JP7769385B2 - Massage mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a massage mechanism that can provide an effective massage to the treatment area.

Conventionally, massage machines are equipped with a massage mechanism that can massage the area to be treated. For example, a neck-hanging massage machine is equipped with a massage mechanism that can massage the neck (scruff) and shoulders. An example of such a massage machine is shown in Patent Document 1. Furthermore, chair-type massage machines are equipped with massage mechanisms that can knead and massage the back, such as the shoulders and back, and massage mechanisms that can massage the buttocks and thighs. An example of such a massage mechanism is shown in Patent Document 2.

Patent No. 7049671 JP 2016-135191 A

Patent Document 1 is capable of providing a thorough massage to the neck, shoulders, etc., and achieving a high massage effect. Patent Document 2 is capable of providing a thorough kneading massage to the shoulders, back, lumbar spine, etc., and achieving a high massage effect.

In recent years, users have expressed demand for a variety of massage sensations and for more effective massages. For example, there has been demand for massages that do not just involve a constant periodic movement (phase of the rocking motion) of the treatment area, but also for massages that allow for variations in the massage area. To date, various massage devices that can achieve a high massage effect have been commercially available, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

However, the above user needs may sometimes be met by preparing multiple devices. In this case, the user would incur a significant financial burden due to the need to purchase multiple devices.

The present invention was conceived in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a massage mechanism that can effectively apply a variety of massage actions to the user's treatment area using a single device, thereby providing a variety of kneading sensations and providing a good massage.

To achieve the above objectives, the present invention employs the following technical measures.

The massage mechanism of the present invention comprises a first massage unit having upper and lower treatment elements that grasp and massage a treatment unit by moving toward and away from each other in the vertical direction; a second massage unit that is arranged to form a pair with the first massage unit and has upper and lower treatment elements that grasp and massage another treatment unit by moving toward and away from each other in the vertical direction; a first conversion unit that converts a driving force into vertical movement and transmits it to the first massage unit; and a second conversion unit that converts a driving force into vertical movement and transmits it to the second massage unit. The massage mechanism is characterized by the fact that the timing at which the upper and lower treatment elements arranged in the first massage unit clamp together is different from the timing at which the upper and lower treatment elements arranged in the second massage unit clamp together.

Preferably, the device has a drive motor that outputs the drive force from an output shaft, and the first conversion unit is provided with a delay mechanism that shifts the timing of clamping of the first massage unit so that the clamping timing differs from the clamping timing of the second massage unit.

Preferably, the delay mechanism has a switching unit that switches the phase of the clamping action of the first massage unit depending on whether the output shaft is rotated forward or backward.

Preferably, the switching unit is configured to be able to switch between a "first clamping operation" in which the first massage unit and the second massage unit perform a clamping operation in the same phase, and a "second clamping operation" in which the first massage unit performs a clamping operation in a phase that lags behind the phase of the clamping operation of the second massage unit.

Preferably, the switching unit is a "half-rotation clutch mechanism" that switches the phase of the clamping action of the first massage unit by rotating the rotor half a turn in the forward direction or half a turn in the reverse direction around the shaft, and then delaying the clamping action of the first massage unit relative to the clamping action of the second massage unit.

Preferably, the half-turn clutch mechanism has a switching shaft on which a hook portion is formed, and a hook groove portion into which the hook portion slidably fits.

Preferably, the half-rotation clutch mechanism is configured so that when the rotating body rotates forward around the shaft, the hook rotates a half-rotation in the forward direction within the hook groove, and the hook engages with one end of the hook groove, delaying the movement of the first massage part, thereby switching the phase of the clamping action of the first massage part and the second massage part to the same phase and performing the first clamping action.

Preferably, the half-rotation clutch mechanism is configured so that when the rotating body rotates in the reverse direction around the shaft, the hook rotates a half-rotation in the reverse direction within the hook groove, and the hook engages with the other end of the hook groove, delaying the movement of the first massage part, thereby switching the first massage part to a clamping action phase that lags behind the phase of the clamping action of the second massage part, thereby performing the second clamping action.

