Reciprocating Patents (Class 601/116)
  • 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: 6911012
    Abstract: A massage device for manipulating a user includes a support member and a manipulator carried by the support member. The manipulator is adapted to engage and apply a shear force to the user. The manipulator is rotatable about at least one axis relative to the support member and a brake operably connected to the manipulator selectively adjusts rotation of the manipulator about the at least one axis so that the shear force applied to the user by the manipulator is adjusted. In automatically controlled embodiments, a controller adjusts the braking force according to signals received from a detector to prevent or reduce slippage of the roller and to dynamically control the magnitude of the shear force applied to the user. In manually embodiments, an operator adjusts the braking force to a fixed magnitude or dynamically adjusts the braking force to control the shear force applied to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventor: Rocky Kahn
  • Patent number: 6899688
    Abstract: A cervical vertebra massaging device with roller sets comprises a driving device driving a driven seat to move reciprocally; a main axial rod protruding from the driven seat; two axial seats; each of two sides of the main axial rod being connected to a middle section of a respective one of two axial seats; two sides of each axial seat being locked with one sub axial rod; each sub axial rod being installed with one roller set. Each ends of the axial seat is protruded with a respective sliding head which is aligned to and resists against the track and then can slide therein; at a distal end of the track is installed with a protruding slope. When the driving device moves, the roller sets moves along the back of the user, and thus give a comfortable massage to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6840914
    Abstract: A roller drive device has a frame composed of a base portion and left and right edge portions standing upright from the left and right edges of the base portion, and a longitudinal guide slit provided in each of the left and right edge portions. A shaft having a gear is mounted to each of the upper and lower ends of the frame, and a roller chain is mounted in a ring shape around the upper and lower shafts meshing with the gears. A shaft bushing fixed to massaging ball rollers is mounted to the roller chain, and the left and right ends of the shaft bushings are mounted in an inserted state in the guide slits. There is also provided a motor-driven roller message instrument mounted with such a roller drive drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Shigeo Takamura
  • 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: 20040249321
    Abstract: The invention relates to a massage device (1) comprising at least one massage means (2, 2′, 2A, 2A′; 20) comprising at least one massage member (3 to 6 or 21 to 23) as well as a retaining member (7, 8 or 24) for the massage members. A drive (9; 26) for the massage means (2 to 2A′; 20) and transmission means (10, 10′; 25) for transmitting a massage movement from the drive (9; 26) to the massage device (1) are provided, in particular for installation in the seat back (11) of a vehicle seat (S). The retaining member (7, 8; 24) and the transmission means (10, 10′; 25) are combined to a functional unit effecting a multi-function massage and the output shaft (19; 27) of the drive (9; 26) is directly coupled to the functional unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Ulrike Grueger, Petra Reiber
  • 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 6814710
    Abstract: A massaging device having a track comprising two rails. The rails comprise a first V-shaped raceway spaced apart from a second raceway. The device includes a carriage that causes a massaging unit comprising a pair of massaging to move back and forth along the rails. Coupled to the carriage are a pair of guide wheels having diamond-shaped cross-section, and engaging the first raceway. A biasing wheel if pivotally coupled to either side of the carriage and spring loaded in a direction away from the guide wheels as to engage the second raceway and maintain the carriage within the rail. The massaging unit comprises a pair of massaging members that are mounted to a rotable shaft in such a fashion as to perform a finger pressure-like massage or a tapping massage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Interactive Health LLC
    Inventor: Hans Dehli
  • Patent number: 6808500
    Abstract: This creation is to provide a kind of roller massager structure improvement, which is primarily consisting of a seat body, a drive motor, a sliding seat, a second drive motor and a rocker arm type massaging roller set. The massaging roller sets are pivoted at the ends of a drive rod and is driven by the second drive motor indirectly, which is characterized by two pilot end heads eccentrically fitted at the two ends of the drive rod respectively, while a pilot end head at one end is provided with a radial slot, together with a bolt installed on the drive rod, that pilot end head can rotate itself depending on the different rotating directions of the drive rod, thus change the relative attitude to the pilot end head at another end; through this, the entire set can accomplish the practical improvements of achieving motions of rising and sinking, as well as automatic switching between two massaging modes rocking and kneading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventors: Yu Cheng-Yi, Huang Chia-Min
  • Publication number: 20040186398
