U.S. patent application number 12/173987 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-22 for chair-type massage machine.
Invention is credited to Yoshitoshi Morita, Hidefumi Nomura, Tsuyoshi Watanabe.
Application Number | 20090021063 12/173987 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39790114 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090021063 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morita; Yoshitoshi ; et
al. |
January 22, 2009 |
CHAIR-TYPE MASSAGE MACHINE
Abstract
The invention provides a chair-type massage machine comprising a
backrest and a seat which can be reclined by a single drive source
while permitting the user to hold a relaxed posture. The chair-type
massage machine comprises a backrest (20) for the back of the user
to bear on, a seat (30) for the user to sit in, and a reclining
mechanism (40) for pivotally moving the backrest (20) and the seat
(30). The reclining mechanism (40) comprises a single drive source
(42), the drive source being coupled to the backrest (20) and the
seat (30) by a link assembly (50). The link assembly is operable to
pivotally move the backrest (20) from a raised position to a
reclined position via an intermediate position by operating the
drive source (42), the seat (30) being tiltable to raise a front
end thereof when the backrest is pivotally moved from the raised
position to the intermediate position, the seat being tiltable to
lower the raised front end thereof when the backrest is pivotally
moved from the intermediate position to the reclined position.
Inventors: |
Morita; Yoshitoshi; (Ni
shiwaki-shi, JP) ; Watanabe; Tsuyoshi; (Asago-shi,
JP) ; Nomura; Hidefumi; (Himeji-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ECKERT SEAMANS CHERIN & MELLOTT
600 GRANT STREET, 44TH FLOOR
PITTSBURGH
PA
15219
US
|
Family ID: |
39790114 |
Appl. No.: |
12/173987 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/319 ;
297/316 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/319 ;
297/316 |
International
Class: |
A47C 1/00 20060101
A47C001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 19, 2007 |
JP |
2007/187887 |
Claims
1. A chair-type massage machine comprising a backrest for the back
of the user to bear on, a seat for the user to sit in, and a
reclining mechanism for pivotally moving the backrest and the seat,
the massage machine being characterized in that: the reclining
mechanism comprises a single drive source, the drive source being
coupled to the backrest and the seat by a link assembly, the link
assembly being operable to pivotally move the backrest from a
raised position to a reclined position via an intermediate position
by operating the drive source, the seat being tiltable to raise a
front end thereof when the backrest is pivotally moved from the
raised position to the intermediate position, the seat being
tiltable to lower the raised front end thereof when the backrest is
pivotally moved from the intermediate position to the reclined
position.
2. A chair-type massage machine comprising a backrest for the back
of the user to bear on, a seat for the user to sit in, and a
reclining mechanism for pivotally moving the backrest and the seat,
the massage machine being characterized in that: the reclining
mechanism comprises a single drive source, the drive source being
coupled to one of the backrest and the seat, the backrest or the
seat having the drive source coupled thereto being pivotally
movably supported, the backrest being connected to the seat by a
link assembly having a joint portion, the joint portion of the link
assembly being movable along a guide rail, the drive source being
operable to move the joint portion of the link assembly along the
guide rail, as coupled to the pivotal movement of the backrest or
the seat, and to pivotally move the backrest from a raised position
to a reclined position via an intermediate position, the guide rail
having a curved guide face for tilting the seat to raise a front
end thereof when the backrest is pivotally moved from the raised
position to the intermediate position and for tilting the seat to
lower the raised front end thereof when the backrest is pivotally
moved from the intermediate position to the reclined position.
