Rolling massage apparatus with vibratory support

• US 5,330,416 A
• Filed: 05/19/1992
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: France Bed Company Limited (France Bed Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: France Bed Company Limited (France Bed Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Matsuzaki, Masahiro, Ohshita, Shoji, Masuda, Teruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kenealy, David
• Application Number:
  US07/885,510
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 128/57, 128/33, 128/58, 128/52, 128/51, 128/36, 128/32, 5/108, 5/109, 5/933, 5/934
• US Class Current: 601/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/0078 power-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0035 multiple on the same axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1669 moving along the body in a reciprocating manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0218 with alternating magnetic fields producing a translating or oscillating movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses

Abstract

A carrier holding massage rollers is provided on an upper surface of a base plate so that the carrier can run on the upper surface of the base plate. A vibration transmission plate made of a material capable of transmitting vibration is provided on the base plate. The vibration transmission plate is provided with a vibration generator. Thus, when the vibration generator is actuated, the vibration transmission plate vibrates to massage a person lying on his/her back over the base plate.

Claims

1. A massage apparatus on which a user is adapted to lie, comprising:

a flat and long base plate;

a carrier holding massage rollers located over an upper surface of the long base plate and movable in the longitudinal direction of the long base plate;

driving means coupled to the carrier for reciprocally driving the carrier in the longitudinal direction of the base plate;

a vibration transmission plate made of a material capable of transmitting vibration;

coupling means for coupling the vibration transmission plate to the base plate such that the vibration transmission plate is movable relative to the base plate independently of the massage rollers;

a vibration generator coupled to the vibration transmission plate and driven to vibrate the vibration transmission plate so as to move the vibration transmission plate relative to the base plate;

said vibration transmission plate having a hollow container portion therein, and wherein the vibration generator is held in the hollow container portion;

the vibration of the vibration transmission plate being carried out separately and independently of movement of the massage rollers; and

a cover covering at least an upper surface of the base plate and covering the vibration transmission plate, the carrier and the massage rollers, whereby massage imparted by vibration of the vibration transmission plate and massage imparted by movement of the massage rollers are both applied independently and at the same time to a user who is lying down on the cover.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fixing portion on the base plate, said coupling means coupling said vibration transmission plate to the fixing portion such that the vibration transmission plate is at least vertically vibrationally movable relative to the base plate.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing portion comprises an opening in the base plate.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising support means, on the lower side of the vibration transmission plate, for elastically and movably supporting the vibration transmission plate relative to the base plate so as to allow said vertical vibrational movement of the vibration transmission plate relative to the base plate.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the support means comprises an elastic material.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generator comprises a motor and a weight rotated eccentrically by the motor.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generator comprises:

a casing;

a coil in the casing and receiving an electric signal of a predetermined frequency to generate a magnetic force; and

a yoke which is vibratable relative to the casing by the magnetic force generated by the coil.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is foldable at least at a longitudinal middle portion of the base plate.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration transmission plate comprises a communication groove therein for permitting heat generated by the vibration generator in the hollow container portion to escape outside of the apparatus.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said communication groove opens into the hollow container portion.

6. A massage apparatus on which a user is adapted to lie, comprising:

a flat and long base plate;

a carrier holding massage rollers located over an upper surface of the long base plate and movable in the longitudinal direction of the long base plate;

driving means coupled to the carrier for reciprocally driving the carrier in the longitudinal direction of the base plate;

a vibration transmission plate made of a material capable of transmitting vibration;

coupling means for coupling the vibration transmission plate to the base plate such that the vibration transmission plate is movable relative to the base plate independently of the massage rollers;

a running groove, formed in an upper surface of the vibration transmission plate, and through which radially outward portions of the massage rollers are passed, the running groove extending in a direction in which the massage rollers run;

a vibration generator coupled to the vibration transmission plate and driven to vibrate the vibration transmission plate so as to move the vibration transmission plate relative to the base plate;

the vibration of the vibration transmission plate being carried out separately and independently of movement of the massage rollers; and

a cover covering at least an upper surface of the base plate and covering the vibration transmission plate, the carrier and the massage rollers, whereby massage imparted by vibration of the vibration transmission plate and massage imparted by movement of the massage rollers are both applied independently and at the same time to a user who is lying down on the cover.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the direction in which the running groove extends is the longitudinal direction of the base plate.

13. A massage apparatus on which a user is adapted to lie, comprising:

a flat and long base plate;

a carrier holding massage rollers located over an upper surface of the long base plate and movable in the longitudinal direction of the long base plate;

driving means coupled to the carrier for reciprocally driving the carrier in the longitudinal direction of the base plate;

a vibration transmission plate made of a material capable of transmitting vibration;

coupling means for coupling the vibration transmission plate to the base plate such that the vibration transmission plate is movable relative to the base plate independently of the massage rollers;

a vibration generator coupled to the vibration transmission plate and driven to vibrate the vibration transmission plate so as to move the vibration transmission plate relative to the base plate;

the vibration of the vibration transmission plate being carried out and separately and independently of movement of the massage rollers;

a heater mounted to an upper surface of the vibration transmission plate; and

a cover covering at least an upper surface of the base plate and covering the vibration transmission plate, the carrier and the massage rollers, whereby massage imparted by vibration of the vibration transmission plate and massage imparted by movement of the massage rollers are both applied independently and at the same time to a user who is lying down on the cover.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the heater is a planar heater.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a pair of said heaters mounted to side portions of the upper surface of the vibration transmission plate.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the heaters are planar heaters.