    Abstract: The invention provides a massage machine wherein massage arms provided with kneading balls are held inclined forward to give a suitable massage. The massage machine comprises a kneading shaft (40) disposed on the massage unit (20) substantially horizontally, pivotal levers (33),(33) supported by the kneading shaft (40), massage arms (32),(32) supported by forward ends of the respective pivotal lever and kneading balls (31),(31) provided on the respective massage arms each at a position obliquely above the position where the massage arm is supported by the pivotal lever. An arm lock mechanism (80) is coupled to the massage unit for holding the kneading balls pushed out forward, and the arm lock mechanism tiltably supports arm lock rods (83),(83) each having one end connected to the massage arm at a position away from the position where the massage arm is supported by the pivotal lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: Yoshiya Furuie
  • Publication number: 20040171972
    Abstract: A massaging mechanism includes a first rotary shaft supported in a right-and-left direction, a pair of right and left swing arms relatively rotatably mounted on the first rotary shaft, a plurality of massaging heads each secured to an upper end portion and a lower end portion of each of the swing arms, a bracing member engaged with each of the swing arms so as 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 are moved toward each other while a pair of right and left 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 means of the rotation of the first rotary shaft, and a second operating mechanism linked to the bracing member for rec
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Nobuzo Shimizu, Satoru Shiraishi, Shu Lv
  • Publication number: 20040158180
    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: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Ching-Yao Liang
  • Publication number: 20040158181
    Abstract: A massage machine has an operating control device which is easy to manipulate for the user to be massaged in a comfortable state. The massage machine (1) has a massage device (11) incorporated in a chair (8) for massaging the person to be treated, and comprises a main operating unit (18) to be manipulated by the person for directing a plurality of movements of the massage device (11) and other elements, and an auxiliary operating unit (19) for directing a specified movement included among the movements, the auxiliary operating unit (19) being movable relative to the chair (8). The auxiliary operating unit (19) is free to move, can be easily held by the hand and is therefore unlikely to cause fatigue to the hand even when held for a prolonged period of time, permitting the person to be massaged in a relaxed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Takashi Nakamura, Takamasa Suzuki, Toshiki Koma
  • Publication number: 20040122343
    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: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Mori, Akitoshi Miki, Koichi Tanaka, Kuniyoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6752772
    Abstract: A device includes at least one manipulator located below the user to manipulate the user, a translator which moves the manipulator along the user, and a mechanism to change a pressure intensity of the manipulator while providing spatially uniform support to the user outside a contact patch of the manipulator. Various embodiments include adjusting tension of a membrane supporting the user above the manipulator, adjusting the vertical position of a membrane supporting the user above the manipulator, adjusting fluid pressure in a bladder located between the user and the manipulator, adjusting fluid pressure in a bladder containing the manipulator; adjusting emergence of the user in a liquid supporting the user, changing the level of liquid supporting the user relative by pumping the liquid or actuating valves which allow the liquid to flow, and injecting gas into liquid supporting the user to modifying its density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Rocky Kahn
  • Patent number: 6749577
    Abstract: A massage machine is provided which is adapted to give a suitable massage in accordance with the degree of stiffness or degree of relaxation of the person to be massaged, based on the results obtained by measuring the body outline of the person and physiological data as to the person such as the pulse rate and skin temperature. The massage machine measures the body outline of the person, and measures physiological data concerning the person which is produced by massaging the person. The body outline of the person, such as the position of the neck, shoulder, back and waist is measured, and the measured physiological data is used to discriminate between the part of great stiffness and the part of low stiffness so as to give an effective massage in accordance with the degree of stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Kume, Kazuya Hiyamizu
  • Publication number: 20030216673
    Abstract: A massaging machine has massaging balls, ball supporting arms for supporting these massaging balls, a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft that have mutually parallel axes of rotation at different heights, an eccentric part on the first shaft that is eccentric with respect to its axis of rotation, a sloped part on the second shaft that is sloped with respect to its axis of rotation, a support arm with one end part attached to the ball supporting arm and the other end part attached to the sloped part, and a link that connects the eccentric part with the support arm. The support arm has a bearing with a spherical surface. The link has a spherically shaped end part that engages with the bearing. The ball supporting arms are attached to the support arm at a height between the heights of the first and second rotary shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Akitoshi Miki, Kentaro Mori
  • Publication number: 20030212353
