Massager

• US 4,577,626 A
• Filed: 10/09/1984
• Issued: 03/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikki Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nikki Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakao, Haruki, Mikiya, Toshio, Marukawa, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/658,465
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 128/38-40, 128/24, 128/50, 128/53, 128/64, 128/65, 417/417, 137/625.11, 137/625.21, 137/625.46
• US Class Current: 601/150
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86501 Sequential distributor or collector type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86638 Rotary valve

Abstract

A massager is composed of a linear compressor having a piston reciprocated by force of electromagnetic attraction to produce compressed air at a safe pressure with a relatively small difference between the rated pressure and the maximum pressure, a distributor for allowing the compressed air fed from the compressor to be selectively discharged therefrom and a bag having a plurality of air tight sections which are successively expanded by receiving the compressed air fed from the distributor.

Claims

1. A massager comprising:

an electromagnetic linear compressor for producing compressed air and which has a compression chamber with an intake port and a discharge port, a piston slidably mounted within said compression chamber and movable in a direction into and a direction out of said compression chamber for compressing air therein and further having an armature thereon which is capable of being attracted by a magnetic force, a coil spring engaged with said piston for urging said piston in a direction into said compression chamber, and an electromagnet means adjacent the path of movement of said piston for generating a magnetic force when current is applied thereto and positioned for applying a magnetic force to said armature for moving said piston out of said compression chamber against the force of said coil spring;

distributing means having a stationary member having a central air admission passage opening out of one end thereof and connected with the discharge port of said compressor, and having a compressed air inlet passage opening into said air admission passage and a plurality of exhaust ports extending through said stationary member from said one end to the other and spaced along a circle around the central air admission passage;

a rotary member having one end engaged against said one end of said stationary member and rotatable relative thereto about an axis of rotation concentric with said circle and having a connecting recess in said one end with one end on the axis of rotation and aligned with said central air admission passage and the other end on said circle for successively communicating said central air admission passage and said exhaust ports as said rotary member rotates, and at least one throttle hole substantially smaller in diameter than said exhaust ports extending through said rotary member from said one end to the other and lying on said circle and behind, relative to the direction of rotation of said rotary member, said connecting recess;

a motor having a drive shaft;

a rotary disk mounted on said drive shaft and in driving engagement with said rotary member; and

a spring between said rotary disk and said rotary member urging said rotary member into engagement with said stationary member;

at least one bag means shaped for being wound directly around a part to be massaged, said bag means having a plurality of air tight sections which are expanded by the force of compressed air; and

air delivering means connected between said exhaust ports of said distributing means and said bag means for delivering compressed air from the respective exhaust ports of said distributing means and the corresponding sections of said bag means, said air delivering means having no safety valve means.

2. A massager as claimed in claim 1 in which said delivering means comprises a plurality of pipes each having means for detachably connecting one end to a respective said exhaust port and the other end to a corresponding section of said bag means.

3. A massager as claimed in claim 2 further comprising means for conducting alternating current to said electromagnet means, and a timer connected in said current conducting means for controlling the period of time for which the current is supplied.

4. A massager as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for conducting alternating current to said electromagnet means, and a timer connected in said current conducting means for controlling the period of time for which the current is supplied.

5. A massager as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a housing in which said controller is mounted and into which said intake part of said compression chamber opens, and a filter on said housing for passing air therethrough to said intake port.

6. A massager as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for conducting an alternating current to said electromagnet means, and a diode connected in said current conducting means for subjecting the alternating current to half wave rectification.