Preferably, the first massage unit and the second massage unit are configured to be switchable between the first clamping operation and the second clamping operation by the switching unit, and in the first clamping operation, the phase of the upward and downward approaching and moving away of the upper and lower treatment elements of the first massage unit and the phase of the upward and downward approaching and moving away of the upper and lower treatment elements of the second massage unit are the same, and in the second clamping operation, the phase of the upward and downward approaching and moving away of the upper and lower treatment elements of the first massage unit and the phase of the upward and downward approaching and moving away of the upper and lower treatment elements of the second massage unit are different phases.
The most preferred embodiment of the massage mechanism according to the present invention is a massage mechanism comprising a drive motor, a rotary drive shaft rotated by the drive motor, and a first massage section and a second massage section disposed on the left and right sides of the rotary drive shaft, wherein the first massage section comprises an upper massage member having upper treatment applicators at the distal end thereof, a lower massage member having lower treatment applicators at the distal end thereof, and a first conversion section for converting the rotational drive force of the rotary drive shaft into vertical movement of the upper and lower massage members so as to move the upper and lower treatment applicators toward and away from each other in the vertical direction; and the second massage section comprises an upper massage member having upper treatment applicators at the distal end thereof, a lower massage member having lower treatment applicators at the distal end thereof, and a second conversion section for converting the rotational drive force of the rotary drive shaft into vertical movement of the upper and lower massage members so as to move the upper and lower treatment applicators toward and away from each other in the vertical direction. The first conversion unit and the second conversion unit each include a rotational boss portion that rotates integrally with the rotary drive shaft, a first cam surface and a second cam surface formed on the outer peripheral edge of each rotational boss portion, an annular fitting portion provided on the base end side of the upper massage member and fitted onto the first cam surface while its rotation with the rotary drive shaft is restricted, and an annular fitting portion provided on the base end side of the lower massage member and fitted onto the second cam surface while its rotation with the rotary drive shaft is restricted, wherein the first cam surface and the second cam surface are eccentric with respect to the axis of the rotary drive shaft, and the first conversion unit is provided with a switching portion that makes the up and down movements of the first massage unit and the second massage unit in the same phase when the rotary drive shaft rotates forward, and makes the up and down movements of the first massage unit and the second massage unit in different phases when the rotary drive shaft rotates reversely.
Preferably, the switching unit has an engagement piece that is rotatable integrally with the rotary drive shaft, and a groove portion formed in the rotary boss portion of the first conversion unit, into which the engagement piece slides freely, and when the rotary drive shaft rotates forward, the engagement piece rotates in the forward direction within the groove portion, and the engagement piece engages with one end of the groove portion, thereby causing the first massage portion and the second massage portion to perform massage operations in the same phase.
Preferably, the switching unit is configured so that when the rotary drive shaft rotates in the reverse direction, the engaging piece rotates in the reverse direction within the groove, and the engaging piece engages with the other end within the groove, causing the first massage unit to perform a massage operation in a different phase from the massage operation of the second massage unit.
Preferably, the switching portion is a half-rotation clutch mechanism in which one end of the groove and the other end of the groove are spaced 180 degrees apart.
Preferably, the first cam surface and/or the second cam surface are inclined with respect to the axis of the rotary drive shaft so that the upper and lower treatment elements can move back and forth in the left and right direction as the rotary drive shaft rotates.

The massage mechanism of the present invention effectively applies a variety of massage actions to the user's treatment area using a single device, allowing for a variety of kneading sensations and a satisfactory massage.

1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a first embodiment of a massage mechanism of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a front view showing an outline of the massage mechanism of the present invention, in which a first clamping operation (forward rotation) and a second clamping operation (reverse rotation) are switched. FIG. 10 is a front view showing the inside of the massage mechanism of the present invention, in which the first clamping operation (forward rotation) and the second clamping operation (reverse rotation) are switched. FIG. 10 is a front perspective view showing an outline of the massage mechanism of the present invention, and an exploded view showing an outline of the switching section in the same phase (forward rotation) of the swinging motion. FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view showing an outline of the massage mechanism of the present invention, and an exploded view showing an outline of the switching section in the same phase of the swinging motion (forward rotation). FIG. 10 is a rear view showing a state in which the switching unit causes the massage mechanism to perform the first clamping operation (forward rotation) in the same phase of the swinging motion, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the first right-hand rotation boss portion. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a cross section of the first right rotation boss portion (forward rotation). FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing an outline of the massage mechanism of the present invention, and an exploded view showing an outline of the switching section when the phase of the swinging motion is different (reverse rotation). FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view showing an outline of the massage mechanism of the present invention, and is an exploded view showing an outline of the switching section when the phase of the swinging motion is different (reverse rotation). FIG. 10 is a rear view showing a state in which the switching unit causes the massage mechanism to perform a second clamping operation (reverse rotation) with a different phase of the swinging motion, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss portion. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a cross section of the first right rotation boss portion (reverse rotation). FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an outline of a neck-hanging type massager (second embodiment) equipped with the massage mechanism of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a front perspective view showing an outline of the massage mechanism of the present invention, in which the first clamping operation and the second clamping operation are switched. 1A and 1B are front perspective views showing an outline of the massage mechanism of the present invention, and exploded views showing an outline of the switching section at the same phase of the swinging motion. FIG. 10 is a right side view showing a state in which the switching unit causes the massage mechanism to perform a first clamping action in the same phase of the swinging motion, and is a cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss portion. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss portion. 1A and 1B are rear perspective views showing an outline of the massage mechanism of the present invention, and exploded views showing an outline of a switching section at different phases of the swinging motion. FIG. 10 is a right side view showing a state in which the switching unit causes the massage mechanism to perform a second clamping action with a different phase of the swinging motion, and is a cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss portion. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss portion. FIG. 10 is a front perspective view showing an outline of the massage mechanism, and an exploded view showing an outline of the left conversion unit.

An embodiment of the massage mechanism 2 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Please note that the embodiment described below is an example of how the present invention is embodied, and the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this specific example.

For example, the massage mechanism 2 (switching unit 14) of the present invention may be installed in a wrap-around massager (first embodiment) or a neck-hanging massager 1 (second embodiment).

