U.S. patent application number 10/623955 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for lie-down massager.
Invention is credited to Kim, Hakjin.
Application Number | 20050020946 10/623955 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34079892 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050020946 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Hakjin |
January 27, 2005 |
LIE-DOWN MASSAGER
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.
Inventors: |
Kim, Hakjin; (Diamond Bar,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PARK & SUTTON LLP
3255 WILSHIRE BLVD
SUITE 1110
LOS ANGELES
CA
90010
US
|
Family ID: |
34079892 |
Appl. No.: |
10/623955 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
601/15 ; 601/100;
601/98; 601/99 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H 2201/0207 20130101;
A61H 7/004 20130101; A61H 2201/1669 20130101; A61H 2201/0142
20130101; A61H 2205/04 20130101; A61H 2201/0138 20130101; A61H
2201/0228 20130101; A61H 2205/081 20130101; A61N 2005/0659
20130101; A61H 2201/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
601/015 ;
601/099; 601/100; 601/098 |
International
Class: |
A61H 015/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A lie-down massager, comprising: a) a base frame having an
elongated top panel, wherein an elongated top opening is formed
centrally and lengthwisely through the elongated top panel; b) a
rider provided below the elongated top panel of the base frame to
make a horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the base frame;
c) a lifter liftedly engaged to the rider to make a vertically
reciprocal movement relative to the rider; d) a massage member
fixed downwardly to the lifter, wherein first and second supports
are horizontally aligned along a top portion of the massage member;
e) means for allowing the first and second supports to repeatedly
approach to and distance from each other within the elongated
opening; f) massage bumps attached atop the first and second
supports; and g) a pad covering the massage bumps and the elongated
opening of the base frame.
2. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the means comprises: a)
a gear shaft rotatably engaged to the massage member and
partitioned to first and second halves respectively threaded
symmetrical to each other such that the first support carried on
the first half either approaches to or distances from the second
support carried on the second half of the gear shaft in accordance
with a rotating direction of the gear shaft; and b) a first motor
connected to the gear shaft to control the rotation of the gear
shaft.
3. The lie-down massager of claim 2 wherein the first and second
supports repeatedly approach to and distance from each other in
perpendicular to the horizontally reciprocal movement of the
rider.
4. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the vertical
reciprocation of the lifter is implemented by a gear-motor
application.
5. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the vertical
reciprocation of the lifter is implemented by a gear-chain
mechanism powered by a second motor.
6. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the vertical
reciprocation of the lifter is implemented by a cam-motor
application.
7. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the massage bumps are
each formed in hemisphere.
8. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the massage bumps are
partitioned to first and second pairs, wherein the first pair
massage bumps are formed atop the first support and the second pair
massage bumps are formed atop the second support, wherein said each
pair bumps are aligned parallel to the direction of the rider
reciprocation.
9. The lie-down massager of claim 1 wherein the massage bumps each
include a heater, wherein the heater is a heating lamp generating
heat and infrared rays.
10. The lie-down massager of claim 1 further comprising a heating
member spread in the top panel of the base frame.
11. A lie-down massager, comprising: a) a base frame having an
elongated top panel, wherein an elongated top opening is formed
centrally and lengthwisely through the elongated top panel; b) a
rider provided below the elongated top panel; c) a pair of pulleys
linked by a rope and respectively mounted in a front end portion
and a rear end portion of the base frame, wherein a predetermined
portion of the rope is fixedly attached to the rider so that the
pulley rotation enables the rider to generate a horizontally
reciprocal movement along the elongated top opening; d) a lifter
liftedly engaged to the rider to make a vertically reciprocal
movement relative to the rider; e) a massage member fixed
downwardly to the lifter, wherein first and second supports are
horizontally aligned along a top portion of the massage member; f)
means for allowing the first and second supports to repeatedly
approach to and distance from each other within the elongated
opening; g) massage bumps attached atop the first and second
supports; and h) a pad covering the massage bumps and the elongated
opening of the base frame.
12. The lie-down massager of claim 11 further comprising: a) a pair
of roller coasters parallel to each other and attached to the base
frame, wherein the roller coasters each have a substantially waved
top surface; and b) a coasting member liftedly engaged between the
lifter and the rider, wherein a coaster guide roller is formed
outwardly extending from each side surface of the coasting member,
wherein the coaster guide roller enables the coasting member to
make a roller coasting movement on and along the waved top surfaces
of the roller coasters.
