MASSAGE CHAIR

Abstract

A massage chair includes: a base unit; a rocker mechanism including an actuator that is coupled to the base unit, at least one output bar that is connected pivotally to the base unit, an input bar that is connected to and that is driven rotatably by the actuator, and a connecting bar that is connected pivotally to the input bar and the output bar; and a seat unit connected immovably to the output bar. The input bar, the output bar, the connecting bar, and the base unit cooperate to constitute a crank-rocker planar four-bar linkage. The actuator actuates rotation of the input bar, which in turn drives reciprocating swing motion of the output bar and the seat unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a massage apparatus, more particularly to a massage chair.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional massage apparatus, such as a vibrating chair, generally vibrates to massage a user's body. However, the vibrating chair usually vibrates only in a vertical direction such that the massage effect may be insufficient if the vibrating chair vibrates in a low frequency, and that the user may feel uncomfortable if the vibrating chair vibrates in a high frequency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a massage chair that is effective and comfortable to use.

Accordingly, a massage chair of the present invention comprises:

a base unit;

a rocker mechanism including

• • an actuator that is coupled to the base unit,
  • at least one output bar that is connected pivotally to the base unit,
  • an input bar that is connected to and that is driven rotatably by the actuator, and
  • a connecting bar that has opposite ends connected pivotally and respectively to the input bar and the output bar, and that cooperates with the input bar, the output bar, and the base unit to constitute a crank-rocker planar four-bar linkage; and

a seat unit connected immovably to the output bar;

wherein the actuator actuates rotation of the input bar, which in turn drives reciprocating swing motion of the output bar and the seat unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a massage chair according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment between an utmost rearward inclined position and an utmost forward inclined position;

FIG. 4 is another side view of the preferred embodiment at the utmost rearward inclined position; and

FIG. 5 is another side view of the preferred embodiment at the utmost forward inclined position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a preferred embodiment of a massage chair according to the present invention comprises a base unit 2, a rocker mechanism 3 and a seat unit 4.

The base unit 2 includes a plurality of spaced-apart foot members 21, and a bracket 22 having a horizontal plate portion that bridges the foot members 21 and a vertical plate portion that extends upwardly from a lateral end of the horizontal plate portion and that has a plurality of oblong slots 221.

The rocker mechanism 3 includes an actuator 31, a pivot shaft 23, a pair of spaced-apart output bars 32, 35, an input bar 33, and a connecting bar 34.

The actuator 31 is a driving motor, and has an actuator shaft 311 extending substantially horizontally through the vertical plate portion of the bracket 22 of the base unit 2. The input bar 33 has one end connected perpendicularly and co-rotatably to the actuator shaft 311. The pivot shaft 23 is mounted to the vertical plate portion of the bracket 22 substantially horizontally, is lower than the actuator shaft 311, and extends through lower ends of the output bars 32, 35 to connect pivotally the lower ends of the output bars 32, 35 to the bracket 22. The actuator shaft 311 is disposed more forward than the pivot shaft 23 so that an imaginary surface interconnecting the actuator shaft 311 and the pivot shaft 23 inclines forward with respect to a vertical surface passing through the pivot shaft 23. The connecting bar 34 has one end connected pivotally to another end of the input bar 33 opposite to the actuator shaft 311, and the other end connected pivotally to an upper portion of the output bar 32.

The rocker mechanism 3 further includes a frame member 36 bridging and connecting immovably the upper portion of the output bar 32 and an upper portion of the output bar 35 above the connecting bar 34, and a pair of reinforcing links 37, each of which has a bottom end connected immovably to the lower end of a respective one of the output bars 32, 35, and a top end connected immovably to the frame member 36 and spaced apart from the upper portion of the respective one of the output bars 32, 35. The rocker mechanism 3 further includes a plurality of fasteners extending respectively through the oblong slots 221 and fastening the actuator 31 to the bracket 22. The actuator 31 is adjustable in position when the fasteners are unfastened and moved along the oblong slots 221.

The seat unit 4 includes a seat member 41 connected immovably to the frame member 36 of the rocker mechanism 3, and a backrest member 42 connected to the seat member 41.

The input bar 33, the output bar 32, the connecting bar 34 and the bracket 22 constitute a planar four-bar linkage. In this embodiment, the lengths of segments of the input bar 33, the output bar 32, the bracket 22 and the connecting bar 34 between intersections in this four-bar linkage can be denoted by a, b, g and h respectively (see FIG. 3), and the relations between the lengths are specified as follows: b+g>a+h, b+h>a+g, and g+h>a+b. As such, this four-bar linkage is configured as a crank-rocker four-bar linkage, and the output bars 32, 35 (also the seat unit 4) swing between an utmost rearward inclined position (see FIG. 4) and an utmost forward inclined position (see FIG. 5).