The massage mechanism 2 (switching unit 14) according to the present invention may be installed in a back massage machine that massages the shoulders, back, etc., or in a seat massage machine that massages the thighs, buttocks, etc. The massage mechanism 2 of the present invention can also be installed in a lower limb massage machine that massages the calves, feet, etc. In other words, the massage mechanism 2 (switching unit 14) according to the present invention can be installed in various massage machines or exercise machines.
[First embodiment]
The massage mechanism 2 of the first embodiment will be described taking as an example a type that is built into a wrap-around type massager.

In addition, when describing this embodiment, the front-to-back and left-to-right directions of the massage mechanism 2 are as shown in the drawings. These directions correspond to the directions as seen by a user wearing a belt-type massager incorporating the massage mechanism 2. In the following description, the directions shown in the drawings will be those used when describing the massage mechanism 2 of the present invention. In addition, for ease of viewing, some components have been omitted or drawn using virtual lines.

In regards to the massage machine of this embodiment, the left and right flexible belt-like gripping parts (not shown) can be held in the hands, and the treatment elements 4 can be pressed against areas to be treated, such as the neck, shoulders, or back, to activate the massage mechanism 2 and perform a massage. Alternatively, the left and right belt-like gripping parts can be wrapped around the lower back so that the treatment elements 4 of the massage mechanism 2 come into contact with the lower back.

Figures 1 to 11 show the configuration of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment.

The upper view of Figure 2, the upper view of Figure 3, Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 show the state in which the upper and lower treatment elements 4a and 4c on the right side and the upper and lower treatment elements 4d and 4f on the left side approach and move away from each other in the vertical direction at the same time to sandwich and massage the treatment area. In other words, they show the state in which the left and right rotating boss elements 26L and 26R are rotating forward.

The lower diagram of Figure 2, the lower diagram of Figure 3, Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 show the state in which the upper and lower treatment elements 4a and 4c on the right side rotate with a delay relative to the upper and lower treatment elements 4d and 4f on the left side, approaching and moving away from each other in the vertical direction at different times (alternately left and right) to sandwich and massage the treatment area.

In other words, the left and right rotating boss portions 26L, 26R reverse their forward rotation to rotate in the reverse direction, and the switching portion 14 (half-rotation clutch mechanism 14) causes the right rotating boss portion 26R to rotate half a rotation behind the left rotating boss portion 26L.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the state in which the right-side rotation boss 26R (the upper right treatment element 4a) rotates counterclockwise and the left-side rotation boss 26L (the upper left treatment element 4d) rotates clockwise when viewed from the front is called "forward rotation." The clamping action of the massage elements 12 during this forward rotation (simultaneous clamping action on both the left and right) is called the "first clamping action" in this embodiment.

In addition, when viewed from the front, the state in which the left rotating boss portion 26L rotates counterclockwise and the right rotating boss portion 26R (the upper right treatment element 4a) rotates clockwise, lagging (shifting) by a half rotation relative to the rotation of the left rotating boss portion 26L (the upper left treatment element 4d), is called "reverse rotation." The clamping action (alternating left and right clamping action) of the massage elements 12 during this reverse rotation is called the "second clamping action" in this embodiment.

First, the features of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment will be described below.

The massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment is characterized by a configuration in which the timing at which the upper right treatment element 4a and the lower right treatment element 4c arranged on the right massage unit 12R approach and separate (squeeze) each other is different from the timing at which the upper left treatment element 4d and the lower left treatment element 4f arranged on the left massage unit 12L approach and separate (squeeze) each other (the timing can be shifted).

In this embodiment, the first conversion unit 13R (right conversion unit 13R), which will be described later, is provided with a delay mechanism that shifts the timing at which the right massage unit 12R clamps, thereby differentiating the timing at which the right massage unit 12R and the left massage unit 12L clamp.

In other words, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment eccentrically rotates the upper right treatment element 4a and the upper left treatment element 4d in the same phase, causing the upper left and right treatment elements 4a, 4d to move closer to and away from each other in the left-right direction.

In addition, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment is characterized by the fact that the upward and downward approach and separation of the upper and lower left treatment elements 4d and 4f arranged on the left massage unit 12L is offset from the upward and downward approach and separation of the upper and lower right and left treatment elements 4a and 4c arranged on the right massage unit 12R, resulting in a pinching (grasping) massage.

In this embodiment, the massage mechanism 2 has an eccentric rotation of the upper right treatment element 4a and the upper left treatment element 4d, so that when the upper right treatment element 4a and the upper left treatment element 4d come close to each other, they can massage the treatment elements by squeezing them from the left and right.

Furthermore, when the upper right treatment element 4a and the lower right treatment element 4c are brought close to each other, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment can perform a massage that sandwiches the treatment area from above and below. Similarly, when the upper left treatment element 4d and the lower left treatment element 4f are brought close to each other, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment can perform a massage that sandwiches the treatment area from above and below.

Furthermore, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment can perform a massage in which the treatment areas are clamped alternately left and right by shifting the timing of clamping between the upper right treatment element 4a and the lower right treatment element 4c, and the upper left treatment element 4d and the lower left treatment element 4f.