13. The lie-down massager of claim 12 further comprises: a)
elongated guides downwardly extending from the coasting member; and
b) guide bushes upwardly formed on the rider to releasably receive
the elongated guides so as to stabilize the roller coasting
movement of the coasting member along the roller coasters and the
lifting of the coasting member from the rider.
14. The lie-down massager of claim 11 wherein the means comprises:
a) a gear shaft rotatably engaged to the massage member and
partitioned to first and second halves respectively threaded
symmetrical to each other such that the first support carried on
the first half either approaches to or distances from the second
support carried on the second half of the gear shaft in accordance
with a rotating direction of the gear shaft; and b) a first motor
connected to the gear shaft to control the rotation of the gear
shaft.
15. The lie-down massager of claim 11 further comprises rider guide
rollers on each side of the rider, wherein the rider guide rollers
are rollably engaged in the base frame to guide the horizontally
reciprocal movement of the rider.
16. The lie-down massager of claim 11 wherein the waved top
surfaces of the roller coasters each substantially form a curvature
of a human spinal cord.
17. The lie-down massager of claim 11 wherein the first and second
supports repeatedly approach to and distance from each other in
perpendicular to the horizontally reciprocal movement of the
rider.
18. The lie-down massager of claim 11 wherein the vertical
reciprocation of the lifter is implemented by a gear-motor
application.
19. The lie-down massager of claim 11 wherein the vertical
reciprocation of the lifter is implemented by a gear-chain
mechanism powered by a second motor.
20. The lie-down massager of claim 11 wherein the vertical
reciprocation of the lifter is implemented by a cam-motor
application.
21. The lie-down massager of claim 11 wherein the massage bumps are
each formed in hemisphere.
22. The lie-down massager of claim 11 wherein the massage bumps are
partitioned to first and second pairs, wherein the first pair
massage bumps are formed atop the first support and the second pair
massage bumps are formed atop the second support, wherein said each
pair bumps are aligned parallel to the direction of the rider
reciprocation.
23. The lie-down massager of claim 11 wherein the massage bumps
each include a heater, wherein the heater is a heating lamp
generating heat and infrared rays.
24. The lie-down massager of claim 11 further comprising a heating
member spread in the top panel of the base frame.
25. A lie-down massager, comprising: a) a base frame having an
elongated top panel, wherein an elongated opening is formed
centrally and lengthwisely through the elongated top panel; b) a
pair of rack gears parallel to each other and provided below the
elongated top panel; c) a rider having a roller gear perpendicular
to the rack gears, wherein the roller gear is rotatably mounted on
the rack gears to allow the rider to make a horizontally reciprocal
movement along the rack gears, wherein the rider is maintained
below the elongated top panel; d) a lifter liftedly engaged to the
rider to make a vertically reciprocal movement relative to the
rider; e) a massage member fixed downwardly to the lifter, wherein
first and second supports are horizontally aligned along a top
portion of the massage member; f) means for allowing the first and
second supports to repeatedly approach to and distance from each
other within the elongated opening; g) massage bumps attached atop
the first and second supports; and h) a pad covering the massage
bumps and the elongated opening of the base frame.
26. The lie-down massager of claim 25 further comprising: a) a pair
of roller coasters parallel to each other and attached to the base
frame, wherein the roller coasters each have a substantially waved
top surface; and b) a coasting member liftedly engaged between the
lifter and the rider, wherein a coaster guide roller is formed
outwardly extending from each side surface of the coasting member,
wherein the coaster guide roller enables the coasting member to
make a roller coasting movement on and along the waved top surfaces
of the roller coasters.
27. The lie-down massager of claim 26 further comprises: a)
elongated guides downwardly extending from the coasting member; and
b) guide bushes upwardly formed on the rider to releasably receive
the elongated guides so as to stabilize the roller coasting
movement of the coasting member along the roller coasters and the
lifting of the coasting member from the rider.
28. The lie-down massager of claim 25 wherein the means comprises:
a) a gear shaft rotatably engaged to the massage member and
partitioned to first and second halves respectively threaded
symmetrical to each other such that the first support carried on
the first half either approaches to or distances from the second
support carried on the second half of the gear shaft in accordance
with a rotating direction of the gear shaft; and b) a first motor
connected to the gear shaft to control the rotation of the gear
shaft.