3. A chair-type massage machine wherein a base is provided with a
backrest for the back of the user to bear on, a seat for the user
to sit in, and a reclining mechanism for pivotally moving the
backrest and the seat, the massage machine being characterized in
that: the reclining mechanism comprises a single drive source, the
drive source being coupled to one of the backrest and the seat, the
backrest or the seat having the drive source coupled thereto being
pivotally movably supported, a link being pivoted at one end
thereof to the backrest or the seat having the drive source coupled
thereto, the link having the other end pivoted to a cam member
supported by the base, the cam member being provided at a portion
thereof with a cam face in bearing contact with the backrest or the
seat not coupled to the drive source, the drive source being
operable to cause the link to rotate the cam member and to
pivotally move the backrest from a raised position to a reclined
position via an intermediate position, the cam face being so shaped
as to tilt the seat to raise a front end thereof when the backrest
is pivotally moved from the raised position to the intermediate
position and as to tilt the seat to lower the raised front end
thereof when the backrest is pivotally moved from the intermediate
position to the reclined position.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2007-187887, filed Jul. 19, 2007, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to massage machines of the
chair type having a backrest and a seat which can be reclined. More
particularly, the invention relates to chair-type massage machines
comprising a backrest and a seat which can be reclined by a single
drive source while permitting the person to be treated to hold a
relaxed posture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Chair-type massage machines are known in which a backrest
and a seat have massage means and can be reclined. For example,
JP2003-289975A discloses such a massage machine comprising a
reclining mechanism having independent drive sources provided for
the respective backrest and seat so as to render each of the
backrest and the seat reclinable independently of the other.
[0004] The provision of the independent drive sources for the
respective backrest and seat makes the reclining mechanism
large-sized and complex to consequently make the chair-type massage
machine greater in size and complex in the mode of control.
[0005] Furthermore, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality
of drive sources encounters difficulty in positioning the backrest
and the seat at a target angle in synchronism due, for example, to
anomalies in the individual drive sources and variations in the
load to be applied to the respective drive sources. The massage
machine will then involve such an unnatural movement that one of
the backrest and seat reaches the target angle with a delay after
the other component has reached the target angle.
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a
chair-type massage machine comprising a backrest and a seat which
can be reclined by a single drive source while permitting the user
to hold a relaxed posture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] To fulfill the foregoing object, the present invention
provides a chair-type massage machine comprising a backrest for the
back of the user to bear on, a seat for the user to sit in, and a
reclining mechanism for pivotally moving the backrest and the
seat.
[0008] The reclining mechanism comprises a single drive source, and
the drive source is coupled to the backrest and the seat by a link
assembly.
[0009] The link assembly is operable to pivotally move the backrest
from a raised position to a reclined position via an intermediate
position by operating the drive source, the seat being tiltable to
raise a front end thereof when the backrest is pivotally moved from
the raised position to the intermediate position, the seat being
tiltable to lower the raised lower end thereof when the backrest is
pivotally moved from the intermediate position to the reclined
position.
[0010] By virtue of this construction, the backrest and the seat
can be reclined while permitting the user to hold a relaxed
posture.
[0011] The present invention also provides a chair-type massage
machine comprising a backrest for the back of the user to bear on,
a seat for the user to sit in, and a reclining mechanism for
pivotally moving the backrest and the seat.
[0012] The reclining mechanism comprises a single drive source, the
drive source being coupled to one of the backrest and the seat, the
backrest or the seat having the drive source coupled thereto being
pivotally movably supported.
[0013] The backrest is connected to the seat by a link assembly
having a joint portion, which is movable along a guide rail.
[0014] The drive source is operable to move the joint portion of
the link assembly along the guide rail, as coupled to the pivotal
movement of the backrest or the seat, and to pivotally move the
backrest from a raised position to a reclined position via an
intermediate position, the guide rail having a curved guide face
for tilting the seat to raise a front end thereof when the backrest
is pivotally moved from the raised position to the intermediate
position and for tilting the seat to lower the raised front end
thereof when the backrest is pivotally moved from the intermediate
position to the reclined position.
[0015] By virtue of this construction, the backrest and the seat
can be reclined while permitting the user to hold a relaxed
posture.
[0016] The present invention further provides a chair-type massage
machine wherein a base is provided with a backrest for the back of
the user to bear on, a seat for the user to sit in, and a reclining
mechanism for pivotally moving the backrest and the seat.
[0017] The reclining mechanism comprises a single drive source,
which is coupled to one of the backrest and the seat. The backrest
or the seat having the drive source coupled thereto is pivotally
movably supported.