In other words, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment allows the clamping action of the right massage section 12R to be changed by the switching section 14 (details will be described later), and using the upper right and lower treatment members 4a and 4c arranged on the right massage section 12R and the upper left and upper treatment members 4d and 4f arranged on the left massage section 12L, it is possible to switch between a massage in which the treatment section is clamped (grasping and kneading) alternately on the left and right, and a massage in which the treatment section is clamped (grasping and kneading) on the left and right simultaneously.

In this embodiment, when the output shaft 15a of the drive motor 15 (described in detail below) is rotated in the forward direction, the upper left treatment element 4d of the left massage section 12L rotates eccentrically (the rotation on the left side is constant).

On the other hand, when the output shaft 15a rotates forward, the operation of the right massage unit 12R is switched by the switching unit 14, and the upper right treatment element 4a rotates eccentrically in the same phase, causing the upper right treatment element 4a and the upper left treatment element 4d to move closer to and away from each other.

Furthermore, when the output shaft 15a rotates forward, the lower left treatment element 4f moves closer to and away from the upper left treatment element 4d in the vertical direction, and at the same time, the lower right treatment element 4c moves closer to and away from the upper right treatment element 4a in the vertical direction.

In this way, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment performs a "first clamping operation" in which, during forward rotation of the output shaft 15a, the upper right treatment element 4a and the upper left treatment element 4d move closer to and away from each other in the left-right direction, the upper left treatment element 4d and the lower treatment element 4f move closer to and away from each other in the up-down direction, and the upper right treatment element 4a and the lower right treatment element 4c move closer to and away from each other in the up-down direction, all at the same timing (in the same phase).

In other words, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the output shaft 15a rotates forward, the upper left and right treatment elements 4a, 4d approach each other due to eccentric rotation, clamping the treatment area from the left and right, and when the upper left and right treatment elements 4a, 4d move away from each other, the clamping of the treatment area from the left and right is loosened, and this process is repeated.

In addition, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the output shaft 15a rotates forward, the lower left treatment element 4f approaches the upper left treatment element 4d, thereby sandwiching the treatment area from above and below, and at the same time, the lower right treatment element 4c approaches the upper right treatment element 4a, thereby sandwiching the treatment area from above and below. As the upper and lower treatment elements 4d and 4f on the left move away from each other, the upper and lower treatment elements 4a and 4c on the right move away from each other, loosening the vertical sandwiching of the left and right treatment areas, and this process is repeated.

In other words, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, the upper left and right treatment applicators 4a and 4d sandwich the treatment area from the left and right, the upper right and lower treatment applicators 4a and 4c sandwich the treatment area from the top and bottom, and simultaneously the upper left and upper treatment applicators 4d and 4f sandwich the treatment area from the top and bottom, performing a gripping and kneading massage.

In addition, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the output shaft 15a of the drive motor 15 is rotated in the reverse direction, the upper left treatment element 4d of the left massage section 12L rotates eccentrically (the rotation on the left side is constant).

On the other hand, when the output shaft 15a rotates in the reverse direction, the operation of the right massage unit 12R is switched by the switching unit 14, and the upper right treatment element 4a rotates eccentrically in a different phase. As a result, the upper right treatment element 4a rotates with a delay relative to the upper left treatment element 4d. In other words, the upper right treatment element 4a and the upper left treatment element 4d rotate alternately.

In other words, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the rotation of the third gear 58R (rotating body) is switched, the third gear 58R rotates half a rotation around the second shaft member 60R (shaft body) by the switching unit 14, and the right rotation boss portion 26R starts moving half a rotation later than the rotation of the left rotation boss portion 26L. As a result, the lower right treatment element 4c starts moving half a rotation later than the lower left treatment element 4f, and the lower right treatment element 4c moves towards and away from the upper right treatment element 4a in the vertical direction at a different timing than the lower left treatment element 4f.

In other words, in the right massage unit 12R, the treatment element 4c on the lower right moves closer to and farther away from the treatment element 4f on the lower left with a phase difference of 180° in the vertical direction (the phase on the right side is variable).

In this way, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, the eccentric rotation of the upper left treatment element 4d and the eccentric rotation of the upper right treatment element 4a alternate, and the approaching and separating movements of the upper and lower treatment elements 4d and 4f on the left side are delayed (out of phase) by the approaching and separating movements of the upper and lower treatment elements 4a and 4c on the right side, thereby performing a "second clamping movement."

In other words, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the output shaft 15a rotates in the reverse direction, the upper and lower treatment elements 4d and 4f on the left side move closer to each other, clamping the left treatment area from above and below, while the upper and lower treatment elements 4a and 4c on the right side move apart, loosening the clamping force on the right treatment area from above and below.

Then, as the upper and lower treatment elements 4d and 4f on the left side move away from each other, they loosen their grip on the left treatment area from above and below, while the upper and lower treatment elements 4a and 4c on the right side move closer to each other, repeatedly clamping the right treatment area from above and below.

In other words, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, the upper and lower treatment elements 4d, 4f on the left side perform a constant approaching and separating motion, while the switching unit 14 switches the approaching and separating motion of the upper and lower treatment elements 4a, 4c on the right side to a delayed phase, so that the approaching and separating motions of the upper and lower treatment elements 4a, 4c on the right side are performed at different times, and the upper and lower treatment elements 4a, 4c on the right side and the upper and lower treatment elements 4d, 4f on the left side alternately (alternately) to sandwich the treatment elements from above and below, performing a grasping and kneading massage.

The massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment is described in detail below.

As shown in Figures 1 to 11, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment includes a drive unit 10 that is mounted on a base 9 and generates a drive force; massage units 12 that have a plurality of treatment elements 4 and are mounted on the base 9 in pairs on the left and right; and a switching unit 14 that switches the rotation of the drive force output from the drive unit 10 between forward and reverse rotation, thereby switching the phase of the clamping action of the massage units 12.

In this embodiment, the switching unit 14 is provided on the right massage unit 12R side. In other words, the phase of the clamping action of the right massage unit 12R is switched relative to the phase (constant phase) of the clamping action of the left massage unit 12L.

Figures 2 and 3 are front views showing the massage mechanism 2 during forward rotation and reverse rotation. Figure 4 is an exploded view of the switching unit 14 provided on the right massage unit 12R during forward rotation, as viewed from the front. Figure 5 is an exploded view of the switching unit 14 provided on the right massage unit 12R during forward rotation, as viewed from the rear.

Figure 6 is a rear view showing the state in which the switching unit 14 causes the massage mechanism 2 to perform the first clamping operation (forward rotation) in the same clamping operation phase, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the right-hand rotation boss portion 26R. Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the right-hand rotation boss portion 26R shown in Figure 6 (forward rotation).

Figure 8 is an exploded view of the switching unit 14 provided on the right massage unit 12R during reverse rotation, as viewed from the front. Figure 9 is an exploded view of the switching unit 14 provided on the right massage unit 12R during reverse rotation, as viewed from the rear.

Figure 10 is a rear view showing the state in which the switching unit 14 causes the massage mechanism 2 to perform a second clamping operation (reverse rotation) with a different phase of the alternating left and right clamping operation, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the right-hand rotation boss portion 26R. Figure 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the right-hand rotation boss portion 26R shown in Figure 10 (reverse rotation).

As shown in Figures 4 to 11, the drive unit 10 has a drive motor 15 that outputs a rotational drive force (drive force) and a gear case 16 that reduces the output rotational drive force to a predetermined speed.

The drive motor 15 is a two-shaft motor that can rotate forward and backward, with output shafts 15a and 15b on the left and right that output rotational driving force. The drive motor 15 is located in the center of the base 9, with output shaft 15a facing right and positioned horizontally, and output shaft 15b facing left and positioned horizontally. The rotation direction and speed of the drive motor 15 can be controlled by operating an operation panel (not shown).

The drive unit 10 of this embodiment consists of a right drive mechanism 10R that drives the right massage unit 12R with the rotational drive force output from the right output shaft 15a, and a left drive mechanism 10L that drives the left massage unit 12L with the rotational drive force output from the left output shaft 15b. First, the right drive mechanism 10R will be described. Figures 4, 5, 8, and 9 are exploded views of the right drive mechanism 10R, right conversion unit 13R (first conversion unit 13R), and switching unit 14.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, 8, and 9, the right drive mechanism 10R is made up of multiple gears as described below. A worm gear is attached to the right output shaft 15a and is disposed in a gear case 16. The right worm gear 15a meshes with a first gear 56R in the gear case 16. The right first gear 56R is disposed above the worm gear 15a.

The first gear 56R is a disk-shaped gear with a through-hole 56a in the center. A first shaft member 59R provided on the substrate 9 is inserted into the through-hole 56a of the first gear 56R. A second gear 57R is provided in front of the first gear 56R.

The second gear 57R on the right has a smaller diameter than the first gear 56R and has a through-hole 57a in its center. The through-hole 57a of the second gear 57R communicates with the through-hole 56a of the first gear 56R and is coaxial with it. A first shaft member 59R attached to the base plate 9 is inserted into the through-holes 57a and 56a. In other words, the first gear 56R and second gear 57R are an integrated, flange-shaped, two-stage gear that is rotatably supported by the first shaft member 59R.

A third gear 58R is provided above the second gear 57R. The right-hand third gear 58R meshes with the second gear 57R. The third gear 58R is a disk-shaped gear with a larger diameter than the second gear 57R. A through-hole 58a is provided in the center of the third gear 58R. A second shaft member 60R provided on the substrate 9 is inserted into the through-hole 58a of the third gear 58R. In other words, the third gear 58R is rotatably supported by the second shaft member 60R.

The rotational driving force of the drive motor 15 is transmitted from the worm gear 15a to the first gear 56R, and then to the third gear 58R via the second gear 57R, which rotates integrally with the first gear 56R.

The massage mechanism 2 of the present invention is equipped with a delay mechanism that shifts the clamping timing of the right massage unit 12R and the left massage unit 12L. This delay mechanism is provided in the right conversion unit 13R (first conversion unit 13R) and has a switching unit 14 that switches the phase of the clamping action of the left and right massage units 12.

As shown in Figures 4 to 11, in this embodiment, the switching unit 14 is provided on the base end side of the right massage unit 12R. Note that the switching unit 14 may also be provided on the base end side of the left massage unit 12L.