29. The lie-down massager of claim 25 further comprises rider guide
rollers on each side of the rider, wherein the rider guide rollers
are rollably engaged in the base frame to guide the horizontally
reciprocal movement of the rider.
30. The lie-down massager of claim 25 wherein the waved top
surfaces of the roller coasters each substantially form a curvature
of a human spinal cord.
31. The lie-down massager of claim 25 wherein the first and second
supports repeatedly approach to and distance from each other in
perpendicular to the horizontally reciprocal movement of the
rider.
32. The lie-down massager of claim 25 wherein the vertical
reciprocation of the lifter is implemented by a gear-motor
application.
33. The lie-down massager of claim 25 wherein the vertical
reciprocation of the lifter is implemented by a gear-chain
mechanism powered by a second motor.
34. The lie-down massager of claim 25 wherein the vertical
reciprocation of the lifter is implemented by a cam-motor
application.
35. The lie-down massager of claim 25 wherein the massage bumps are
each formed in hemisphere.
36. The lie-down massager of claim 25 wherein the massage bumps are
partitioned to first and second pairs, wherein the first pair
massage bumps are formed atop the first support and the second pair
massage bumps are formed atop the second support, wherein said each
pair bumps are aligned parallel to the direction of the rider
reciprocation.
37. The lie-down massager of claim 25 wherein the massage bumps
each include a heater, wherein the heater is a heating lamp
generating heat and infrared rays.
38. The lie-down massager of claim 25 further comprising a heating
member spread in the top panel of the base frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates generally to a massaging device. More
particularly, the present invention relates to an improved lie-down
massager capable of efficiently treating bodily malfunctions such
as back pain and gastrointestinal weakness by applying a
therapeutic massaging treatment along the back and neck of a
patient lying down on the massager whose massaging bumps move
horizontally and vertically along the patient's spinal cord and
neck in which the vertical movement of the massaging bumps
optimally coordinates with a widthwise reciprocation to repeatedly
approach to and distance from each other.
[0002] Conventional bed or mat type massaging devices employ a
spring mechanism for vertically moving massaging bumps. As
disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,732, a spring mechanism allows the
massaging bumps to gently move up and down. However, when it comes
to therapeutic effects, the spring mechanism proves too soft to
push up the massaging bumps when stronger pressure is required,
because tension of springs applies equally to patients lying on the
massaging device regardless of patient's requirements.
[0003] A demand is to adopt a reliable mechanism demonstrating a
steady and robust therapeutic effects while harmonizing the
vertical movement with a widthwise reciprocation between the
massaging bumps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is contrived to overcome the
conventional disadvantages. Accordingly, an object of the invention
is to provide a lie-down massager that improves therapeutic effects
by harmonizing a vertical reciprocation with a widthwise
reciprocation of massage bumps.
[0005] Another object is to optimize spinal and neck massage
effects by allowing the massage bumps to repeatedly become near to
and away from each other, thereby enabling patients to receive a
widespread massage along the backs and necks of the patients. A
further object is to improve product reliability and customer
satisfaction by reliably synthesizing vertical, lengthwise and
widthwise reciprocations of the massage bumps.
[0006] To achieve these and other objects, the lie-down massager
according to the present invention comprises a base frame having an
elongated top panel with an elongated top opening formed centrally
and lengthwisely through the elongated top panel. A rider is
provided below the elongated top panel of the base frame to make a
horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the base frame, and a
lifter liftedly engaged to the rider to make a vertically
reciprocal movement relative to the rider. A massage member is
fixed downwardly to the lifter, and first and second supports are
horizontally aligned along a top portion of the massage member.
Another member is also provided for allowing the first and second
supports to repeatedly approach to and distance from each other
within the elongated opening. Here, massage bumps attached atop the
first and second supports, and a pad covering the massage bumps and
the elongated opening of the base frame.
[0007] In an embodiment, a pair of pulleys are linked by a rope and
respectively mounted in a front end portion and a rear end portion
of the base frame so that a predetermined portion of the rope is
fixedly attached to the rider. In this construction, the pulley
rotation enables the rider to generate a horizontally reciprocal
movement along the elongated top opening. Alternately, there may be
provided a pair of rack gears parallel to each other and provided
below the elongated top panel where a rider is provided with a
roller gear perpendicular to the rack gear so that the roller gear
is rotatably mounted on the rack gears to allow the rider to make a
horizontally reciprocal movement along the rack gears. Preferably,
the rider is maintained below the elongated top panel.
[0008] The massager further includes a pair of roller coasters
provided parallel to each other and attached to the base frame to
each have a substantially waved top surface, and a coasting member
liftedly engaged between the lifter and the rider where a coaster
guide roller is formed outwardly extending from each side surface
of the coasting member. The coaster guide roller enables the
coasting member to make a roller coasting movement on and along the
waved top surfaces of the roller coasters. Elongated guides
downwardly extend from the coasting member, and guide bushes are
upwardly formed on the rider to releasably receive the elongated
guides so as to stabilize the roller coasting movement of the
coasting member along the roller coasters and the lifting of the
coasting member from the rider.
[0009] A gear shaft is rotatably engaged to the massage member and
partitioned to first and second halves respectively threaded
symmetrical to each other such that the first support carried on
the first half either approaches to or distances from the second
support carried on the second half of the gear shaft in accordance
with a rotating direction of the gear shaft where a first motor
connected to the gear shaft to control the rotation of the gear
shaft. Also, rider guide rollers are provided on each side of the
rider to become rollably engaged in the base frame to guide the
horizontally reciprocal movement of the rider. In a better version,
the first and second supports repeatedly approach to and distance
from each other in perpendicular to the horizontally reciprocal
movement of the rider. The vertical reciprocation of the lifter is
preferably implemented by a gear-motor application, a gear-chain
mechanism or a cam-motor application.
[0010] The massage bumps each formed in hemisphere are partitioned
to first and second pairs where the first pair massage bumps are
formed atop the first support and the second pair massage bumps are
formed atop the second support. Here, each pair bumps are aligned
parallel to the direction of the rider reciprocation. The massage
bumps each include a heater that is a heating lamp generating heat
and infrared rays.
[0011] A heating member is selectively spread in the top panel of
the base frame.
[0012] Advantages of the present inventions are numerous. Most of
all, the lie-down massager according to the present invention
optimally combines a lengthwise reciprocation of massage bumps with
a vertically reciprocal movement and with a widthwise reciprocation
of the massage bumps for thereby enabling an evenly widespread
massaging on the back and neck of a patient lying on the
massager.
[0013] Further, the combination of the triple reciprocations
results in a conspicuous therapeutic effects by realizing a
virtually total back massaging while lying on the bed or mat type
massager. Also, the massager maximally synthesizes multiple
reciprocations in the movement of the massage bumps while relaxing
on the bed or mat type massager, thereby enhancing product
reliability and customer satisfaction.
[0014] Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the
full understanding of the invention can be obtained by the
following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mechanism of a
lie-down massager according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a view showing the lie-down massager with a
patient lying thereon according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the lie-down massager without
the patient in FIG. 2;
[0019] FIGS. 4A-4D are views showing vertical and widthwise
reciprocations implemented in the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0021] FIGS. 6A-6F are views showing applications of a lifter in
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a brief construction of a lie-down massager 10
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
2 shows the lie-down massager 10 with a patient lying thereon, and
FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the massager 10 excluding the patient.
As shown therein, the lie-down massager 10 includes a base frame 12
in a bed type or a mat type. The base frame 12 includes an
elongated top panel 14 with a heating member 15 spread in the top
panel 14 to further comfort the patient on the massager 10. An
elongated opening 16 is formed centrally and lengthwisely through
the elongated top panel 14. The heating member 15 is preferably
formed around the elongated opening 16 to generate heat rays at a
predetermined temperature. The massager 10 includes a rider 18 and
a lifter 20. The lifter 20 is liftedly engaged to the rider 18 to
make a vertically reciprocal movement relative to the rider. The
rider 18 is provided below the elongated top panel 14 of the base
frame 12 to make a horizontally reciprocal movement relative to the
base frame 12. Here, a guide member 22 is movably engaged between
the base frame 12 and the rider 18 so as to enable the rider 18 to
make a horizontally reciprocal movement along the elongated top
panel 14. Here, the guide member 22 may be formed of either a
rope-pulley mechanism in FIG. 1 or a rack gear mechanism in FIG.
5.