    Abstract: A massage device for manipulating a user includes at least first and second manipulators each adapted to engage the user. A transfer assembly carries the first and second manipulators and moves the first and second manipulators along successive first and second open paths of contact on the user, respectively. The first and second open paths of contact each have engagement and disengagement points. The engagement and disengagement points of the first open path of contact are each within about two inches of the engagement and disengagement points of the second open path of contact, respectively. Various embodiments of the device are disclosed such as a handheld device wherein the manipulators are on rotating turrets and devices wherein the manipulators are moved by a belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Rocky Kahn
  • Publication number: 20030212352
    Abstract: A device includes at least one manipulator located below the user to manipulate the user, a translator which moves the manipulator along the user, and means for changing a pressure intensity of the manipulator while providing spatially uniform support to the user outside a contact patch of the manipulator. Various embodiments include adjusting tension of a membrane supporting the user above the manipulator, adjusting the vertical position of a membrane supporting the user above the manipulator, adjusting fluid pressure in a bladder located between the user and the manipulator, adjusting fluid pressure in a bladder containing the manipulator; adjusting emergence of the user in a liquid supporting the user, changing the level of liquid supporting the user relative by pumping the liquid or actuating valves which allow the liquid to flow, and injecting gas into liquid supporting the user to modifying its density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Rocky Kahn
  • Patent number: 6623438
    Abstract: A device is used to massage the back of a person seated on a chair. The device includes a base, a motor, a transmission member, and a slide seat. The device is used such that the base is rested against the backrest of the chair. The motor, the transmission member, and the slide seat are mounted on one side of the base such that the slide seat is driven by the transmission member to move back and forth on the base. The slide seat is provided with a front swing rod, a rear swing rod, a front roller set pivoted with the front swing rod, and a rear roller set pivoted with the rear swing rod. The roller sets are carried by the slide seat in motion to move over the back of the person with pressure and friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • Publication number: 20030158504
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus includes: a potentiometer for detecting a change in the swing angle of a swinging arm in the process of reciprocating massaging members; a skewness detector 60 for measuring skewness of the user being in contact with the massaging members, based on the change in the swing angle detected by the potentiometer; and a massaging operation controller 63 for controlling a massaging operation according to the degree and pattern of skewness detected by the skewness detector 60. With this massaging apparatus, it is possible to correct the skewness or the like and reduce stiffness by giving a suitable massage to each user, according to the skewness of the body, unbalance between the left and right sides, and differences in physical attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Kazuya Hiyamizu, Masahiko Hashimoto, Hirokazu Genno
  • Publication number: 20030120187
    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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Yuji Kan, Nobuaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6551259
    Abstract: A reciprocally moving apparatus used in a massage machine comprises a long driven shaft having two ends pivotably installed in a base plate and also inserted into a sleeve hole at the lower side of a bottom mount of a massage device. The center section of the driven shaft includes a clockwise helical trench and a counter-clockwise helical trench which are arranged along a surface of the driven shaft and are crossed over one another alternatively and the ends of the two trenches are connected. The upper side of the center section area of the bottom mount serves for installing a cylindrical active link block having a guide plate. The guide plate has two tips at the upper side and inserts into one of the two tracks. Therefore, the driven shaft can be driven to move along the trenches reciprocally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • Patent number: 6540701
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus enabled to provide sufficient treatment effects by stimulating the Keiketsu (or the effective spots) in the Eastern Medical Science effectively. The massaging apparatus comprises: memory devices recorded with treatment contents indicating effective point positions to be massaged according to a treatment course and massage actions to be applied to the effective spot positions; and control devices for causing the massage member to massage the effective spot positions of the body of the using person in accordance with the treatment contents recorded in the memory devices. The massaging apparatus further comprises: treatment course select devices for selecting the treatment course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Family Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nichimu Inada
  • Publication number: 20030050578