The input bar 33 is driven rotatably by the actuator 31 to drive reciprocating swing motion of the output bars 32, 35 and the seat unit 4 between the utmost rearward inclined position and the utmost forward inclined position via the connecting bar 34. The output bars 32, 35 form a greatest forward tilted angle with respect to the vertical surface passing through the pivot shaft 23 when being tilted forward, and form a greatest rearward tilted angle with respect to the vertical surface passing through the pivot shaft 23. The rearward tilted angle is larger than the forward tilted angle.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the input bar 33 rotates clockwise in a constant rotational speed, a rotational movement that the input bar 33 rotates from the utmost rearward inclined position to the utmost forward inclined position is larger than that from the utmost forward inclined position to the utmost rearward inclined position, so that the forward inclining speed of this embodiment is smaller than the rearward inclining speed.

To sum up, the massage chair of this invention has the following advantages:

1. Compared to the conventional massage chair illustrated in the prior art which has only a vertical vibration, the swing motion of this massage chair with different forward and rearward inclining speeds has an enhanced effect of exercise to the user's body, and makes the massage comfortable to use.

2. The reinforcing links 37 strengthen the whole structure of this massage chair, thereby resulting in a relatively long service life.

3. Since the actuator 31 is adjustable in position along the oblong slots 221, the range of the swing motion of this massage chair can be changed for suiting different users.

It is noted that the seat unit 4 maybe provided with handles or a seat belt to guarantee the safety of the user.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A massage chair comprising:

a base unit;

a rocker mechanism including an actuator that is coupled to said base unit, at least one output bar that is connected pivotally to said base unit, an input bar that is connected to and that is driven rotatably by said actuator, and a connecting bar that has opposite ends connected pivotally and respectively to said input bar and said output bar, and that cooperates with said input bar, said output bar, and said base unit to constitute a crank-rocker planar four-bar linkage; and

a seat unit connected immovably to said output bar;

wherein said actuator actuates rotation of said input bar, which in turn drives reciprocating swing motion of said output bar and said seat unit.

2. The massage chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rocker mechanism includes a pair of said output bars, and further includes a frame member bridging and connecting immovably said output bars.

3. The massage chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seat unit includes a seat member fixed to said frame member of said rocker mechanism, and a backrest member connected to said seat member.

4. The massage chair as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rocker mechanism further includes a pair of reinforcing links, each of which is connected between said frame member and a respective one of said output bars.

5. The massage chair as claimed in claim 4, wherein said base unit includes a plurality of spaced-apart foot members, and a bracket bridging said foot members, said actuator being connected to said bracket.

6. The massage chair as claimed in claim 5, wherein said bracket of said base unit has an oblong slot, and a fastener extending through said oblong slot and fastening said actuator to said bracket, said actuator being adjustable in position when said fastener is unfastened and moved along said oblong slot.

7. The massage chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator is a driving motor.

8. The massage chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator has an actuator shaft extending substantially horizontally and connected to said input bar, and said rocker mechanism further includes a pivot shaft that is mounted to said base unit substantially horizontally, that is lower than said actuator shaft, and that extends through a lower end of said output shaft to connect pivotally said lower end to said base unit.

9. The massage chair as claimed in claim 8, wherein said input bar has one end connected to said actuator shaft, said connecting bar having one end connected pivotally to another end of said input bar and having the other end connected pivotally to an upper portion of said output bar, said seat unit being connected immovably to said upper portion of said output bar and being disposed above said connecting bar.

10. The massage chair as claimed in claim 9, wherein said actuator shaft is disposed more forward than said pivot shaft so that an imaginary surface interconnecting said actuator shaft and said pivot shaft inclines forward with respect to a vertical surface passing through said pivot shaft.

11. The massage chair as claimed in claim 10, wherein said output bar, when being tilted forward, forms a greatest forward tilted angle with respect to the vertical surface passing through said pivot shaft, and said output bar, when being tilted rearward, forms a greatest rearward tilted angle with respect to the vertical surface passing through said pivot shaft, the rearward tilted angle being larger than the forward tilted angle.

12. The massage chair as claimed in claim 9, wherein said rocker mechanism includes a pair of said output bars, and further includes a frame member bridging said upper portions of said output bars and fixed below said seat unit, and a pair of spaced-apart reinforcing links, each of said reinforcing links having a bottom end connected immovably to said lower end of a respective one of said output bars, and a top end connected immovably to said frame member and spaced apart from said upper portions of said output bars.

13. The massage chair as claimed in claim 9, wherein said base unit includes a plurality of spaced-apart foot members, and a bracket bridging said foot members and extending upwardly, said pivot shaft and said actuator being mounted to said bracket.