The switching unit 14 switches the phase of the clamping action (periodic action) of the right massage unit 12R relative to the phase of the clamping action (constant phase) of the left massage unit 12L by rotating the output shafts 15a and 15b of the drive motor 15 forward and backward.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the switching unit 14 of this embodiment is configured to be able to switch between a "first clamping operation" in which the clamping operations of the pair of left and right massage units 12 are performed in the same phase, and a "second clamping operation" in which, after one of the left and right massage units 12 (in this embodiment, the left massage unit 12L) has started moving, the clamping operation of the other massage unit 12 (the right massage unit 12R) is performed in a phase that is delayed relative to the phase of the clamping operation of the other massage unit 12.

In this embodiment, when the rotating boss portion 26 is rotating forward, the switching unit 14 switches to the "first clamping operation," and when the rotating boss portion 26 is rotating backward, the switching unit 14 switches to the "second clamping operation."

The switching unit 14 can switch between the first clamping operation and the second clamping operation by delaying the start of movement of the right conversion unit 13R after the left conversion unit 13L (second conversion unit 13L) has started moving.

The switching unit 14 preferably functions as a "rotation clutch mechanism" that rotates the rotor in the forward or reverse direction around the shaft by a predetermined angle (e.g., 1/4 rotation, 1/3 rotation, 1/2 rotation (half rotation)), and then delays the movement of the right massage unit 12R by the amount of rotation, thereby switching the phase of the clamping action of the massage unit 12. The rotor is the member on which the hook 51 (described below) is provided, and in this embodiment, the rotor is the third gear 58R. In this embodiment, the shaft is the second shaft member 60R.

In this embodiment, the switching unit 14 employs a "half-rotation clutch mechanism" that switches the phase of the clamping action of the right massage part 12R by rotating the third gear 58R (switching shaft 53) half a turn in the forward direction or half a turn in the reverse direction around the axis of the second shaft member 60R (shaft body), and then delaying the movement of the right massage part 12R by a phase difference of 180° relative to the movement of the left massage part 12L.

In other words, in this embodiment, the delay operation of the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 provided on the right-hand rotation boss 26R and the right-side third gear 58R causes the right-hand rotation boss 26R to begin rotating half a rotation behind the rotation of the left-hand rotation boss 26L, thereby switching the right massage part 12R to a clamping action phase that is delayed relative to the clamping action phase of the left massage part 12L. However, the "half-rotation clutch mechanism 14" is intended to include angles other than half a rotation (180°). Examples include 120° and 90°.

As shown in Figures 4 to 11, the half-turn clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14) of this embodiment has a hook portion 51 that switches between the first clamping operation and the second clamping operation, a hook groove portion 52 into which the hook portion 51 slidably fits, and a switching shaft 53 on which the hook portion 51 is mounted.

In this embodiment, the third gear 58R is provided with a hook portion 51, and this third gear 58R serves as the switching shaft 53. The third gear 58R rotates a half turn in the forward or reverse direction relative to the second shaft member 60R, and then rotates the right-hand rotation boss portion 26R.

In this embodiment, the hook portion 51 is provided on the front side of the third gear 58R (rotating body) so as to protrude forward. The hook portion 51 is a plate member that protrudes forward in the axial direction of the second shaft member 60R (shaft body) and is curved along the outer periphery of the second shaft member 60R. In other words, the hook portion 51 can be considered a curved bulging piece that follows the hook groove portion 52 described below.

The hook portion 51 is a curved member having a side wall of the same arc shape as the outer peripheral curved surface of the second shaft member 60R, and two end walls 51a, 51b. One end wall 51a is a wall surface that engages with the first rotation switching portion 54 of the hook groove portion 52 during forward rotation. The other end wall 51b is a wall surface that engages with the second rotation switching portion 55 of the hook groove portion 52 during reverse rotation.

In other words, the hook portion 51 is shaped to fit into the hook groove portion 52, and its length (height) in the front-to-rear direction is approximately the same as that of the hook groove portion 52. The hook portion 51 slides within the hook groove portion 52 around the axis of the second shaft member 60R.

In this embodiment, the hook groove portion 52 is provided on the rear surface side of the right rotation boss portion 26R, with the groove opening rearward. In a rear cross-sectional view, the hook groove portion 52 is a groove having a crescent-shaped (C-shaped) track that circles the outer periphery of the second shaft member 60R. The hook groove portion 52 is provided along the outer periphery of the second shaft member 60R and is a long (deep) groove in the axial direction of the second shaft member 60R.

That is, the hook groove portion 52 is a curved groove that is the same arc as the outer curved surface of the hook portion 51. The hook groove portion 52 is also a curved groove that follows the hook portion 51. In other words, the hook groove portion 52 is shaped to fit the hook portion 51, and its length (depth) in the front-to-rear direction is approximately the same as the height of the hook portion 51.

This hook groove portion 52 is an arc-shaped groove that circles the outer periphery of the second shaft member 60R, forming an orbit with two end walls. These two end walls, i.e., side wall portions 54, 55, serve as rotation switching portions 54, 55 that switch the rotation of the third gear 58R supported by the second shaft member 60R.

When the third gear 58R supported by the second shaft member 60R rotates forward or backward, the rotation switching units 54, 55 engage the hook portion 51, which has rotated half a turn, to delay the operation of the right conversion unit 13R (details described below) and switch the clamping action of the right massage unit 12R.

In this embodiment, one end wall 54 provided in the semicircular hook groove portion 52 is the first rotation switching portion 54. The first rotation switching portion 54 is a portion for synchronizing the operation of the left and right conversion portions 13L, 13R during forward rotation of the third gear 58R supported by the second shaft member 60R.

In other words, during forward rotation of the third gear 58R (switching shaft 53), the hook portion 51 of the third gear 58R rotates a half turn in the forward direction around the axis of the second shaft member 60R, and then one end wall 51a of the hook portion 51 engages with the first rotation switching portion 54, causing the right rotation boss portion 26R to begin rotating together with the left rotation boss portion 26L. This coordinates the movements of the left and right conversion portions 13L, 13R, and switches the right massage portion 12R to the "first clamping operation."

The other end wall 55 provided on the semicircular hook groove portion 52 is the second rotation switching portion 55. The second rotation switching portion 55 is a portion that delays the operation of the right conversion portion 13R relative to the operation of the left conversion portion 13L during reverse rotation of the third gear 58R supported by the second shaft member 60R.

In other words, during reverse rotation of the third gear 58R (switching shaft 53), the hook portion 51 of the third gear 58R rotates a half turn in the reverse direction around the axis of the second shaft member 60R, and then the other end wall 51b of the hook portion 51 engages with the second rotation switching portion 55, causing the right rotation boss portion 26R to begin rotating half a turn behind the rotation of the left rotation boss portion 26L. This delays the operation of the right conversion portion 13R relative to the operation of the left conversion portion 13L, and switches the right massage portion 12R (details described below) to the "second clamping operation."

As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14) of this embodiment operates as follows: when the third gear 58R (switching shaft 53) supported by the second shaft member 60R rotates half a turn in the forward direction around the axis of the second shaft member 60R, one end 51a of the hook portion 51 engages with the first rotation switching unit 54 (one end 54) within the hook groove portion 52, the right conversion unit 13R starts to move with a delay, the operations of the left and right conversion units 13L, 13R become synchronized, and the phases of the clamping operations of the right massage unit 12R and left massage unit 12L are switched to the same phase, performing the first clamping operation (massage during forward rotation).

As shown in Figures 8 to 11, in the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 of this embodiment, when the third gear 58R (switching shaft 53) supported by the second shaft member 60R rotates a half-rotation in the reverse direction around the axis of the second shaft member 60R, the other end 51b of the hook portion 51 engages with the second rotation switching portion 55 (the other end 55) in the hook groove portion 52. This causes the right conversion portion 13R to start moving later than the left conversion portion 13L, delaying the movement of the right massage portion 12R. As a result, the right massage portion 12R is switched to a clamping action phase that lags behind the clamping action phase of the left massage portion 12L, thereby performing the second clamping action (massage during reverse rotation).

Until the hook 51 engages with the first rotation switch 54 or the second rotation switch 55 (while the third gear 58R (switch shaft 53) rotates half a turn), the left rotation boss 26L continues to rotate, but the right rotation boss 26R remains temporarily stopped. In other words, the left massage part 12L (left massage member 24L) performs a clamping action, but the right massage part 12R (right massage member 24R) remains temporarily stopped.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, 8, and 9, the right rotation boss 26R is a member provided on the upper part of the right massage member 24R. The right rotation boss 26R is a member with a disk-shaped cylindrical member (rear cylindrical member 36R) at the rear and a small-diameter cylindrical member (front cylindrical member 37R) at the front. In other words, the right rotation boss 26R is a member formed in a flange shape.

A hole 38R into which the second shaft member 60R is inserted is formed in the axis of the rear cylindrical portion 36R (the center of the right rotation boss portion 26R). The rear cylindrical portion 36R also has a hook groove 52 formed around the outside of the hole 38R.

The front tubular portion 37R is located in front of the rear tubular portion 36R. The front tubular portion 37R is eccentric with respect to the rear tubular portion 36R. In other words, the axis of the front tubular portion 37R facing in the front-to-rear direction is located at a different position from the axis of the rear tubular portion 36R facing in the front-to-rear direction.

A star-shaped engagement portion 37a is formed at the front of the front tube portion 37R to secure the upper right treatment element 4a (upper treatment element 4a). As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upper right treatment element 4a is a slightly long, roughly bale-shaped member, the base end of which is secured to the engagement portion 37a. The upper right treatment element 4a rotates eccentrically around the engagement portion 37a. The tip of the upper right treatment element 4a is provided with multiple pressing portions that press against the treatment element.

The front cylinder portion 37R is inserted into the through-hole 24a provided at the base end of the right massage member 24R. This allows the right massage member 24R to be rotatably attached to the right rotation boss portion 26R. Furthermore, a star-shaped fitting portion (not shown) formed in the upper right treatment element 4a engages with the engagement portion 37a protruding from the through-hole 24a, thereby fixing the upper right treatment element 4a to the right rotation boss portion 26R. When the right rotation boss portion 26R rotates, the upper right treatment element 4a rotates.

