Multiple Applicators Patents (Class 601/103)
  • Patent number: 7494476
    Abstract: A foot massage apparatus comprises: a housing (5); a pair of replaceable footprint plates (4) with holes (40) arranged according to a particular foot massage pattern, which are placed on an upper plate (51) of the housing (5); protrusions (2; 3) protruding from the holes (40) of each replaceable footprint plate (4); a vertical adjustment mechanism provided in the housing (5), for adjusting the height of the protrusions (2; 3); a horizontal adjustment mechanism provided in the housing (5), for adjusting the horizontal position of the protrusions (2; 3); and a driving mechanism provided in the housing (5), for driving the protrusions (2; 3) to move up and down cyclically. The foot massage apparatus of the present invention has the advantages of enhancing a particular bodily function and fitting different foot sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventors: Thomas K. S. Wong, Joanne W. Y. Chung, Sonny H. M. Tse, Ka Lun Fan, Ching Ching Cheung, Pony Ma, Yin Ki Lau, Sarah W. M. Au
  • Patent number: 7494475
    Abstract: A pivotal lever has a first therapeutic member and a second therapeutic member positioned below the first member, for the members to grip and knead the shoulder of the person to be massaged as by the fingers of the acupressurist. A massage unit 20 comprises a pair of left and right pivotal levers 100 pivotally movably arranged on a chassis 21, and a first therapeutic member 200 and a second therapeutic member 300 arranged on each of the pivotal levers 100 and movable toward and away from each other. The first and second therapeutic members 200, 300 have motion conversion 400 coupled thereto for converting the pivotal movement of the pivotal lever 100 into the movement of the first and second therapeutic members 200, 300 toward and away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitoshi Morita, Yuji Kan, Nobuaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7491184
    Abstract: A percussive massager is provided having a housing including a massage head portion and a handle portion, and a motor support unit affixable within the massage head portion. A motor is supported by the motor support unit, and an output shaft rotatably driven by the motor protrudes from the motor on either side thereof. The massager further includes a pair of vertical connecting rods each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends are operably connected to the output shaft such that rotation of the output shaft causes the connecting rods to reciprocate axially in an asynchronous manner. A rocker arm is attachable to the motor support unit at a central pivot axis thereof, wherein the rocker arm is operably connected to the second ends of the connecting rods and is moved about the central pivot axis by rotation of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: HoMedics, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Huang
  • Patent number: 7470242
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a body massager comprising a portable housing including a backrest and a seat support. A longitudinal guide is provided in the backrest cooperating with a carriage for translation of the carriage within the backrest and a motor drives the carriage along the guide. A pair of massage members are supported by the carriage and extend from the backrest for imparting a rolling massage effect upon the back of the user. A second motor drives the massage members for generating a rotary kneading massage effect or for adjusting a width of the rolling massage effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: FKA Distributing Co.
    Inventors: Roman Ferber, Stephen Chung
  • Patent number: 7429251
    Abstract: A massaging device gives different massaging patterns to different parts of a user's body for enhanced and pleasant massaging effect. The device includes an applicator applying a massage force to the user, and at least two driving units for driving the applicator to make different reciprocating movements respectively in different directions from each other. The least two driving units is controlled to reciprocate the applicator for providing the massaging force in different massaging patterns. A sensor is provided to acknowledge the position of the applicator. A massage pattern selector is provided to select one of the massaging patterns depending upon the position of the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Tanizawa, Masamichi Miyaguchi, Fumihiro Nishio, Daisuke Tsukada, Yuuichi Nishibori, Motoharu Muto
  • Patent number: 7347833
    Abstract: A method for massaging a body lying on a horizontally leveled upper surface portion of a lie-down massager which includes a pressure applying member, comprises the steps of reciprocating the pressure applying member between a first end and a second end of the upper surface portion in accordance with a predetermined longitudinal stroke of the pressure applying member; and the predetermined longitudinal stroke coordinating along a first axis and a second axis in concurrence with the reciprocation so that the pressure applying member moves to follow a predetermined coaxial curve defined by the first axis and the second axis, wherein the first axis is parallel to the upper surface portion, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Publication number: 20080009777