    Abstract: A massage device includes a main body provided with a supporting groove in which a calf of a leg can be disposed, a sliding member slidably inserted into the main body, and a first massager for massaging the calf. The first massager is installed on a rear side of the supporting groove and includes an electric motor, a power transmission device for converting a rotational motion of the motor into a reciprocal motion, and a first massage member for massaging the calf while moving along the supporting groove. The first massage member is fixed on the power transmission device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: Jeong-Joo Suh
  • Publication number: 20030032903
    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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Kasai
  • Publication number: 20030018284
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spine massager including a massaging member configured to move vertically along with horizontal reciprocating movements, thereby providing an enhanced massaging therapy effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventor: Sang Hyun LIM
  • Patent number: 6485443
    Abstract: Massage pressure devices are fitted onto a chair which has a rocking back, either conventional rocking chair or an office chair with pivoted an spring-loaded back, so that massage is applied to the back of a person seated in and rocking the chair. The massage pressure devices are rollers or pads which are mounted so that the amount of massage pressure and the position of the massage pressure are adjustable in accordance with the user's desires. The massage pressure drive mechanism includes a reference to the base so that the massage pressure devices are driven up and down the chair back as the chair back rocks back and forth. In a conventional rocking chair, the truck carrying the massage pressure rollers is adjustable in both pressure of the devices against the back and the position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Geoffrey C. Garth
  • Patent number: 6475171
    Abstract: A massage device for massaging back and/or feet of a user consists of groups of massaging elements connected together so that the elements of each group move together to execute a recurrent motion and press against a resilient surface in contact with the user. The elements in each group are able to move independently of the other groups and the elements are arranged in parallel rows with the massaging elements of each row staggered along the row with respect to the massaging elements of an adjacent row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Stella M. Williams
  • Publication number: 20020156404
    Abstract: A massage device has a base casing, a cover casing engaging with the base casing, a driving mechanism disposed in the base casing, at least a rotating disk, and at least a massage ball set. The driving mechanism has a motor and at least a gear disk driven by the motor. A shaft is disposed on the gear disk. The massage ball set has a main rod, a three-way frame disposed on the main rod, and three rolling balls disposed on the three-way frame. The shaft is driven by the gear disk. The rotating disk is driven by the shaft. The massage ball set is driven by the rotating disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Shu-Yu Kuo
  • Publication number: 20020138023
    Abstract: A massage machine is provided which is adapted to give a suitable massage in accordance with the degree of stiffness or degree of relaxation of the person to be massaged, based on the results obtained by measuring the body outline of the person and physiological data as to the person such as the pulse rate and skin temperature. The massage machine comprises means for measuring the body outline of the person, and means for measuring physiological data concerning the person and produced by massaging the person. The body outline measuring means detects the body outline of the person, such as the position of the neck, shoulder, back and waist, while the physiological data measuring means discriminates between the part of great stiffness and the part of low stiffness so as to give an effective massage in accordance with the degree of stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Kume, Kazuya Hiyamizu
  • Patent number: 6394970
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for a massage chair, in which massage elements, for example massage rollers, are movable in various directions, with at least one drive shaft for the massage elements, which are driven by electric motors. The electric motors are set onto the end of the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Firma Krautmann & Maier
    Inventor: Eugen Maier
  • Patent number: 6390997
    Abstract: A small lightweight yet strong frame (12) housing multiple flexible axles (22) which in turn support foam rubber roller balls (16), which roll about an axis creating: massage, intersegmental traction, trigger point therapy, and active exercise to the back of the user. These axles (22) are made more efficient by the placement of bushings (26) where they are contained by frame (12). Foam rubber balls (16) contain sleeves (30) which promote free rotation. A sliding head rest (38) is provided for comfort and is also used to facilitate optional concomitant neck and back treatment and multiple tension adjustments (46) (36) are provided for varying resistance to glide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventor: David M. Vitko
  • Patent number: 6312400
    Abstract: In a positioning device, expandable bodies which expand and contract by air pressure are disposed at opposite sides of a movable member in its moving direction, the movable member being able to reciprocate, and a valve device for holding the expandable bodies in their extended states by valve-closing action is provided in an air path device which supplies air from an air supplying device to the expandable bodies. In a massager including this positioning device, the movable member is movably guided in up and down directions by a guide member provided in a back rest of a chair body, and the movable member is provided with a massage element which is projected from a surface of the back rest and is abutted against a body of a person sitting on the chair body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromitu Itikawa, Syouji Hosino, Yuuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6224563