[0018] A link is pivoted at one end thereof to the backrest or the
seat having the drive source coupled thereto, the link having the
other end pivoted to a cam member supported by the base, the cam
member being provided at a portion thereof with a cam face in
bearing contact with the backrest or the seat not coupled to the
drive source,
[0019] The drive source is operable to cause the link to rotate the
cam member and to pivotally move the backrest from a raised
position to a reclined position via an intermediate position, the
cam face being so shaped as to tilt the seat to raise a front end
thereof when the backrest is pivotally moved from the raised
position to the intermediate position and as to tilt the seat to
lower the raised front end thereof when the backrest is pivotally
moved from the intermediate position to the reclined position.
[0020] By virtue of this construction, the backrest and the seat
can be reclined while permitting the user to hold a relaxed
posture.
[0021] In any one of the forgoing chair-type massage machines, a
single drive source is provided for the reclining mechanism, which
is therefore unlikely to become large-sized or complex.
Furthermore, the use of the link assembly or the like assures a
stabilized reclining movement free of variations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is shows a chair-type massage machine of first
embodiment of the invention in a raised position;
[0023] FIG. 2 is shows the chair-type massage machine of the first
embodiment of the invention in an intermediate position;
[0024] FIG. 3 is shows the chair-type massage machine of the first
embodiment of the invention as reclined;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a view showing a chair-type massage machine in a
reclined position and having a link assembly of different
embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a view showing a chair-type massage machine in a
reclined position and having a link assembly of another different
embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 6 includes a side elevation of a chair-type massage
machine of second embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0028] FIG. 7 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the second embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0029] FIG. 8 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the second embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0030] FIG. 9 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of second embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0031] FIG. 10 includes aside elevation of a chair-type massage
machine of third embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0032] FIG. 11 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the third embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0033] FIG. 12 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the third embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0034] FIG. 13 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the third embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0035] FIG. 14 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the third embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0036] FIG. 15 includes aside elevation of a chair-type massage
machine of fourth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0037] FIG. 16 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the fourth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0038] FIG. 17 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the fourth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0039] FIG. 18 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the fourth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0040] FIG. 19 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the fourth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0041] FIG. 20 includes a side elevation of a chair-type massage
machine of fifth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0042] FIG. 21 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the fifth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0043] FIG. 22 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the fifth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0044] FIG. 23 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the fifth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0045] FIG. 24 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the fifth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0046] FIG. 25 includes a side elevation of a chair-type massage
machine of sixth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0047] FIG. 26 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the sixth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0048] FIG. 27 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the sixth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
[0049] FIG. 28 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the sixth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view; and
[0050] FIG. 29 includes a side elevation of the chair-type massage
machine of the sixth embodiment of the invention and an enlarged
fragmentary view;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1
[0051] The present invention provides chair-type massage machines
10, which will be described below with reference to the
drawings.
[0052] First, the overall construction of the chair-type massage
machine 10 will be described generally. As shown in FIG. 1, the
massage machine 10 has a base 12 to be placed on the floor. Using
pivots 90, the base 12 has supported thereon a seat 30 for the user
to sit in and a backrest 20 for the back of the user to bear on.
The seat and the backrest are pivotally movable by the reclining
mechanism 40 to be described below.
[0053] The backrest 20 comprises a backrest frame 22 and a cushion
23 or the like provided around the frame 22 and is provided in its
interior with massage means 24 movable upward and downward by a
lift unit 25 for massaging the shoulders, back, waist, etc. of the
user.
[0054] The seat 30 comprises a cushion 33 or the like provided
around a seat frame 32 and is provided in its interior with an air
bag or like massage means (not shown) as required. A leg portion 38
for placing thereon the legs of the user can be provided at the
front end of the seat 30. The leg portion 38 shown in FIG. 1 is
made integral with the seat 30, whereas the leg portion 38 may be
adapted to accommodate therein the calves and the feet for a
massage unit (not shown) to give a massage to the calves as shown
in FIG. 6 or the like to be described later. The leg portion 38 may
be made pivotally movable relative to the seat 30.
[0055] The reclining mechanism 40 comprises a drive source 42 and a
link assembly 50. The reclining mechanism 40 of the present
invention is characterized in that both the backrest 20 and the
seat 30 can be reclined by the single drive source 42. Furthermore,
the backrest 20 and the seat 30 can be reclined while permitting
the user to hold a relaxed posture.