[0023] To improve massaging effects, a massage member 24 is fixed
downwardly to the lifter 20. Along a top portion 26 of the massage
member 24 are horizontally aligned first and second supports 28,
30. There is also provided a means 32 for allowing the first and
second supports 28, 30 to repeatedly approach to and distance from
each other within the elongated opening 16. The means 32 includes a
gear shaft 34 rotatably engaged to the massage member 24 and
partitioned to first and second halves 33, 35 respectively threaded
symmetrical to each other by a shaft center 36 such that the first
support 28 carried on the first half 33 either approaches to or
distances from the second support 30 carried on the second half 35
of the gear shaft 34 in accordance with a rotating direction of the
gear shaft 34. The shaft center 36 is connected to a first motor 38
to control the rotation of the gear shaft 34, preferably by a belt
40. The belt 40 may be a timing belt, and the first motor 38 may be
a geared motor.
[0024] Selectively, the means 32 may be a pinion-rack mechanism
where a pinion engaged to a motor controls a relative movement of
rack gears connected to the supports 28, 30 so that a
bi-directional rotation of the pinion gear enables the supports 28,
30 to repeatedly approach to and distance from each other. The
means 32 may also be implemented by adopting a spring restitution
for the approaching motion and a gear-motor mechanism for the
distancing motion of the supports 28, 30.
[0025] In order to implement a therapeutic massage operation, a
plurality of massage bumps 42 are attached atop the first and
second supports 30. The massage bumps 42 are provided to move along
the elongated opening 16 of the elongated top panel 14 of the base
frame 12. So the massage bumps 42 are directed to massage the back
and neck of the patient lying on the top panel 14 of the base frame
12. Here, a pad 44 may be provided to cover the massage bumps 42
and the elongated opening 16 of the base frame 12. The massage
bumps 42 are preferably partitioned to first and second pairs so
that the first pair bumps are aligned parallel to the second pair
bumps. The massage bumps 42 may each include a heater 46 preferably
in form of a heating lamp. Selectively, the heating lamp for the
heater 46 may be formed to generate heat and infrared rays to
maximize therapeutic effects. In a preferred version, the massage
bumps 42 are each formed in hemisphere. Specifically, the massage
bumps 42 are partitioned to first and second pairs, wherein the
first pair massage bumps are formed atop the first support 28 and
the second pair massage bumps are formed atop the second support 30
so that each pair bumps 42 are aligned parallel to the direction of
the rider reciprocation.
[0026] As shown back in FIG. 1, the massager 10 optimally combines
a plurality of reciprocal movements. First, the rider 18 makes a
lengthwise reciprocation along the top panel 14, for example, by a
pulley mechanism (AA) so that the massage bumps 42 to progressively
massage along the back and neck of the patient lying on the
massager 10. Second, the rider 20 serves to make a vertical
reciprocation (BB) so as to efficiently control the push-up of the
massage bumps 42 on the back and neck of the patient, whereby the
patient is allowed to optimize the push-up or upward pressure of
the massage bumps 42 depending on the patient.
[0027] For example, a skinny woman with a back pain feels painful
when the massage bumps 42 pushes up or massage her back to an
extent in which a masculine man feels appropriate. Third, the
massage bumps 42 make a horizontally reciprocal pulsation
alternately moving toward or away (CC) from each pair bumps 42 so
that the massage bumps 42 become evenly applied to a patient's back
portion between the spinal cord and sides. Further, since each of
the three reciprocations are motor-powered, the user can easily
control each reciprocal operation, for example, by using a
hand-held control (not shown). That is, the first and second
supports 28, 30 become approached to and distanced from each pair
massage bumps 42 in accordance with the first motor 40, the lifer
20 is controlled by a second motor 48, and the rider 18 is
controlled by a third motor 50.
[0028] FIGS. 4A-4D respectively show a relative mechanism of the
lifter 20 and the massage member 24. As shown therein, while the
lifter 20 makes an upward or downward stroke, the first and second
supports 28, 30 either approach to or distance from each other
depending upon the patient's control. Specifically, the first and
second supports 28, 30 repeatedly approach to and distance from
each other in perpendicular to the horizontally reciprocal movement
of the rider 18. As an example in FIG. 4A, a roller gear 52 powered
by the second motor 48 is engaged to a rack gear 54 to vertically
reciprocate the lifter 20. Likewise, in order to implement the
vertical reciprocation, the lifter 20 may employ a mechanism
selected from a pinion-rack mechanism powered by a motor, a
gear-motor application, a gear-chain mechanism powered by a motor,
a cam-motor application, and other vertical reciprocation
applications as illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6F. That is, FIGS. 6A, 6B
and 6E are examples of gear-applied lifter 20, and FIG. 6C employs
a cam 21 to generate a vertically reciprocal movement of the lifter
20. FIG. 6F shows the lifter 20 employing a combination of a gear
set 23 and a chain 25 for the vertical reciprocation of the lifter
20.
