Reciprocating Patents (Class 601/116)
  • Patent number: 12005020
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automated massage apparatus (10) having a substantially horizontal bed (20) which provides a massage surface (12). A massage element or roller (14) can move relative to the massage surface to provide an automated massage to the whole or selected parts of the body of a user lying upon the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas Gerald Grey, Matthew Isted, Daniel Brooks
  • Patent number: 11890248
    Abstract: An apparatus including a thermal ceramic module including a body, a first supporting plate located on the body, a second supporting plate located on the first plate, an ascending and descending driving part coupled to a lower portion of the first plate and configured to move the first plate in a vertical direction on the basis of the body, and a ceramic member coupled to the second plate; a weight sensor provided on a lower surface of the second plate to sense a body pressure of a user; and a controller configured to control a massage mode of the thermal ceramic module, wherein the controller controls a driving height of the ascending and descending driving part according to the body pressure of the user sensed by the weight sensor to provide the same pressure to the user through the ceramic member on the basis of a predetermined desired intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: CERAGEM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Myoung Lee, Ki Sung Kim, Sang Cheol Han, Jin Cheol Park
  • Patent number: 11273096
    Abstract: A massaging table assembly for massaging a user's body includes a table that is positionable at an angle on a support surface for having a user lie thereon. The table has an opening therein. A rocker unit is pivotally coupled to the table and the rocker unit is positioned in the opening in the table. Moreover, the rocker unit is tiltable to a variety of angles with respect to the table. A pair of rollers is each rotatably coupled to the rocker units. Each of the rollers can massage the user's body when the user lies on the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventor: Gary Watson
  • Patent number: 11172766
    Abstract: A support apparatus for supporting padding of seating and/or lounging furniture that has a base body with spring elements for flat support of the padding and a loading/relief apparatus for achieving pressure loading or relief on the padding. The loading/relief apparatus acts on a spring element to achieve pressure loading or relief. The loading/relief apparatus has an electric motor in operative connection with at least one pressure element by which a pressure force is exerted or exertable on a spring element to achieve pressure loading or relief. The loading/relief apparatus has a first carriage in drive connection with an electric motor and is translationally movable in the longitudinal direction of the support apparatus. The first carriage bears at least one arm whose free end carries the pressure element for load/relief of the spring elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: de Werth Group AG
    Inventors: Johannes Schneider, Eckhart Dewert
  • Patent number: 11020311
    Abstract: A therapeutic device for stimulating the anatomy of the cervical spine and neck is provided and includes a housing having an upper portion configured for receiving and cradling the cervical spine and the neck. The therapeutic device includes a motorized rotor assembly having a plurality of rollers. The rotor assembly rotating about a first axis and the plurality of rollers rotating independently from one another and about axes spaced from the first axis. The rotor assembly is configured to transmit percussive energy to the cervical spine and the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Ronald G. Hotchkiss, Gregory S. Marler
  • Patent number: 10912393
    Abstract: An improved bed and method of forming with the required profile and localised support for a user by the improved bed at various sections of the bed including shoulder (A), lumbar (B) hip and lower body (C) such as by the mattress (15) having selected forms or voids a Shoulder Pressure Attenuation Area (SPAAM) a Lumbar Pressure Attenuation Area (LPAAM) a Hip Pressure Attenuation Area (HPAAM) and the base (26) having a Shoulder Pressure Attenuation Area (SPAAB) a Lumbar Pressure Attenuation Area (LPAAB) a Hip Pressure Attenuation Area (HPAAB) locatable at different locations along the longitudinal extension of the bed (32,42,52) with a Shoulder Pressure variation means (31) a Lumbar Pressure variation means (41) and a Hip Pressure variation means (51) comprising adjustable slats driven by electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventor: Mario Cladinoro Piraino
  • Patent number: 10842708