    Abstract: A massage machine is provided which is adapted for effective massage by initiating a pair of therapeutic fingers into a lateral movement toward or away from each other approximately simultaneously with the start of an upward or downward movement of the fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Torahiko Nonoue, Yoshiya Furuie, Takahiro Yuchi, Takeya Matsushita, Yasuhiro Jikiba
  • Patent number: 6196983
    Abstract: An auxiliary device is used in conjunction with a back massaging device and is composed of a base, a movable seat, a plurality of crank axles, a plurality of roller sets, and a transmission apparatus. The base is provided with a plurality of compression springs to enable the movable seat, the crank axles, and the roller sets to swivel in all directions so as to bring about an effective rubbing of the curved portions of the back of a person. The movable seat is provided with an arcuate slot to prevent the vertebrate of the person from making contact with the movable seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • Patent number: 6171266
    Abstract: An improved massaging apparatus includes a massaging element for performing a massaging action, a drive mechanism for driving the massaging element, diagnostic inquiry means for addressing a diagnostic inquiry to a user, input means for inputting a user's answer to the diagnostic inquiry, judgment means for judging the physical condition of the user based on the user's answer, setting means for setting massaging conditions of a massage operation based on the judgment made by the judgment means, and execution means for causing the drive mechanism to drive the massaging element according to the massaging conditions set by the setting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Family Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nichimu Inada, Koji Goto
  • Patent number: 6117094
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus includes: a massaging unit movable along the height of a user on the back side of the user; a drive unit for moving the massaging unit along the height of the user; and a control unit for controlling the drive unit so as to position the massaging unit, the control unit including a storage part for storing position data of massaging effective spots as specified position data, and an execution part for reading a data item out of the specified position data and positioning the massaging unit based on the data item thus read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Family Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Fujii
  • Patent number: 6056708
    Abstract: A massaging device having a massaging mechanism which is incorporated in a supporting structure of a user's body for applying a massage action from an applicator to the user's body. The supporting structure has a frame with an opening within which the applicator is located to give the massage action through a cover sheet stretched over the frame. The frame has a pair of side members which define therebetween the opening and are connected to opposite ends of the cover sheet. The ends of the cover sheet are each bifurcated to have a pair of outer and inner extensions provided respectively with outer and inner catches. Each side member is formed on its rear surface with a pair of outer and inner hooks for detachable engagement respectively with the outer and inner catches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Sayama, Makoto Fukutani
  • Patent number: 6056707
    Abstract: An improved chair-type massaging apparatus providing unique massaging effects is provided, which includes a chair body including a seat portion having a substantially horizontally extending seating surface and a backrest portion extending substantially vertically from the seat portion; a first pair of right and left massaging heads disposed inside the backrest portion; a second pair of right and left massaging heads disposed inside the backrest portion and below the first pair of massaging heads; a drive unit for driving each massaging head of the first and second pairs; and a control for controlling the drive unit so as to cause the first and second pairs of massaging heads to perform alternately a first operation such that the left massaging head of the first pair and the right massaging head of the second pair are operated synchronously and a second operation such that the right massaging head of the first pair and the left massaging head of the second pair are operated synchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Family Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6039705
    Abstract: An improved structure of a pad type roller massager including a limiting frame body and a roller mounting seat. The limiting frame body has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section and may be mounted on the backrest of a chair. The limiting frame body includes a driven gear and a transmission worm gear disposed at tip and bottom sides thereof, both linked up by a chain. A section of the chain is disposed in a recess at an open front side of the limiting frame body with one section connected to a bottom side of the roller mounting seat so that the latter is brought to displace synchronously with the chain. Limiting bolts fitted with elastic sleeves are provided on both sides of the roller mounting frame and fitted into both side walls of the limiting frame body to be subjected to limitation of the vertical sliding displacement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu