Vertical motion adjuster for thermotherapy device

• US 10,548,806 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2011
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ceragem Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ceragem Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Ji Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tu A
• Application Number:
  US13/884,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20130253390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,009 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0024 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0053 Cabins, rooms, chairs or units for treatment with a hot or cold circulating fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/032 using oxygen from the air, e.g. pocket-stoves
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/0078 power-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/02 adapted for simultaneous treatment with light, heat or drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0014 cylinder-like, i.e. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/02 heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1284 using own weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1623 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1669 moving along the body in a reciprocating manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1676 Pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1678 Means for angularly oscillating massage elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5066 Limit switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0456 Supine
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/04 neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/083 Abdomen
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/004 With mechanical drive, e.g. spring mechanism or vibrating unit being hit for starting vibration and then applied to the body of a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/04 : Devices for pressing such points, e.g. Shiatsu or AcupressureMassage or pressure on general areas A61H9/00 - A61H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/06 : Devices for heating or cooling such points within cell-life limits cauterisers, moxaburners, cryogenic apparatus A61B18/06; heating or cooling appliances for medical treatment of general areas of the human body A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/007 : Kneading

Abstract

Provided is a vertical motion adjuster for a thermotherapy device capable of simultaneously accomplishing a pressing acupressure therapy effect and a pushing acupressure therapy effect. The vertical motion adjuster for the thermotherapy device includes a conveyance unit including a movable member configured to move along a mat, a support unit having one side hinged with the conveyance unit, and an elevation unit installed between the conveyance unit and the support unit and configured to raise the other side of the support unit in an arc shape. Accordingly, since the pressing acupressure therapy effect and the pushing acupressure therapy effect can be simultaneously accomplished as a moxibustion device is raised according to movement in an arc shape, a thermotherapy effect as well as an acupressure therapy effect through the moxibustion device can be improved.

Claims

1. A vertical motion adjuster for a thermotherapy device comprising:

a conveyance unit (100) provided with a movable member (110) configured to move along a mat in a lengthwise direction of the mat;

a support unit (200) having a first side and a second side, the first side rotatably coupled to the conveyance unit (100);

an elevation unit (300) installed between the conveyance unit (100) and the support unit (200) and configured to adjust an angle of inclination of the support unit (200) by raising or lowering the second side of the support unit (200) relative to the first side of the support unit (200);

a moxibustion device (210) placed on the support unit (200); and

a support frame (220) on which the moxibustion device (210) is mounted,

wherein the support frame (220) is installed at an upper surface of the support unit (200) and the support frame (220) is pivotally installed at a pivot shaft (221),

wherein the conveyance unit (100) includes a plate-shaped body,

wherein the conveyance unit includes a through-hole (140) formed in a center portion of the plate-shaped body of the conveyance unit (100), the elevation unit (300) passing through the through-hole (140), and

wherein at least a portion of the elevation unit (300) is passed through the through-hole (140) to be placed under the conveyance unit (100) when the support unit (200) is settled on the conveyance unit (100).

2. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the elevation unit (300) comprises:

a guide member (310); and

a rotary member (320) in contact with the guide member (310).

3. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 2, wherein the guide member (310) includes a detachable gear surface (311), wherein the detachable gear surface (311) is installed inside the guide member (310), and the rotary member (320) is a pinion (321) installed inside the guide member (310) and configured to mesh with the detachable gear surface (311).

4. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 2, wherein the guide member (310) is one of a plurality of guide members (310) and wherein the rotary member (320) is one of a plurality of rotary members (320).

5. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 2, wherein the conveyance unit (100) includes a driving member (330), wherein the driving member (330) is configured to rotate the rotary member (320), and

wherein the elevation unit (300) includes a gear box (340) configured to transmit a rotational force of the driving member (330) to the rotary member (320), wherein the gear box (340) is installed between a rotary shaft of the rotary member (320) and a rotary shaft of the driving member (330).

6. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 2, further comprising a gear member (350) having a gear surface (311) is installed at the guide member (310), and the gear member (350) is configured as a detachable structure.

7. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 2, further comprising a limit switch (120) at one of the conveyance unit (100) and the guide member (310), wherein a detection protrusion (312) is installed at the other one of the conveyance unit and the guide member, and when the detection protrusion (312) enters the limit switch (120), a lowering operation of the support unit (200) is stopped.

8. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 7, further comprising a driving member (330) configured to rotate the rotary member (320);

and

a rotation detection member configured to detect a raising operation of the guide member (310) is installed at the driving member (330).

9. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance unit (100) and the support unit (200) are hinged through a hinge unit (400).

10. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 9, wherein the hinge unit (400) comprises:

a protrusion member (410) installed proximate a side of the conveyance unit (100);

a connecting member (420) installed adjacent the protrusion member (410); and

a hinge member (430) passing through the protrusion member (410) and the connecting member (420).

11. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the moxibustion device (211) is a first moxibustion device, the vertical motion adjuster further comprising a second moxibustion device (212), wherein an upwardly moving distance of the first moxibustion device (211) adjacent to a coupling position of the conveyance unit (100) and the support unit (200) is different from an upwardly moving distance of the second moxibustion device (212) opposite to the first moxibustion device (211) with respect to the pivot shaft (221).

12. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 11, wherein the upwardly moving distance of the first moxibustion device (211) is larger than the upwardly moving distance of the second moxibustion device (212).

13. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 12, further comprising a protrusion (223) that extends downward from a lower end of the support frame (220),

wherein the protrusion (223) includes a first side extending generally toward the first moxibustion device (211) and a second side extending generally toward the second moxibustion device (212),

wherein a first inclination angle is defined between the first side of the protrusion (223) and a plane parallel to an upper surface of the support unit (200), and a second inclination angle is defined between the second side of the protrusion (223) and the plane, and

wherein the first inclination angle is smaller than the second inclination angle.

14. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 12, further comprising an absorption member (230) protruding upward toward a lower end of the support frame (220), wherein the absorption member is formed at an upper surface of the support unit (200), and a height of the absorption member (230) protruding upward toward the first moxibustion device (211) is larger than that of the absorption member (230) protruding upward toward the second moxibustion device (212).

15. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling position, the coupling position of the conveyance unit (100) and the support unit (200) is disposed at a position lower than an upper end surface of the support unit (200).

16. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 15, wherein the conveyance unit (100) and the support unit (200) are hinged by a hinge unit (400),

wherein the hinge unit (400) comprises:

a protrusion member (410) installed proximate a side of the conveyance unit (100);

a connecting member (420) installed adjacent the protrusion member (410); and

a hinge member (430) passing through the protrusion member (410) and the connecting member (420),

one end of the connecting member (420) extending downward to be inserted into the conveyance unit (100).

17. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the hinge members (430) includes a pin hole (432) through which a pin (431) passes.

18. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 15, wherein the conveyance unit includes an accommodating space (130) into which the support unit (200) enters.

19. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of reinforcement ribs (150) formed on the conveyance unit (100) to surround the through-hole (140), and

wherein at least one of the plurality of reinforcement ribs (150) is formed in a lengthwise direction of the conveyance unit (100).

20. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 1, further comprising a cable (500) configured to connect a circuit member (180) installed under the conveyance unit (100) and a circuit member (230) installed under the support unit (200),

a long hole (190) through which the cable (500) passes is formed in the conveyance unit (100), and

the long hole (190) has a length in a lengthwise direction larger than a length in a widthwise direction.

21. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 20, further comprising a projection surface (191) curved toward a center of the long hole (190) is formed at an inner surface in the lengthwise direction of the long hole (190).

22. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 20, further comprising a cover member installed at an inner surface in the lengthwise direction of the long hole (190).

23. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 1, further comprising a first resilient member (222) having a first end supported by the support unit (200) and a second end supported by the support frame (220), the first resilient member (222) installed at the pivot shaft (221),

wherein the first resilient member (222) is configured to apply a resilient force to the support frame (220) such that one moxibustion device (211) adjacent to a coupling position of the conveyance unit (100) and the support unit (200) is moved upward.

24. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 23, further comprising:

a temperature detecting member (213) configured to detect a temperature of the moxibustion device (210); and

a second resilient member (214) configured to apply a resilient force to the moxibustion device (210) tending to move the moxibustion device (210) upward, wherein the second resilient member (214) is installed at the temperature detecting member (213).

25. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 1,

wherein the elevation unit includes a guide member (310), a rotary member (320) in contact with the guide member (310), and a driving member (330) configured to rotate the rotary member (320),

and

wherein the support unit (200) and the driving member (330) are positioned on opposite sides of the plate-shaped body of the conveyance unit (100) such that the plate-shaped body of the conveyance unit separates the support unit (200) from the driving member (330).