    Abstract: A legs and feet massage apparatus for providing massaging effects to the legs and feet of a user includes a leg and feet frame and a legs and feet massage roller assembly. In one embodiment of an aspect of the invention, the legs and feet frame may include guide rails. Each guide rail includes an upper end, a lower end, an upper section, a lower section, a connecting section, and a guide channel. The roller assembly includes sets of massage roller devices that are spaced apart and that are rotated by a motor. The massage roller devices are moved along the guide channels by the motor whereby the massage roller devices move along the guide channels while also are adapted to provide massaging effects to the feet and legs of the user. In another aspect of the invention, a massage chair includes a legs and feet massage apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Luraco, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Le, Thanh Le, Varad Nitin Gokhale
  • Patent number: 10610443
    Abstract: Provided is a thermotherapy device, which includes a first housing (10), a second housing (20) disposed under the first housing (10), a transfer plate (30), at both sides of which transfer rollers (31) are provided, and a pair of guide rails (40) that is provided to the second housing (20) and on which the respective transfer rollers (31) of the transfer plate (30) are placed. The pair of guide rails (40) are integrally molded when the second housing (20) is injection-molded. Thus, since the guide rails on which the transfer rollers of the transfer plate travel are integrally molded when the second housing is injection-molded, inefficiency caused by mounting separate rails as in the related art is removed, and thereby assemblability, productivity, and economic efficiency of the thermotherapy device can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ceragem Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Myoung Lee, Sang Min Lee, Ho Sang Yu, Ji Hoon Park, Sang Ui Choi
  • Patent number: 10548806
    Abstract: Provided is a vertical motion adjuster for a thermotherapy device capable of simultaneously accomplishing a pressing acupressure therapy effect and a pushing acupressure therapy effect. The vertical motion adjuster for the thermotherapy device includes a conveyance unit including a movable member configured to move along a mat, a support unit having one side hinged with the conveyance unit, and an elevation unit installed between the conveyance unit and the support unit and configured to raise the other side of the support unit in an arc shape. Accordingly, since the pressing acupressure therapy effect and the pushing acupressure therapy effect can be simultaneously accomplished as a moxibustion device is raised according to movement in an arc shape, a thermotherapy effect as well as an acupressure therapy effect through the moxibustion device can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: CERAGEM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ji Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 9474680
    Abstract: A therapeutic apparatus for therapeutically treating an individual, which includes an upper support, a frame for supporting an inner working assembly and attaching thereto lobe and seat lever controls and a switch panel for motor control, and a structural base for supporting the upper support and frame and attaching thereto a leg rest. The inner working assembly includes rightward and leftward segments each having fore and aft lobes connected together by a hinge mechanism and in part by a flexible guide rail and a plurality of roller assemblies each connected to chains to propel the roller assemblies, with the assistance of the motor, over the flexible guide rails. The lobe lever control changes the geometric profile of the flexible guide rails to correspond with the individual's spine, whereas the seat lever control changes the position of an adjustable lower support to allow the roller assemblies to motion the pelvic region upward and downward and inward and outward to effect traction of the spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Jeffrey Joseph Fitzloff
  • Patent number: 9463127
    Abstract: A transporter table system for rollably transporting a patient between two support surfaces comprising a transporter table and a surgical table, wherein each table includes a table top, having a plate surface mounted atop with an array of openings, a plurality of rocker arms freely vertically movable within the table top, and an array of rollers rotatably mounted atop the plurality of rocker arms. The transporter system further comprises a locking mechanism for securing the transporter table to the surgical table during use and at least one motor within each of the tables for the purpose of adjusting the height and tilt of plurality of rocker arms and associated table tops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Leon Hochman, Nancy Valvona, Stephen Nicolato
  • Patent number: 9108080
    Abstract: An orthosis machine for providing therapeutic and/or rehabilitative functionalities including at least one of Continuous Passive Motion, Passive Range of Motion, Active Assistive Range of Motion, Active Range of Motion, Resistive Range of Motion, proprioception training and biofeedback from a seated, supine, or recumbent position. Therapeutic and/or rehabilitative functionalities provided by the orthosis machine may be powered by the user or a motor and may be used through one or more phases of post surgical and/or general rehabilitation and physical therapy from multiple angular positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: For You, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore F. Cataldi, Brian F. Hagen
  • Publication number: 20150073320