    Abstract: A massage chair mechanism is provided with a backrest comprising a main body plate. A left supporting plate of the main body plate is provided with an inclining device. With the help of a detecting device and a rotation-measuring element on the inclining device, the signals from the person to be massaged are transmitted to a main control board. The main control board issues a command to drive a crank device to rotate. The rotation of the crank device can drive big and small massaging balls of the massage device to move forwardly and backwardly, such that the most comfortable massage can be applied to the person to be massaged. A footrest elevation device and a calf-rest extension device are provided, thereby moving the footrest to an appropriate location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventor: Yu-Mei Chiu
  • Patent number: 7297124
    Abstract: A massage device comprising two compression rods on a stable base with a cushioned circumferential barrier to properly position the user's head. When activated, an internal motor moves the two rods together to provide cranial massage to the user. Additional user controls or heating can be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventor: Jorge Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20070167887
    Abstract: A massaging device has an applicator driven by a plurality of driving unit to move along two or more different axes to generate a combined massaging action to be applied to the user's body. A controller holds individual speed data each defining a speed at which each of the driving units reciprocates the applicator along each of the different axes, and to control the driving units to reciprocate the applicator in accordance with the associated speed data. The controller controls the speed of the applicator along one of the axes independently from the speed of the applicator moving along another of the axes. Accordingly, the applicator's movements along the different axes can be free from being interfered with each other even being subject to a load, thereby assuring to continue the combined massaging action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tsukada, Motoharu Muto, Takayoshi Tanizawa, Satoshi Kajiyama, Masamichi Miyaguchi, Hiroyuki Inoue, Masatoshi Dairin, Munekiyo Ikebe, Yoshiharu Hayashi, Masaki Nagano, Takashi Yukawa
  • Publication number: 20070149907
    Abstract: A massaging device particularly for a chair is provided. Owing to the provision of the rotative arms, the relative distance between the upper and lower massaging element pairs in the massaging device can be adjusted, and thus a massaging action imitating a human-made massaging action can be generated by the massaging device. Further, a relative protruding extent between the upper and lower massaging element pairs may be selected, and thus the foul-wheel or dual-wheel based pressing, rubbing and tapping actions can be provided when these massaging elements are operated with cooperation of a displacement mechanism and a control device. In addition, the provided massaging force can be adjusted to achieve a good massaging effect on the acupuncture points and strained muscles of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chuan-Chien Ting, Yung-Feng Nien, Shyuan Yueh Lin, Fei-Hsu Chen
  • Patent number: 7207956
    Abstract: A pressure-sensing massage machine that resolves the problems of difficult assembly and adjustment and the occurrence of operational errors common to a sensing mechanism that uses many components and devices. The massage machine of the present invention is able to monitor the pressure applied to the massage recipient by a motor-driven movably extending massaging member. A flexible member is provided in the transmission located between the massage member and the motor that drives the massage member, and a pressure sensing mechanism monitors the pressure applied to the massage recipient through the flexible displacement of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Souichirou Mizoguchi, Junji Nakamura, Masatoshi Dairin, Munekiyo Ikebe, Masahiro Kirigaya
  • Patent number: 7189211
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a massaging apparatus that faithfully incorporates the rhythm or melody of a music source and performs massage with accents arranged more effectively based on these. A massaging apparatus of the present invention comprises massaging mechanisms (4, 5) that give mechanical impulses to a body by driving motors (5a, 10, 11), and a control device (13) that controls operations of the motors. The control device (13) comprises a waveform converter (18) having a waveform converting circuit for converting a waveform of an audio signal input from a sound source (A), such as a smoothing circuit, a differentiating circuit, or an integrating circuit, and a specific frequency band signal selecting unit (17) having a low pass filter, a high pass filter, and a band pass filter. In accordance with a control signal output from the waveform converter (18) and the specific frequency band signal selecting unit (17), the operations of the motors are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Family Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nichimu Inada, Hideshi Kondo, Koji Goto, Ryoichi Tokioka
  • Patent number: 7179239
    Abstract: A lower leg massage device includes a rotatable shaft having two actuating pins, two actuating devices solidly secured on the shaft, and two rotatable actuating devices rotatably attached onto the shaft and each having two opposite seats for selectively engaging with the actuator pins of the shaft. Four massage members are attached onto and to be vibrated by the actuating devices. The actuator pins may selectively engage with the one of the seats to rotate the rotatable actuating devices in one direction, and may engage with the other seat to rotate the rotatable actuating devices in the other direction, and to allow the massage members to be arranged either opposite to or parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Horng Jiun Chang