[0029] In order to facilitate the lengthwise reciprocation of the
rider 18, the guide member 22 may be incorporated in a pair of
pulleys 56 linked by a rope 58 and respectively mounted in a front
end portion 60 and a rear end portion 62 of the base frame 12. A
predetermined portion 63 of the rope 58 is fixedly attached to the
rider 18 so that the pulley rotation enables the rider 18 to
generate a horizontally reciprocal movement along the elongated top
opening 16. There is also provided the pulley motor 50 that
controls one of the pulleys 56. In a preferred version, the pulley
motor 50 is provided adjacent to the pulley 56 provided in the rear
end portion 56 of the base frame 12. Preferably, the pulleys 56 are
relatively twisted by 90 degrees against each other to facilitate
the horizontal reciprocation of the rider 18.
[0030] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 5, when the guide member 22 is
incorporated in the rack gear mechanism, the guide member 22
comprises a pair of side rack gears 66 parallel to each other and
lengthwisely provided below the elongated top panel 14 of the base
frame 12, a roller gear 68 perpendicular to the side rack gears 66,
and a motor 70 to power the roller gear 68. Here, the roller gear
68 is rollably connected to the rider 18 and rotatably mounted on
the side rack gears 66. In this construction, the roller gear 68 is
rotatably mounted on the rack gears 66 to allow the rider 18 to
make the horizontal reciprocation along the rack gears 66 where the
rider 18 is also maintained below the elongated top panel 14 of the
base frame 12. Here, a plurality of guider rollers 72 may be formed
from each side of the rider 18 to further stabilize the
horizontally reciprocal movement of the rider 18 along the rack
gears 66. The roller gear 68 is powered by the second motor 70
fixed to the rider 18.
[0031] For a better performance, a pair of roller coasters 80
parallel to each other and to the rack gears 66 are attached to the
base frame 12 to allow the horizontally moving rider 18 to pass
therebetween. The roller coasters 80 are each formed to have a
substantially waved top surface 82. In this construction, a
coasting member 84 having a bottom surface 86 and side surfaces 88
is liftedly engaged to the rider 18. In a preferred version, the
waved top surfaces 82 of the roller coasters 80 each substantially
form a curvature of a human spinal cord. Also, a guide roller 90 is
formed outwardly extending from the side surfaces 88 of the
coasting member 84. Here, the guide roller 90 on each of the side
surfaces 88 enables the coasting member 84 to make a roller
coasting movement on and along the waved top surfaces 82 of the
roller coasters 80 while being engagedly lifted from the rider 18
which makes the horizontally reciprocal movement. Preferably, the
coasting member 84 is formed in a container type. On the other
hand, elongated guides 92 are provided extending from the bottom
surface 86 of the coasting member 84, and second guide bushes 94
are upwardly formed on the rider 18 to releasably receive the
second elongated guides 92 so as to stabilize the roller coasting
movement of the coasting member 84 along the roller coasters 80 and
the lifting of the coasting member 84 from the rider 18.
[0032] As discussed above, an advantage of the present inventions
is that the lie-down massager 10 according to the present invention
optimally combines a lengthwise reciprocation of massage bumps 42
with a vertically reciprocal movement and with a widthwise
reciprocation of the massage bumps 42 for thereby enabling an
evenly widespread massaging on the back and neck of a patient lying
on the massager.
[0033] In addition, the combination of the triple reciprocations
substantially alleviate pains resulting from the conventional
massager using a predetermined solid pattern along which the rider
18 follows without a vertically allowable resilience, thereby
improving product reliability. Further, the coasting member 84
working with the roller coasters 80 to realize an additional
lifting by utilizing the horizontally reciprocal movement of the
rider 18 enables the massaging bumps 32 to continue a smooth,
steady and robust massaging on the patient together with the triple
reciprocations, thereby substantially improving massaging effect
and subsequently maximizing customer satisfaction.
[0034] Although the invention has been described in considerable
detail, other versions are possible by converting the
aforementioned construction. Therefore, the scope of the invention
shall not be limited by the specification specified above and the
appended claims.
* * * * *