    Abstract: An automatic massage apparatus may include a main body, a massaging unit, at least two first belts and at least two second belts. The main body has a guiding rail that is hollow to provide a space for a driving unit of the massaging unit, and a long groove is formed on both sides of the guiding rail. The massaging unit has a driving unit that has a driving shaft extending towards both sides of the driving unit. Both ends of the driving shaft have a plurality of wheels disposed against the rail of the main body, and these wheels are appropriately spaced. Both sides of the massaging unit have at least one compartment and a second compartment. One end of the first belt is secured on the first end of the positioning unit, and the other end is wrapping the driving shaft in the first compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • Patent number: 8974404
    Abstract: A massage device includes an outer housing, an inner housing, a drive motor, a gear assembly, a one-way bearing, a drive gear wheel, at least one massage member, and a linear motion device. The massage member can perform a massage through rotary motion and linear motion, and can massage by repeatedly moving forwards and backwards with respect to the user or at fixed positions. Furthermore, the gear wheels of the gear assembly are vertically disposed in the inner housing, while the drive motor is arranged in an oblique manner. Therefore, the inner housing doesn't need a large space to accommodate the gear assembly, and, consequently, the outer housing is also reduced in width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Listore International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jui Yao Chen
  • Publication number: 20140249457
    Abstract: methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations an apparatus includes three notable features and attributes: a first curved bar, at least one additional curved bar and a roller. In some implementations, a pad or beams may be placed under the roller. The first curved bar is attached to at least one additional curved bar by a first attachment system, a second attachment system and at least one additional attachment system. Each attachment system consists of a fastener bolt, a fastener nut and at least one spacer. The first curved bar is laterally spaced from the at least one additional curved bar by the at least one spacer of the first, second and at least one additional attachment systems. The first curved bar and the at least one additional curved bar and the first, the second and the at least one additional attachment systems form a support assembly which is movably connected to the roller by a flexible connecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: David Scott Maw
  • Publication number: 20140148743
    Abstract: A massage fitness apparatus for waist, abdomen, and back contains: a frame; a back massaging assembly disposed in the frame; a kneading and swinging portion fixed on a lower end of the frame, the kneading and swinging portion having a first motor for driving a gear assembly by which a rotary shaft is driven, and the rotary shaft having two eccentric rollers mounted on two ends of the rotary shaft, each eccentric roller having a belt mount axially fixed on an eccentric peg thereof; a belt, two ends of which are inserted through a cover and fixed on two belt mounts. Thereby, when the belt is tied around user's waist and abdomen, it drives the first motor, and then the two eccentric rollers swing to drive the belt to knead and swing the user's waist and abdomen, thus obtaining a massage purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventor: Jue-Yao Chen
  • Patent number: 8560041
    Abstract: A system and method for an improved biological interface system that processes multicellular signals of a patient and controls one or more devices is disclosed. The system includes a sensor that detects the multicellular signals and a processing unit for producing the control signal based on the multicellular signals. The system may include improved communication, self-diagnostics, and surgical insertion tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: BrainGate Co., LLC
    Inventors: J. Christopher Flaherty, Richard A. Van Wagenen, Christopher Smith, Christine Decaria, Almut Branner, Nephi Harvey
  • Publication number: 20130218059
    Abstract: A sensitive and stimulating therapeutic device for postural and locomotory rehabilitation of subjects with disabilities includes a fixed base, mobile support elements, transmission elements arranged between the base and the support elements, motor element (5) cooperating with the transmission elements to produce in the mobile support elements an angular rotation movement reversible on an axis parallel to the cephalocaudal body axis of a subject, a control unit with a non-volatile memory and a data processing device, for controlling the motor element. The mobile support elements include: a frame kinematically connected to the transmission elements, a swinging support surface connected to the frame by a median fulcrum blade parallel to the rotation axis, on which the surface swings and by at least one weight transducer arranged to detect the weight variation produced by a movement of the subject and to transmit it to the control unit, for processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Mario Cerioli
  • Publication number: 20130172792
    Abstract: A massaging chair is provided with a base; a seat supported by the base; two arms on both sides of the seat respectively; a back pivotably secured to the base; and two palm massaging devices each including a sliding assembly slidably disposed on the arm, and a massaging assembly on the sliding assembly. The massaging assembly includes a casing, at least one first air cushion on an underside of a top of the casing, and at least one second air cushion on a bottom of an interior of the casing, each of the at least one second air cushions having massaging knobs. The sliding assembly includes two parallel rails, a support between the rails, two first rollers each rotatable in one rail and connecting to the support, two second rollers each rotatable in the other rail and connecting to the support, and a seat held by the support and connecting to the massaging assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: CHE TAI INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chih-Hua Tao
  • Patent number: 8418298
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a sleep system is provided. More specifically, the invention provides a method and apparatus for an adjustable mattress that allows the user to increase or decrease the firmness of the mattress. Furthermore, the adjustable mattress has zones of adjustability thereby allowing two users to adjust the firmness of the mattress of each user's zone. The adjustable mattress is also multimodal. The motorized foundation contains adjustable massaging units that may be used for physical therapy and relaxation. Likewise, the motorized foundation may be used in relax mode to assist in obtaining sleep and awaken mode to gently awake the user by the stimulation of the adjustable mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Innovative Standards, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Jones
  • Patent number: 8282583
    Abstract: A massage device includes a housing, a driving unit and two massage units driven by the driving unit. Each massage unit includes a planetary gear disc assembled with a universal joint, an inner gear engaged with the planetary gear disc, and a massage disc assembly disposed on a top of the inner gear and driven by the universal joint. The driving unit drives the planet gear disc to rotate and the universal joint drives the massage disc assembly to rotate, thereby providing kneading massage. The inner gear has an incline top surface. When the planet gear disc drives the inner gear to rotate, the incline top surface makes the massage balls on the massage disc assembly to move up and down, thereby providing patting massage. Thus, the massage device can produce kneading and patting massage actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Ming-Wei Tsai
  • Patent number: 8201293
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a sleep support surface that includes a resiliently deformable sleep support having a person-supporting surface and a resiliently deformable layer with a substantially closed elongate opening that accommodates part of a massaging apparatus that has resistive compressive properties of a resiliently deformable layer lacking an elongate opening when the opening is closed. In one embodiment, the sleep support is a mattress having a foam layer with a slit formed therein in which a movable massager that is a massager head of the massaging apparatus is received. One mattress embodiment includes a foam submattress having a lengthwise extending slit extending substantially the length of the mattress and a mattress topper overlying the massager head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Innovative Standards, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Jones
  • Publication number: 20120065559
    Abstract: A massage device for a massage chair includes a frame on which first, second, and third actuation mechanisms are mounted. A tappet is connected to each of two first swaying mechanisms connected to an actuation portion of the first actuation mechanism. Two second swaying mechanisms are connected to an actuation portion of the second actuation mechanism and each includes a bracket. Each of two rocker arm mechanisms has a connecting portion fixed to one of the tappets and a rocker arm with rollers. A push portion is provided at each rocker arm. A pressure device is mounted between each push portion and one of the brackets. The pressure devices transmit movement from the second swaying mechanisms to the rocker arm mechanisms to proceed with massage movement. A pressure of each pressure device can be increased or released to increase massaging pressure of the rocker arms and to absorb shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Ko-Po Chen, Meng-Long Fang
  • Patent number: 8012110
    Abstract: An angular adjusting mechanism for use in a massage device of a massage machine comprises a frame including a swing seat axially disposed thereon for pivotally rotating the angle and including upper and lower massage rollers provided thereon, and between the frame and the swing seat being defined with an angular adjusting mechanism, wherein the angular adjusting mechanism includes a bush axially fixed on the frame, the swing seat includes a driver attached thereon for urging the rotation of a screw, and another end of the screw screws with the bush; thereby during the rotation of the screw, the screw may vertically displace along the bush and actuate the swing seat to axially rotate along the frame for adjusting the swing angle and increasing the support strength of the upper and lower massage rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Ko-Po Chen