  • Patent number: 7160261
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a health care instrument, particularly to a back sliding massager. The massager comprising a base, a slide consists of an upper and a lower plate, a transmission mechanism, massage heads, and a cover. In that, the slide, transmission mechanism, and massage heads are mounted into the chamber constructed by the base and cover. Chains disposed on the surface of the base, transmission mechanism installed between the cover and base includes a motor, a set of gears driven by the motor having bottom pinions meshed with the chains, each of top gears connected to one massage head on top of the cover by a central axle respectively; openings formed through the cover, massage heads are exposed out from the openings. The massager of the present invention has a larger massaged portion with a man-made massage effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Inventor: Chih-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 7153283
    Abstract: A cranial massage helmet includes a plurality of resilient massage wheels mounted on its inner surface for application to the head of a user. The massage wheels travel along a number of tracks bonded to the inner surface of the helmet. An individual stepper motor drives each wheel. A control system, which may be contained within a hand-held controller, contains a programmed logic controller for directing drive cards that are wired to each individual motor for independent control of each massage wheel. A variety of massage modes are made possible by the control system. The control system also includes audio components allowing a user of the helmet to select an audio program that may be heard through earphones mounted in the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Inventors: Gabrielle H. Triolo, Detlef Kramer
  • Patent number: 7131954
    Abstract: A massaging wheel assembly is disclosed to include two base frames pivotally connected in parallel to a sliding carrier slidably movable in a sliding track, each base frame having a wheel axle at the front end and a pivot pin at the rear end, two supplementary frames respectively pivoted to the pivot pins at the rear ends of the base frames, each supplementary frame having two wheel axles at the ends, two main massaging wheels respectively pivoted to the wheel axles at the front ends of the base frames, and four supplementary massaging wheels respectively pivoted to the wheel axles at the ends of the supplementary frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventor: Bi-Chih Liao
  • Patent number: 7128721
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a body massager comprising a portable housing including a backrest and a seat support. A longitudinal guide is provided in the backrest cooperating with a carriage for translation of the carriage within the backrest and a motor drives the carriage along the guide. A pair of massage members are supported by the carriage and extend from the backrest for imparting a massage effect upon the back of the user. The seat support includes a massager therein for imparting another massage effect to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: HoMedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Ferber, Stephen Chung
  • Patent number: 7125390
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a hand-held body massager having a transverse housing with a massage region. A massage unit is oriented within the housing for parting a massage effect from the massage region. A pair of elongate arms are each pivotally connected to opposed ends of the housing with the massage region oriented therebetween. Each arm includes a handle to be grasped by a user so that the user may urge the massage region against a target surface of the user's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Homedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman S. Ferber, Charles Huang, John E. Nemazi, Michael D. Turner
  • Patent number: 7083582
    Abstract: A massaging machine comprises a plurality of massaging rollers, a rubbing mechanism for actuating the massaging rollers to engage in a rubbing action, a pounding mechanism for actuating the massaging rollers to engage in a pounding action, and a horizontal displacement mechanism for causing the massaging rollers to engage in a horizontal displacement on a rubbing shaft of the rubbing mechanism, so as to widen the massaging range of the massaging rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventor: Ko-Po Chen
  • Patent number: 7081100
    Abstract: A lie-down massager includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed, a rider, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement, massage bumps that move vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. The lifter includes a gear-operated link lifting mechanism, in which a low link is pivoted by a shaft, and a high link converts the pivoting of the low link to vertical movement of the massage bumps. Two sets of links are used and the two sets are associated via spur gear engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 7081098
    Abstract: A lie-down massager includes a base frame having a top panel, a rider provided below the top panel of the base frame, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the base frame, massage bumps that move vertically along an elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. The lifter includes a top plate, a bottom plate, a fluid operated cylinder fixed to the bottom plate, and a spring fixed between the top plate and the bottom plate. The fluid operated cylinder has a cylinder shaft that is moved by pressurized fluid overcoming the force of the spring, and a guide shaft and a guide bearing that have a square cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 7081099