[0056] The expression that the user as positioned in a relaxed
posture refers to such a state of the user that he or she is not
particularly burdened on his body, or is not locally subjected to a
force, or will not assume any objectionable posture when the
backrest 20 is reclined with the user seated in the seat 30 with
his back bearing on the backrest 20.
[0057] If the backrest 20 only is merely reclined without tilting
the seat 30, an objectionable force is likely to act on the
abdominal muscle or waist to reduce the massage effect.
[0058] According to the present invention, therefore, the backrest
20 and the seat 30 can be reclined so as to retain the following
"relax angle" in accordance with the reclining angle of the
backrest 20, so that the machine can be reclined while permitting
the user to hold a relaxed state.
[0059] First, when the backrest 20 is in a raised position
(hereinafter referred to as the "raised position"), the seat 30 is
so tilted that the front end of the seat 30 is positioned at a
slightly higher level above the floor than the rear end thereof.
This enables the user to seat deep in the seat 30 and feel
relaxed.
[0060] As the backrest 20 is inclined backward from this raised
position, the seat 30 is tilted with its front end moved up. This
enables the user to follow the reclining movement of the backrest
20 and feel at ease without applying any force to the abdominal
muscle. When the backrest 20 is reclined to an intermediate value
of the greatest reclining angle (hereinafter referred to as an
"intermediate position"), the seat 30 is inclined greatest with its
front end raised to the highest level.
[0061] When the backrest 20 is reclined further from the
intermediate position, the seat 30 is inclined with its front end
moved down, and the seat 30 returns to the same angle as in the
raised position upon the backrest 20 reaching the greatest
reclining angle (hereinafter referred to as a "reclined position"),
whereby the backrest 20 and the seat 30 are brought to a nearly
flat state. After the backrest 20 has moved past the intermediate
position, the back of the body of the user is held fully in
intimate contact with the backrest 20, with the center of gravity
shifted toward the backrest 20. Accordingly, even if the seat 30
resumes such an angle that it is positioned nearly in parallel with
the floor, the backrest 20 and the seat 30 can be brought to the
flat state while permitting the user to remain relaxed with no
objectionable force acting on the body of the user. Such angles
enabling the user to feel relaxed will be referred to as "relaxing
angles."
[0062] Since the user can be held in a relaxed posture free of any
unnatural force acting on his body by adjusting the angle of
inclination of the seat 30 in accordance with the reclining angle
of the backrest 20, the massage operation to be subsequently
performed can produce the greatest possible effect. The backrest 20
and the seat 30 can be returned from the flat state to the raised
position through a movement reverse to the foregoing movement while
permitting the user to remain relaxed, with the result that the
massage effect given will not be nullified or diminished.
[0063] For example, FIG. 1 shows a single actuator serving as the
single drive source 42 for the reclining mechanism 40. The actuator
has one end connected to the upper end of a fixed frame 51
extending forwardly upward approximately from the center of the
base 12. The other end of the actuator is connected to the lower
end of the backrest 20.
[0064] The contraction of the actuator in the chair-type massage
machine 10 pulls the lower end of the backrest 20 as supported by
the pivots 90, whereby the backrest 20 itself is reclined as shown,
for example, in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0065] The link assembly 50 can be composed of a plurality of links
53, 55 and 57 in combination. With reference to FIG. 1, the link
assembly 50 comprises a first link 53 pivoted as at 91
approximately to the center of the base 12, a second link 55
pivoted to a portion of the first link 53 close to the free end
thereof and to the lower end of the backrest 20, respectively, as
at 92, 93 for interconnecting the link 53 and the backrest 20, and
a third link 57 pivoted to the free end extremity of the first link
53 and to a bracket 35 projecting from the bottom of the seat 30,
respectively, as at 94, 95 for interconnecting the link 53 and the
bracket 35.
[0066] The present embodiment reclines with the backrest 20 and the
seat 30 held at a relaxing angle, and the seat 30 is held
approximately at the same level in the raised position of FIG. 1
and in the reclined position of FIG. 3. For this reason, the first
link 53 and the third link 57 move symmetrically about a vertical
line in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. The stroke length of the second link 55
operatively connected to the backrest 20 is so determined as to
effect this movement. If the actuator serving as the drive source
42 has a sufficiently large stroke length, the pivot 92 between the
second link 55 and the first link 53 can be positioned closer to
the pivot 94 connecting the third link 57 to the first link 53,
such that in an extreme case, pivots 92, 94 can be a common
pivot.
