Back kneading device and chair-type massage apparatus equipped with the back kneading device

摘要

The back kneading device mounted in the chair-type massage apparatus comprises: the massage mechanism including paired right-hand and left-hand massage members having the treatment element for massage and the driving section for transmitting massage action to the massage member; the base member for supporting the massage mechanism, with the massage member pointing forward; the vertical movement mechanism for moving the base member in the vertical direction in the backrest; and the protruding-amount varying mechanism for moving the massage member so that protrusion amount of the treatment element in the front-rear direction can be varied.

主权项

1. A back kneading device mounted in a backrest against which a user is able to lean his/her back, comprising:
a massage mechanism including a pair of opposed right-hand and left-hand massage members each having a treatment element for providing a massage and a driving section for transmitting a massage action to the massage members; a base member for supporting said massage mechanism, with said massage member pointing forward; a vertical movement mechanism for allowing said base member to move up and down in a vertical direction inside said backrest; and a protruding amount varying mechanism for moving said massage member so that an amount of protruding movement of said treatment element in a front-rear direction can be varied; wherein the driving section of said massage mechanism includes a kneading driving portion for driving said massage members in such a manner that said opposed treatment elements move closer to and away from each other in a horizontal direction to produce a kneading massage action, and a tapping driving portion for driving said massage member in such a manner that said treatment element is moved reciprocally in the front-rear direction or vertical direction by repetitive axial rocking motions of the base part of said massage member to produce a tapping massage action; wherein said protruding amount varying mechanism is configured to vary the amount of protruding movement of said treatment element in the front-rear direction by moving said tapping driving portion in the vertical direction while imparting axial rocking motion to a base part of said massage member; wherein said protruding amount varying mechanism includes:
a first restraint part for retaining a rocking angle of the massage member in a condition where said treatment element assumes a fully retracted position;a second restraint part for retaining a rocking angle of the massage member in a condition where said treatment element assumes a fully advanced position; anda non-restraint part lying between said first restraint part and said second restraint part, for permitting axial rocking motion of the base part of said massage member, wherein said protruding amount varying mechanism comprises:
a guide body which has a slot pointing in the vertical direction and is secured to said tapping driving portion;a slider which is shorter than the slot of the guide body and is free to slide in the vertical direction inside the slot; anda feed screw shaft engaging said slider, for allowing said slider to move up and down through a screw rotation, and wherein an upper edge of the slot formed in said guide body serves as the first restraint part, a lower edge of the slot serves as the second restraint part, and a midportion of the slot in the vertical direction serves as the non-restraint part.