    Abstract: A foot massage unit has a four-head unit with a center common drive electric motor. The unit includes two symmetrically shaped gear cases. The first gear case comprises a symmetrical pair of gear housings in the shape of a twin disc having a bottom case and a top case and is positioned proximally to one of two power outputs of the motor. At the opposite side of the motor is positioned the second gear case comprising a symmetrical pair of gear housings of a bottom case and a top case. The driving shaft of the motor extends in opposite directions and is provided with two concentric worms. Externally of the gear cases are four rotating massage heads fixed to the corresponding shafts. Each head has a plate and a semispherical shaft bore formed in the plate, and two pressure balls at the farther opposite tips of the elongated plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: American Lighting Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Lili Luo
  • Patent number: 7066898
    Abstract: A vibrator has massaging balls supported by a treating unit that may be shifted along a subject portion for treatment, guided by guiding members. The treating unit is supported by a supporting structure with respect to the guiding members. A position or orientation altering mechanism is provided for altering the position of the treatment unit in a direction orthogonal to the direction of its shifting or the orientation of the treating unit with respect to the guiding members. The supporting structure may include an engaging unit that engages the guiding members and an arm for supporting the engaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Mori, Akitoshi Miki, Koichi Tanaka, Kuniyoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7060043
    Abstract: A massage device has a platform, a motor assembly, a transmission assembly, a massage arm assembly and two massage disk assemblies. The motor assembly has a motor mounted on the platform. The transmission assembly is driven by the motor and has a transverse axle mounted rotatably on the platform. The massage arm assembly has a shoulder mounted on the platform and two rocker arms rotatably mounted on the shoulder. The massage disk assemblies are mounted on the transverse axle and each has a massage pad. The massage arm and disk assemblies move simultaneously in response to the transmission and provide effective massages to multiple muscle groups of a human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Inventor: Chien-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 7052477
    Abstract: A massaging machine includes a massaging device and a steering mechanism for operating the massaging device. The steering mechanism has a shaft on which a drive gear and a driven seat are mounted. The drive gear is driven by a motor to actuate the massaging device to operate. The driven seat is provided with a unidirectional bearing by which the driven seat is mounted on the shaft. The unidirectional bearing is intended to disable the massaging device to engage in a reciprocating motion at the time when the drive gear is driven to turn in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventors: Dong-Her Wu, Lai-Fu Tang
  • Patent number: 7052475
    Abstract: A lie-down massager includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed centrally and lengthwise, a rider provided below the elongated top panel of the base frame, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the base frame, massage bumps that move vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. The lifter includes a hydraulic actuator that vertically moves the massage bumps, and a hydraulic controller that controls operation of the hydraulic actuator by controlling hydraulic oil flow on both sides of a plunger inside the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 7052476
    Abstract: A lie-down massager includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed, a rider, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement, massage bumps that move vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. Air shock absorbers are provided between the massage bumps and the lifter so that movement of the massage bumps by the rider and the lifter is flexible and more adapted to human body contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 7048701
    Abstract: A lie-down massager comprises a frame having an elongated top panel with an elongated opening, a rider below the top panel, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider to enable the rider to make a horizontal reciprocation relative to the frame, and a lifter moving vertically relative to the rider. A shaft is rotatably engaged to the rider and eccentrically connected to a cam so the shaft rotation generates an eccentric rotation of the cam defined by an inner disk, an outer ring, and ball bearings circularly provided between the inner and outer disks where an outer rim of the outer ring abuts to a bottom of the lifter so the shaft rotating further generates vertical reciprocation of the lifter relative to the rider by the eccentric rotation of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 7037279