  • Patent number: 7892190
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a chain stabilizing device which can fundamentally solve the phenomenon of extension of a chain during use of a hyperthermo-therapeutic apparatus and allow use of existing curved rails conforming to the shape of a user's body. The present invention is to provide an apparatus for stabilizing a chain in a hyperthermo-therapeutic apparatus, comprising a chain stabilization control unit for stably moving the chain at a constant level regardless of an upward/downward movement of a hyperthermo-therapeutic unit of the hyperthermo-therapeutic apparatus during forward/backward reciprocation of the hyperthermo-therapeutic unit; and a chain-tension control unit for adjusting a tension on the chain, which can be generated during the forward and backward reciprocation of the hyperthermo-therapeutic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ceragem Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Won Choi, Hyun Sik Chung, Keun young Paek
  • Patent number: 7892192
    Abstract: A massaging device having 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tsukada, Motoharu Muto, Takayoshi Tanizawa, Satoshi Kajiyama, Masamichi Miyaguchi, Hiroyuki Inoue, Masatoshi Dairin, Munekiyo Ikebe, Yoshiharu Hayashi, Masaki Nagano, Takashi Yukawa
  • Patent number: 7806840
    Abstract: Provided is a motor driven massage device comprising a rubbing mechanism comprising two eccentric rubbing sleeves at both ends of a motor shaft, two housings each for enclosing the rubbing sleeve, and two pairs of upper and lower arms each arm having an extended roller; a beating mechanism comprising two beating sleeves at both ends of a motor shaft, and two links each interconnected the beating sleeve and the housing; an angle adjustment mechanism comprising a rotating rod and a gear based linking assembly interconnected the rotating rod and the rubbing mechanism for adjusting an angle of each roller; and two kneading mechanisms at both sides each disposed proximate the housing and the lower arm and comprising two spaced plates and a drive source between the plates for activating the lower arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventor: Ko-Po Chen
  • Patent number: 7712172
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a sleep system is provided. More specifically, the invention provides a method and apparatus for an adjustable mattress that allows the user to increase or decrease the firmness of the mattress. Furthermore, the adjustable mattress has zones of adjustability thereby allowing two users to adjust the firmness of the mattress of each user's zone. The adjustable mattress is also multimodal. The motorized foundation contains adjustable massaging units that may be used for physical therapy and relaxation. Likewise, the motorized foundation may be used in relax mode to assist in obtaining sleep and awaken mode to gently awake the user by the stimulation of the adjustable mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel W Jones
  • 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: 7465296
    Abstract: The hot medicinal compress apparatus is a therapeutic and hearth care medical device which has heating, medicament and rolling functions. It includes a heater (2) and a cartridge (3) carrying a medicinal compress layer. The heater (2) includes a heating element and a heat conducting tube (4) in which the heating element is mounted and at both ends of which a front round step member (10) and a rear round step member (10?) having a through hole are respectively arranged; at another end of the front round step member (10), a washer and a demountable baffle ring (18) are provided and fixed by a screw nut (12), while at another end of the rear round step member (10?), a handle (1) is arranged, in which a through hole is provided and on which a control switch is mounted. The cartridge (3) is comprised of a metal tube (17) and a medicinal compress layer which is wrapped around the metal tube (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventor: Hang Chun Chau
  • 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: 7419475
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a massage apparatus having a housing with a massage formation for contacting a body part of a user. A massage mechanism is oriented within the housing for imparting a massage effect to the massage formation. A light source is provided on the massage formation for conveying an illumination effect from the massage formation. A partially translucent massager is disclosed for providing a visual effect of the underlying massage operation. Further, a roller massage assembly is provided wherein a load imparted to a roller is distributed directly to a structure of the massager for preventing distribution of the load to the massage mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: FKA Distibuting Co.
