of the massage program.
For example, when the number of massage actions in the massage stage No. 1 is changed from 2 times to 3 times during the execution of the massage program of
In addition, when at least one of the action range of the massage heads and the kind of massage action in another massage stage is equal to the massage parameter of the massage stage No. 1, the another massage stage may be modified in one lump. The massage parameter other than the number of massage actions can be changed in one lump in a similar manner to the above. By the way, the present control method is characterized by changing the massage parameter in one lump at the next execution of the massage program according to the change in massage parameter performed in the last execution of the massage program. Alternatively, the massage stages of the massage program in progress may be modified in one lump.
By using the above function, it is not needed for the user to change the massage parameter every execution of the massage stage having the same or similar massage parameter. Therefore, the user can receive the massage program under a more relaxed condition. As a result, there is an advantage that the massage program can be more effectively provided to the user.
In addition, when an increase or decrease in total time required for the massage program is caused by the change in massage parameter, the massage machine of the present embodiment has a function of automatically adjusting the massage program such that the massage program is completed within a predetermined time period.
The following explanation is useful to understand this control function. For example, a massage program shown in
For example, as shown in
Thus, the change in massage parameter is deleted in order of occurrence, and the total number of the massage stages with an increase in the number of massage actions is limited. In addition, the number of massage actions changeable in each of the massage stages is also limited. Therefore, even when the user increases the number of massage actions in the desired massage stage during the execution of the massage program, the total time required to complete the massage program can be maintained in a predetermined time period by decreasing the number of massage actions in another massage stage. Of course, when the user decreases the number of massage action in the desired massage stage of the massage program, the total time required to complete the massage program can be maintained in the predetermined time period by increasing the number of massage actions in another massage stage.
In the past, it has been proposed to monitor the execution time of the massage program by use of a timer, and forcedly finish the massage program when the execution time reaches a predetermined time period. However, in such a control method, there is a fear that the massage program in progress is stopped on the way as a result of a change in massage parameter before the completion of the final massage stage. In this case, a comfortable massage effect can not be sufficiently achieved. On the contrary, according to the control method of the present invention, even when the massage parameter is changed, it is possible to complete the massage program within the required time period, and therefore stably provide the comfortable massage program to the user.
As a modification of the massage machine of this embodiment, it is preferred that an optimum one of a plurality of combinations of the range of massage action in the width direction and the range of massage action in the height direction can be selected according to an input of body-type information peculiar to the user.
For example, as shown in
In the case of inputting the body-type information of the user, a body-height input portion (not shown) for inputting a body height of the user may be formed in the controller. Alternatively, the body-type information of the user may be collected by setting positions of the massage heads at the shoulder position of the user sitting on the massage machine, and then pushing a reset button (not shown).
As described above, according to the present invention, since the massage program can be modified to meet the user's preference by reflecting a change in massage parameter input during an execution of the massage program on the next execution of the massage program, it is possible to provide a more comfortable massage effect to an individual user, as compared with the case of repeatedly providing a predetermined massage program. In addition, it is not needed to change the massage parameter every execution of the massage program. Therefore, even when the user is senior citizen or not be good at operating the massage machine, there is an advantage that a desired massage effect can be readily obtained without a complex setting operation.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2003-117504 | Apr 2003 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2004/005832 | 4/22/2004 | WO | 00 | 10/20/2005 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2004/093773 | 11/4/2004 | WO | A |
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