    Abstract: A lie-down massager includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed centrally and lengthwise, a rider provided below the elongated top panel of the base frame, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the base frame, massage bumps that move vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. The lifter includes two vertical screws that rotates together by a chain and two nuts engaging with the screws so that rotating the screws lift or lower the nuts thereby adjusting the height of the massage bumps. A motor rotates the screws via a worm gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 7018347
    Abstract: A lie-down massager comprising a first mat with an elongated opening, a sliding member in the first mat hingedly engaged to a base to allow an angular lifting of the first mat from the base, a support downwardly attached to the base, a nut gear rotatably engaged to the support and having a wheel gear along an outer periphery of the nut gear, the wheel gear engaged to a second wheel gear, a shaft gear having a hinge end and a gear end received into the nut gear. A substantially bent rod has an upper end hingedly engaged to the first mat, a lower end hingedly engaged to the hinge end, and a hinge point between the upper end and the lower end, the hinge point hingedly engaged to the base frame, massage bumps carried on top of a rider reciprocating along the elongated opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 7014620
    Abstract: A lie-down massager comprises a frame having an elongated top panel with an elongated opening, a rider below the top panel, a guide member movably engaged between the frame and the rider to enable the rider to make a horizontal reciprocation relative to the frame, a lifter moving vertically relative to the rider, and a roller gear engaged to the rider. The roller gear is engaged to a vertical rack gear in an opening of an engagement body extending from the lifter so the roller gear rotation enables the lifter to make a vertical reciprocation. Massage bumps attached to the top portion of the lifter move vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the frame by the lifter and the rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 6991609
    Abstract: A massage assembly (20) wherein a massage unit (40) comprising a therapeutic member (50) for massaging the body of the user by a kneading and/or tapping movement is reciprocatingly moved between a pair of frames (22) (23) and which comprises a motion converting mechanism for converting the reciprocating movement of the massage unit (40) to the kneading and/or tapping movement of the therapeutic member (50). The massage assembly (20) is incorporated in a backrest (16) of a chair (12) or a bed to provide a massage machine (10) of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Kan, Nobuaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6982024
    Abstract: An improved balloon catheter seal which may be used for attaching an inflatable balloon to a catheter body, especially when the balloon and catheter body are formed from dissimilar materials. The seal is formed by applying a layer of adhesive material between the inflatable balloon and the catheter body, and crimping a retaining ring over each seal junction. The invention is especially useful when joining a compliant balloon made from silicone to a catheter body made from polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Boris Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 6981954
    Abstract: A percussive massager is provided having a housing including a massage head portion and a handle portion, and a motor support unit affixable within the massage head portion. A motor is supported by the motor support unit, and an output shaft rotatably driven by the motor protrudes from the motor on either side thereof. The massager further includes a pair of vertical connecting rods each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends are operably connected to the output shaft such that rotation of the output shaft causes the connecting rods to reciprocate axially in an asynchronous manner. A rocker arm is attachable to the motor support unit at a central pivot axis thereof, wherein the rocker arm is operably connected to the second ends of the connecting rods and is moved about the central pivot axis by rotation of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: HoMedics, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Huang
  • Patent number: 6960174
    Abstract: A therapeutic treatment machine alternatingly applies compression and traction to a patient. A frame includes: a platform having an upper body support pad with controllable resistance to forward and backward displacement; rollers supporting the lower back, buttocks and thighs; and a motor-driven foot support displaceable forward and backward predetermined distances and speeds. Tubular frame members fit over and adhesively engage arms projecting orthogonally from a corner section. Legs telescopically receive leg support members extending orthogonally from the arms. Compression and traction are each forcefully effected by motor rotation converted to longitudinal reciprocation of a linkage that drives the foot support. The patient's feet are held in place against footplates by clamps supported on a T-bar cross member having a stem extending forwardly through a longitudinal slot in the footplates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventor: Randall Fenkel
  • Patent number: 6932779
    Abstract: In operating a massaging machine having massaging members and a motor for causing the massaging members to vibrate to massage a patient, a pulsed driving signal is applied to the motor for repetitively switching on and off the motor for specified time lengths such that the motor is intermittently activated, rather than continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Kasai
