Compressing device for pneumatic massager

• US 6,203,510 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1998
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsumura, Mitsuma, Takeuchi, Hirosato
• Primary Examiner(s): DeMille, Danton D.
• Application Number:
  US09/118,852
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 601/55, 601/61, 601/148-152, 128/DIG.20
• US Class Current: 601/152
• 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

Abstract

A compressing device for a pneumatic massager includes a bag body formed of a plurality of airtight cells with sealed portions for separating the airtight cells and adapted to inflate and contract the airtight cells by supplying and discharging compressed air to and from the bag body. At least one of the airtight cells is provided with a port for supplying and discharging compressed air. The bag body is provided with a communicating path allowing communication between the at least one airtight cell and the airtight cells lacking the port.

Claims

1. A compressing device for a pneumatic massager, comprising:

a bag body formed of a plurality of airtight cells, said airtight cells having sealed portions separating said airtight cells from each other;

at least one port for supplying and discharging compressed air to said airtight cells, said at least one port being provided with at least one of said airtight cells and such that said airtight cells include at least one airtight cell without said at least one port;

at least one communicating path fluidly communicating said at least one airtight cell without said at least one port with said at least one of said airtight cells provided with said at least one port; and

a thin, flat, and flexible flow course retaining sheet member provided in said at least one communicating path, said flow course retaining sheet member having a plurality of perforations;

whereby the supply and discharge of compressed air to and from said bag body through said at least one port will inflate and contract said airtight cells.

2. The compressing device of claim 1, wherein said flow course retaining sheet member comprises a thin mesh of soft synthetic resin in said at least one communicating path.

3. The compressing device of claim 1, wherein said flow course retaining sheet member comprises a thin sheet of soft synthetic resin having a plurality of punched holes therein and being located in said at least one communicating path.

4. The compressing device of claim 1, wherein said at least one communicating path comprises an unsealed part of said sealed portions.

5. The compressing device of claim 4, wherein said bag body is formed by an outer sheet and an inner sheet that define said airtight cells therebetween, said sealed portions comprising portions at which said outer sheet is connected with said inner sheet, and wherein said unsealed part of said sealed portions comprises a portion along said sealed portions at which said outer sheet is not connected to said inner sheet located between two of said airtight cells.

6. The compressing device of claim 5, wherein said unsealed part is defined between lines along which said outer sheet and said inner sheet are fused with each other, said lines extending into said two of said airtight cells.

7. The compressing device of claim 1, wherein said communicating path has a length and width such that when air is supplied into said at least one of said airtight cells provided with said at least one port to inflate said at least one of said airtight cells provided with said at least one port to inflate, said at least one airtight cell without said at least one port begins to inflate due to air supplied through said communicating path with a time lag.

8. The compressing device of claim 2, wherein said communicating path has a length and width such that when air is supplied into said at least one of said airtight cells provided with said at least one port to inflate said at least one of said airtight cells provided with said at least one port to inflate, said at least one airtight cell without said at least one port begins to inflate due to air supplied through said communicating path with a time lag.

9. The compressing device of claim 3, wherein said communicating path has a length and width such that when air is supplied into said at least one of said airtight cells provided with said at least one port to inflate said at least one of said airtight cells provided with said at least one port to inflate, said at least one airtight cell without said at least one port begins to inflate due to air supplied through said communicating path with a time lag.

10. A compressing device for a pneumatic massager, comprising:

a bag body formed of a plurality of airtight cells, said airtight cells having sealed portions separating said airtight cells from each other, and said bag body being adapted to inflate and contract said airtight cells through the supply and discharge of compressed air to and from said bag body, wherein said bag body has a shape corresponding to one of a leg and an arm such that said bag body can be attached to the one of the leg and the arm in a fitting position in which said bag body extends on opposite sides of the respective one of the knee and the elbow;

a notch provided in said bag body at a location corresponding to the respective one of the knee and the elbow such that when said bag body is in said fitting position on the one of the leg and the arm, said notch is located at the respective one of the knee and the elbow so that the respective one of the knee and the elbow is uncovered by said bag body;

at least one communicating path located at said notch so as to connect at least one of said airtight cells located above said notch and at least one of said airtight cells located below said notch; and

a thin, flat, and flexible flow course retaining sheet member provided in said at least one communicating path, said flow course retaining sheet member having a plurality of perforations.

11. A compressing device for a pneumatic massager, comprising:

a bag body formed of a plurality of airtight cells, said airtight cells having sealed portions separating said airtight cells from each other, said bag body having a peripheral end to be located closest to a peripheral portion of a body and a central end to be located closest to a central portion of the body, and said airtight cells including a peripheral end airtight cell and a central end airtight cell;

a supply port in said peripheral end airtight cell for supplying compressed air;

a discharge port in said central end airtight cell for discharging compressed air;

a plurality of communicating paths that differ from each other in at least one of cross-sectional area of opening, length and shape, each of said plurality of communicating paths fluidly communicating adjacent ones of said airtight cells, whereby the supply of compressed air to said supply port and discharge of air from said discharge port causes sequential inflation and contraction of said airtight cells; and

a thin, flat, and flexible flow course retaining sheet member provided in at least one of said communicating paths, said flow course retaining sheet member having a plurality of perforations.

12. The compressing device of claim 11, wherein one of said plurality of communicating paths that fluidly communicates with said peripheral end airtight cell has a cross sectional area of opening that is larger than that of another one of said plurality of communicating paths that fluidly communicates with said central end airtight cell.

13. The compressing device of claim 11, wherein said communicating paths comprises unsealed parts of said sealed portions.

14. The compressing device of claim 12, wherein said communicating paths comprises unsealed parts of said sealed portions.