    Inventors: Roman Ferber, Huang Wen Wei
  • Publication number: 20080125681
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a massaging machine that incorporates a motor, a main body having a top carriage, a bottom carriage and a massage driving assembly and a traveling driving assembly provided between the top carriage and the bottom carriage, and a massage head assembly having at least a massage head, a massage assembly and a massage head driving assembly. The massaging machine drives through engagement among a worm and a worm wheel, the massage driving assembly, gears and a gear rack, and a planet gear and a sun gear. The massage heads can make four types of movement simultaneously to achieve continuous variations among different massage positions within a relatively large area of a human body, while at the same time continuously varying the massaging forces applied to the human body. The present invention can also continuously massage a fixed portion of a human body. The present invention is easy to assemble and carry with its simple structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Jianhong Zhong
  • 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: 7118541
    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 the releasable engagement of the bolt gear and the nut type gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Hakjin Kim
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 7029453
    Abstract: A massaging machine is provided with a massaging mechanism comprising a displacement device, a rubbing device, a pounding device, and an angle-adjusting device. The rubbing device and the pounding device are provided with a shaft driven by a motor. The shaft of the rubbing device is provided at two ends with a plurality of rubbing rollers. The displacement device comprises a shaft, and a worm wheel set driven by a motor to actuate the shaft which is linked with a transmission device to enable the massaging mechanism to engage in a linear motion on a machine frame of the massaging machine. As the body of a person comes in contact with the rubbing rollers, the massaging mechanism is securely located in place, thanks to the self-locking action of a worm wheel set of the displacement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Ko-Po Chen
  • Patent number: 7022092
    Abstract: A massaging mechanism includes a first rotary shaft supported in a right-and-left direction right and left swing arms relatively rotatably mounted on the first rotary shaft, massaging heads each secured to an upper and a lower end portion of each of the swing arms, a bracing member engaged with each of the swing arms to restrain the swing arm from rotating in connection with rotation of the first rotary shaft, a first operating mechanism for swinging the swing arms in opposite directions in the right-and-left direction to each other so that a right and left pair of massaging heads respectively secured to the upper end portions move toward each other while the massaging heads respectively secured to the lower end portions of the swing arms are moved away from each other in the right-and-left direction, and vice versa, by the rotation of the first rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Daito Electric Machine Industry Company Limited
    Inventors: Nobuzo Shimizu, Satoru Shiraishi, Shu Lv
  • 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: 7004916
    Abstract: An adjustable massaging device includes a track comprising two rails formed on a support structure. The device includes a carriage assembly that causes a massaging unit comprising a pair of massaging members to move back and forth along the rails on the support structure. The massaging members are mounted to a rotatable shaft in such a fashion as to perform a finger pressure-like massage or a tapping massage on the interior of the massaging surface, such that a user may be massaged by contacting the exterior of the massaging surface. The adjustable massaging device may be used in the back of a chair, for example, to massage a user's back. The support structure on which the massaging unit is formed is adjustable within the chair such that, in a retracted position, the massaging members are distanced from the massaging surface and the chair may be used as a standard office chair without any massaging parts contacting the massaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Interactive Health, LLC
    Inventor: Hans Dehli
  • 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: 6974426
    Abstract: A massaging structure with a buffer function includes a threaded rod positioned in a frame, and a coil spring respectively provided at an upper end section and a lower end section of the threaded rod. When a moving member of a massaging roller moves to the highest point or to the lowest point of the threaded rod, a micro switch at the highest point and at the lowest point of the threaded rod is contacted by the moving member, turned on and activating a motor to reverse its rotating direction. If the motor stops in case of a disorder, the coil springs can let the moving member jump up and down so that a user may know a disorder happened and correct it. Thus, the threads of the threaded rod and the moving member can be protected from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventor: Ching-Yao Liang