  • Patent number: 6911013
    Abstract: A method of regenerating hair growth, including the steps of engaging a scalp area with an edge of a flexible member, reciprocating a portion of the flexible member through a stroke length along an axis of at least ½ inch at a rate of at least 1,500 strokes per minute, with the flexible member portion being spaced from the scalp area and the axis being oriented in a direction parallel to tangential to the engaged scalp area, and repeating the engaging and reciprocating steps until hair regeneration begins. An apparatus usable in such a method includes a handle, a drive secured to the handle and reciprocating along an axis relative to the handle, and a flexible massage member secured to the reciprocating drive. The massage member has an axial portion aligned with the axis, and a silicone massage portion extending laterally from the axial portion to a scalp engaging surface, with the massage portion being substantially flexible in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventor: Hans Heimberger
  • Patent number: 6899687
    Abstract: The invention provides a massage machine for health care which comprises a living body information sensor 5 for detecting living body information of the autonomic nervous system of the person to be massaged, a control circuit 6 for judging the psychological state of the person based on the living body information detected, and a memory 61 for holding histories of psychological states of persons to be massaged. The machine is adapted to judge the physical condition of the person based on the history of psychological states of the person, and to judge whether the condition of the person's health is improved by massage so as to utilize the result of judgement as guidelines for health care.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Hori, Yoshihisa Fujiwara, Kazuya Hiyamizu, Toshiki Koma, Torahiko Nonoue
  • Patent number: 6890313
    Abstract: A lie-down massager includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed centrally and lengthwise, a rider, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement, massage bumps that move vertically and horizontally along the top opening, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. The lifter includes a top member, a bottom member, a screw shaft and a motor. The screw shaft engages with a nut block and the nut block is connected with the top member by two links so that rotation of the screw shaft is converted into horizontal movement of the nut block, and the horizontal movement of the nut block is converted into vertical movement of the top member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 6849054
    Abstract: A lie-down massager comprises a base frame having a top panel with a top opening formed centrally and lengthwisely through the top panel, a rider provided below the top panel to make a horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the base frame, a lifter liftedly engaged to the rider to make a vertically reciprocal movement relative to the rider, a massage member fixed downwardly to the lifter with supports horizontally aligned along a top portion of the massage member, massage bumps attached atop the first and second supports, and a pad covering the massage bumps and the elongated opening of the base frame. The supports repeatedly approach to and distance from each other within the top opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Publication number: 20040260215
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for three dimensional, accurately controllable and user customizable massaging are provided. The apparatus includes actuators for three-axis movement of massage bumps, a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor. Pre-configured massaging curves which are followed by the massage bumps are provided and a user may select and further customize the curves. Also the curve may be adjusted by measuring the body contour of a user and incorporating the measured curve into existing curves. The massaging curve includes acupressure operations and heat treatment operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Patent number: 6832991
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus in which a position of a specific portion such as a user's shoulder with respect to the massaging apparatus can be determined automatically and accurately in a simple construction. The massaging apparatus includes a supporting arm having a therapeutic member pivotally supported thereon and freely movable along the user's body. The position of the specific portion of the user with respect to the massaging apparatus is determined from the relation between the vertical position of the supporting arm and the pivotal position of the supporting arm. A pivotal movement detecting system detects that the supporting arm reaches a prescribed range of pivotal movement is provided. The position of the specific portion of the user with respect to the massaging apparatus is determined from the position of the supporting arm at the moment when the pivotal movement of the supporting arm reaches the prescribed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Family Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nichimu Inada, Hideshi Kondo, Yasuo Fujii, Koji Goto
  • Publication number: 20040243029
    Abstract: A lower-limb massage machine 1 according to the present invention can easily adjust the attitude and height of a casing 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Nobuzo Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20040243034