[0067] Furthermore, the highest level of the front end of the seat
30 is adjustable by shifting the position of the pivot 95 for
connecting the third link 57 to the seat 30. (As the pivot 95 is
positioned closer to the pivot 90, the level can be higher.)
[0068] With the reclining mechanism 40 of the foregoing
construction, the drive source 42 is operated, starting to recline
the backrest 20 from the raised position of FIG. 1, whereby the
second link 55 is pushed forward, and the first link 53 inclines
forward about the pivoted point 91 on the base 12 to push out the
third link 57 forward. This pivotally moves the seat 30, moving the
front end thereof upward about the pivot 90.
[0069] When the backrest 20 reclines from the raised position to an
intermediate position (an approximately intermediate position
between the raised position of FIG. 1 and the reclined position of
FIG. 3) as shown in FIG. 2, the link assembly 50 becomes so shaped
that the first link 53 and the third link 57 are arranged along a
straight line, bringing the front end of the seat 30 to the highest
level.
[0070] Accordingly, if the drive source 42 is further operated, the
backrest 20 reclines from the intermediate position of FIG. 2, the
second link 55 is pushed forward, and the first link 53 further
inclines forward about the pivoted point 91 on the base 12. This
reclines the third link 57, pulling down the raised front end of
the seat 30 and consequently bringing the backrest 20 and the seat
30 to a flat state as shown in FIG. 3.
[0071] Thus, the backrest 20 is reclined by operating the drive
source 42, whereby the seat 30 is also tilted, with the backrest 20
and the seat 30 held at a relaxing angle, so that the user as
seated in the seat 30 can be moved to a lying position without
permitting any disagreeable force acting on the body of the
user.
[0072] With the backrest 20 and the seat 30 positioned flat,
various modes of massage can be given by the massage means to
massage the body effectively.
[0073] The backrest 20 and the seat 30 can be operated in a manner
reverse to the above by operating the drive source in a direction
opposite to the above, i.e., by extending the actuator in the
illustrated embodiment, whereby the machine can be returned to the
raised position while holding the relaxing angle.
[0074] The backrest 20 and the seat 30 can be inclined at different
relaxing angles by varying the length of the links 53, 55, 57 of
the link assembly 50 and shafting the position of the pivoted
points 91, 92, 93, 94, 95.
[0075] Although the drive source 42 (actuator) is used for
reclining the backrest 20 according to the foregoing description,
an actuator may be provided between the first link 53 and the base
12 as shown in FIG. 4 to move the first link 53 about the pivot 91.
Alternatively, an actuator may be provided between the pivot 94 for
connecting the first link 53 to the third link 57 and the base 12
as shown in FIG. 5 for moving the first link 53 about the pivot
91.
Embodiment 2
[0076] FIGS. 6 to 9 show another chair-type massage machine 10
wherein a reclining mechanism 40 comprises a link assembly 50. A
further detailed description is given of the relaxing angle between
the backrest 20 and the seat 30. For a better understanding, the
drive source 42 is not shown, whereas an actuator or the like is
provided for reclining the backrest 20. Furthermore, cushions are
not shown.
[0077] With reference to FIG. 6, the backrest 20 and the seat 30
are held at a relaxing angle, for example, of 109 degree when the
chair-type massage machine 10 is in a raised position. As the
backrest 20 is reclined to an intermediate position in this state
as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the seat 30 is so tilted as to raise its
front end. This decreases the angle between the backrest 20 and the
seat 30 to 106 degree in FIG. 7, shifting the center of gravity of
the user toward the backrest 20. Accordingly no objectionable force
will act on the body of the user when the backrest 20 is reclined.
When the first link 53 of the link assembly 50 is nearly aligned
with the third link 57 thereof as seen in FIG. 8, the seat 30 has
its front end raised to the highest level. When the backrest 20 is
further reclined, the third link 57 is reclined about the pivot 94,
pulling down the seat 30 as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, the backrest 20
and the seat 30 can be moved to a nearly flat state (the backrest
20 and the seat 30 shown are at a relaxing angle of 160
degree).
Embodiment 3
[0078] With Embodiments 1 and 2, the reclining mechanism 40
comprises a link assembly 50 for reclining the backrest 20 and the
seat 30, whereas according to the present embodiment, the first
link 53 is replaced by a guide rail 60 for realizing the same
operation as above. Although the drive source 42 is not shown for a
better understanding, an actuator or the like is provided for
reclining the backrest 20 as in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, cushions
and the like are not shown.
[0079] The same second link 55 and third link 57 of Embodiments 1
and 2 are connected together by a pivot 74, which has a roller 72.
The roller 72 is supported by a flexible joint portion 70 and is
movable on a guide rail 60 provided on the base 12. Preferably, the
roller 72 and the guide rail 60 are so designed that one of them is
shaped to have a recess, i.e., a groove, and the other thereof has
a projection fittable in the groove.
[0080] Each of the second link 55 and the third link 57 has a
length, which can be determined suitably, for example, in
accordance with the position of the guide rail 60 and the level of
the front end of the seat 30.
[0081] The roller 72 provided on the joint portion 70 can be
prepared from a resin.
[0082] The guide rail 60 has a curved guide face 62 for contact
with the roller 72 so as to recline the backrest 20 and the seat 30
having the relaxing angle therebetween.
[0083] With reference to Detail Drawing A of FIG. 10, the guide
face 62 has a forwardly upward slope so as to make the seat 30
pivotally movable with its front end moving upward during the
movement from a raised position to an intermediate position. When
the backrest 20 is reclined from the raised position, the roller 72
is pushed by the second link 55 to move forwardly upward along the
guide face 62, causing the third link 57 to push the front portion
of the seat 30 upward as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.
[0084] The curve of the guide face 62 has a recessed circular-arc
form 64 which is centered about the pivot 90 serving as the center
of pivotal movement of the seat 30 and the backrest 20. The
backrest 20 and the seat 30, while holding a relaxing angle of 106
degree therebetween, can therefore recline until the seat 30
inclines through about 30 degree with respect to a horizontal
plane. This is suitable in the case where the user reads books with
the backrest 20 reclined at a desired angle.
[0085] With reference to FIG. 13, the guide face 62 changes from
the recessed circular-arc form 64 to a projecting circular-arc form
65 at a position where the backrest 20 and the seat 30 reach the
vicinity of the intermediate position. As the guide face 62 extends
forward, the guide face has a downward slope 66. When the backrest
20 is further reclined from the intermediate position, the seat 30
having its front end raised is pulled down by the reclining of the
third link 57, with the result that the backrest 20 and the seat 30
can be moved until they assume a flat state as seen in FIG. 14.
[0086] Thus, with the use of the guide rail 60, the relaxing angle
between the backrest 20 and the seat 30 is made adjustable so that
the user can hold a relaxed posture. The form of the guide face 62
need not be limited to that of the present embodiment. The guide
face can be so shaped as in Embodiment 4 given below, or can be
modified suitably in accordance with the desired relaxing
angle.
Embodiment 4
[0087] FIGS. 15 to 19 show another embodiment comprising a guide
rail 60 which is different from the one included in Embodiment 3.
This embodiment is the same as Embodiment 3 with the exception of
the form of the guide face 62.
[0088] This embodiment is so designed that the relaxing angle
increases as the backrest 20 is reclined by a recessed circular-arc
form 64 when the machine is brought from the raised position to the
intermediate position. Stated more specifically, the relaxing angle
is 106 degree in the raised position as shown in FIG. 15. The angle
increases to 109 degree, 111 degree or 120 degree as shown in FIGS.
16 to 18. Accordingly, the body of the user as seated in the seat
30 can be reclined in a natural state, with his waist stretched
gradually.
[0089] After the intermediate position shown in FIG. 18 has been
reached, the guide face 62 extends forward substantially
horizontally as indicated at 67. This causes the third link 57 to
rotate in the reclining direction, pulling the raised front end of
the seat 30 down, whereby the backrest 20 and the seat 30 are
brought to a nearly flat state as shown in FIG. 19 (at 160 degree
as illustrated).
Embodiment 5
[0090] FIGS. 20 to 24 show an embodiment wherein another different
guide rail 60 is used.
[0091] With this embodiment, the guide face 62 has a recessed
circular-arc form 64 centered about the pivot 95 for the third link
57, whereby the seat 30 can be held at rest (at a constant angle of
11 degree with the floor) until the backrest 20 is reclined from
the raised position to 120 degree. The seat 30 thereafter rises and
moves up to the highest level through 30 degree in FIG. 22. The
seat then lowers to form an increased angle with the backrest
20.
[0092] After the intermediate position shown in FIG. 22 has been
reached, the guide face 62 extends forward substantially
horizontally as indicated at 67. The third link 57 rotates in the
reclining direction, pulling the raised front end of the seat 30
down, whereby the backrest 20 and the seat 30 are brought to a
nearly flat state as shown in FIG. 24 (at 160 degree as
illustrated).
[0093] Thus, varying relaxing angles can be realized merely by
modifying the form of the guide face 62.
[0094] According to Embodiments 3 to 5, the roller 72 serves as a
pivot 74 for the joint portion 70, whereas the pivot 74 can be made
movable on the guide face 62, with the roller 73 dispensed
with.
Embodiment 6
[0095] This embodiment uses a cam 80 for giving an adjustable
relaxing angle. For a better understanding, the drive source 42 is
not shown, whereas an actuator or the like is provided for
reclining the backrest 20 as in Embodiment 1. Cushions are not
shown.
[0096] The cam 80 is pivoted at an eccentric position to a support
bracket 84 projecting from the base 12 to provide a reclining
mechanism 40. The cam 80 is coupled to the backrest 20 by a second
link 55.
[0097] For example as shown in FIG. 25, the cam 80 has an
approximately elliptical cam face 82 on its outer periphery. The
support bracket 84 and the second link 55 are pivoted respectively
as at 97 and 98 to the cam at different positions on the major axis
of the cam face 82.
[0098] A roller 87 is supported by a bracket 35 projecting from the
bottom wall of the seat 30 so as to be in bearing contact with the
cam face 82. The roller 97 rolls along the cam face 82.
[0099] When the backrest 20 is reclined from the raised position
(FIG. 25) in the chair-type massage machine 10 of the above
construction, the second link 55 is pushed out forward, rotating
the cam 80 clockwise in FIG. 25. Since the cam 80 is generally
elliptical, the roller 87 in bearing contact with the cam face 82
moves upward along the cam face 82, moving the front end of the
seat 30 upward. While the relaxing angle was 109 degree relative to
the backrest 20 in the raised position, the seat 30 consequently
inclines with increases in the relaxing angle to 113 degree, 116
degree, and 120 degree with an approach to the intermediate
position as shown in FIGS. 26 to 28,
[0100] When the backrest 20 is brought to the intermediate
position, the roller 87 reaches the top of the cam face 82 on the
major axis, moving the front end of the seat 30 to the highest
level.
[0101] The backrest 20 further reclines from this state, rotating
the cam 82 to cause the roller 87 to move over the top of the cam
face 82 on the major axis. This brings the raised front end of the
seat 30 into a downward movement, and when the backrest 20 reclines
most greatly, the backrest 20 and the seat 30 are brought to a flat
state (at 160 degree as illustrated) as shown in FIG. 29.
[0102] According to the present embodiment, modifications of the
form of the cam face 82 provide varying relaxing angles.
[0103] According to Embodiments 3 to 6, the backrest 20 is reclined
by the drive source 42, and this movement is delivered through the
link assembly 50, guide rail 60 or cam 80 to pivotally move the
seat 30, whereas an actuator serving as the drive source 42 may be
interposed between the base 12 and the third link 57 in Embodiments
3 to 5 so as to move the third link 57 about the pivot 95. In
Embodiment 6, the cam 80 may be made rotatable by a drive
source.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0104] The present invention provide useful chair-type massage
machines comprising a backrest and a seat which can be reclined by
a single drive source while permitting the user to hold a relaxed
posture.
[0105] Apparently the present invention can be altered or modified
by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the
invention. Such modifications are included within the scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
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