    Abstract: A lie-down massager includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed centrally and lengthwise, a rider provided below the elongated top panel of the base frame, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the base frame, massage bumps that move vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. The lifter includes two vertical screws that rotates together by a chain and two nuts engaging with the screws so that rotating the screws lift or lower the nuts thereby adjusting the height of the massage bumps. A motor rotates the screws via a worm gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Publication number: 20040243033
    Abstract: A lie-down massager includes a base frame having an elongated top panel, through which an elongated top opening is formed, a rider, a guide member movably engaged between the base frame and the rider so as to enable the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal movement, massage bumps that move vertically and/or horizontally along the elongated top opening of the elongated top panel of the base frame, and a lifter that holds the massage bumps and adjusts the height of the massage bumps. The lifter includes a gear-operated link lifting mechanism, in which a low link is pivoted by a shaft, and a high link converts the pivoting of the low link to vertical movement of the massage bumps. Two sets of links are used and the two sets are associated via spur gear engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Publication number: 20040243030
    Abstract: A massaging device gives different massaging patterns to different parts of a user's body for enhanced and pleasant massaging effect. The device includes an applicator applying a massage force to the user, and at least two driving units for driving the applicator to make different reciprocating movements respectively in different directions from each other. The least two driving units is controlled to reciprocate the applicator for providing the massaging force in different massaging patterns. A sensor is provided to acknowledge the position of the applicator. A massage pattern selector is provided to select one of the massaging patterns depending upon the position of the applicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Takayoshi Tanizawa, Masamichi Miyaguchi, Fumihiro Nishio, Daisuke Tsukada, Yuuichi Nishibori, Motoharu Muto
  • Publication number: 20040243032
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of packaging flip chips includes providing a plurality of flip chips and a panel, forming a plurality of partitions outwardly from the panel, coupling the flip chips to the panel such that each partition surrounds a respective flip chip, and forming an underfill region between each of the flip chips and the panel. Each partition prevents a respective underfill region from engaging an adjacent underfill region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • Publication number: 20040236256
    Abstract: A lie-down massager comprising a first mat with an elongated opening, a sliding member in the first mat hingedly engaged to a base to allow an angular lifting of the first mat from the base, a support downwardly attached to the base, a nut gear rotatably engaged to the support and having a wheel gear along an outer periphery of the nut gear, the wheel gear engaged to a second wheel gear, a shaft gear having a hinge end and a gear end received into the nut gear. A substantially bent rod has an upper end hingedly engaged to the first mat, a lower end hingedly engaged to the hinge end, and a hinge point between the upper end and the lower end, the hinge point hingedly engaged to the base frame, massage bumps carried on top of a rider reciprocating along the elongated opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Hakjin KIM
  • Publication number: 20040230145
    Abstract: A lie-down massager comprises a frame, a rider below a top panel of the frame, a guide member engaged between the frame and the rider to allow a horizontal reciprocation to the rider, and a lifter carrying massage bumps. A gear unit includes a bolt gear downwardly extending from the lifter, a nut type gear having a outer periphery, a first gear incorporated on the periphery, and a second gear engaged to the first gear. The bolt gear is releasably engaged in the nut type gear whose bottom end is rotatably attached to and supported by the rider, whereby the second gear rotation generates the first gear rotation and the subsequent rotation of the nut type gear enables the lifter to make a vertical reciprocation by he releasable engagement of the bolt gear and the nut type gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Hakjin KIM
  • Publication number: 20040225239
    Abstract: The present invention provides a massage machine comprising a physiological sensor 5 for detecting physiological data of autonomic nerve system of the user and a control circuit 6 for controlling a massage operation based on the physiological data detected by the sensor 5. The control circuit 6 estimates a psychological state of the user based on variations of the physiological data detected by the sensor 5 by an execution of a preliminary massage, and thereafter adjusts a full massage operation in accordance with the estimated psychological state. For the preliminary massage, one typical massage movement is performed from among a plurality of massage movements to be performed for the full massage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Yasushi Yamamoto, Masahiko Hashimoto, Kazuya Hiyamizu, Makoto Kikumoto, Hirokazu Genno