The hook portion 51 of the third gear 58R is slidably fitted into the hook groove portion 52 of the rear tubular portion 36R, and as the third gear 58R rotates, the hook portion 51 engages with the hook groove portion 52, causing the rear tubular portion 36R to rotate around the axis of the second shaft member 60R, while the front tubular portion 37R rotates eccentrically relative to the second shaft member 60R.

As a result, due to the eccentric rotation of the right rotation boss portion 26R relative to the second shaft member 60R, the upper right treatment head 4a rotates eccentrically around an axis facing in the front-to-back direction, and the right massage member 24R performs a clamping action from above, below, left, and right.

The massage unit 12 consists of a right massage unit 12R that massages the treatment area on the right side, and a left massage unit 12L that massages the treatment area on the left side. First, the right massage unit 12R will be described. Figures 4, 5, 8, and 9 are exploded views of the right drive mechanism 10R, right massage unit 12R, right conversion unit 13R, and switching unit 14.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, 8, 9, etc., a right converter 13R is provided at the base end of the right massage part 12R, converting the rotational driving force into a clamping motion (up-and-down swinging motion) and transmitting it to the right massage part 12R. In this embodiment, the right converter 13R is a right rotation boss part 26R. The right converter 13R converts the rotation of the third gear 58R into a clamping motion (up-and-down swinging motion) of the right massage member 24R by eccentrically rotating the right rotation boss part 26R.

The right massage section 12R has a right massage member 24R that massages the treatment area on the right side. The right massage member 24R is an arm-shaped member that is long in the vertical direction. The base end of the right massage member 24R is provided with a through-hole 24a into which the front tubular section 37R of the right rotation boss section 26R is inserted. The inner diameter of the through-hole 24a is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the front tubular section 37R. A restriction groove 24b that is long in the vertical direction is provided in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the right massage member 24R.

The restriction groove 24b restricts the right massage member 24R from rotating together with the front tubular portion 37R. A restriction pin (not shown) is slidably provided in the restriction groove 24b. This restriction pin is screwed to the tip of the first shaft member 59R.

When the right-hand rotating boss 26R rotates eccentrically, the restricting pin slides in the restricting groove 24b in a generally vertical direction, restricting the right massage member 24R from rotating together with the right-hand rotating boss 26R, allowing the right massage member 24R to oscillate up and down. The right massage member 24R and right-hand rotating boss 26R form a slider-crank mechanism.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tip of the right massage member 24R is slightly bent outward. This bent shape allows the right massage member 24R to move not only up and down but also left and right during clamping. A base 24c is provided at the tip of the right massage member 24R to which the lower right treatment element 4c (lower treatment element 4c) is attached.

The treatment element 4c on the lower right is attached to the base 24c so that it can rotate freely around an axis facing the front-to-rear direction. This treatment element 4c on the lower right is a member with a spherical tip, and the spherical surface is provided with multiple pressing parts that press against the treatment element.

In other words, when the third gear 58R rotates, the right rotating boss 26R (right conversion part 13R) rotates eccentrically relative to the second shaft member 60R, converting it into a clamping motion (up-and-down swinging motion). This causes the right massage member 24R to swing up, down, left, and right, which in turn causes the treatment head 4c on the lower right to swing up, down, left, and right.

Now, we will explain the left drive mechanism 10L. Note that the left drive mechanism 10L has a similar shape, mirror-imaged from the right drive mechanism 10R, so a detailed description will be omitted.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, 8, and 9, the left drive mechanism 10L is composed of multiple gears, as described below. A worm gear is attached to the left output shaft 15b and is arranged inside the gear case 16. The left worm gear 15b meshes with the first gear 56L arranged above it.

The first gear 56L on the left side is a disk-shaped gear with a through-hole 56b in the center. A first shaft member 59L provided on the base plate 9 is inserted into the through-hole 56b. A second gear 57L is provided in front of the first gear 56L.

The second gear 57L on the left side has a through-hole 57b in its center. The through-hole 57b communicates with the through-hole 56b and is coaxial with it, and a first shaft member 59L is inserted into the through-holes 57b and 56b. The first gear 56L and second gear 57L are an integrated, flange-shaped, two-stage gear that is rotatably supported by the first shaft member 59L.

The third gear 58L on the left side meshes with the second gear 57L located below. The third gear 58L is a disk-shaped gear with a larger diameter than the second gear 57L, and has a through-hole 58b in its center. The second shaft member 60L provided on the base plate 9 is inserted into the through-hole 58b.

The third gear 58L is rotatably supported by the second shaft member 60L. The rotational driving force of the drive motor 15 is transmitted from the worm gear 15b to the first gear 56L, and then to the third gear 58L via the second gear 57L, which rotates integrally with the first gear 56L.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, 8, and 9, the left rotation boss portion 26L is a member provided on the upper part of the left massage member 24L. In this embodiment, the left rotation boss portion 26L is a flange-shaped member integrally molded with the third gear 58L.

This left rotation boss portion 26L has a disk-shaped rear cylindrical portion 36L, with a small-diameter front cylindrical portion 37L located in front of it. A hole 38L into which the second shaft member 60L is inserted is formed in the axis of the rear cylindrical portion 36L (the center of the left rotation boss portion 26L). The front cylindrical portion 37L is located eccentrically with respect to the rear cylindrical portion 36L.

A star-shaped engagement portion 37b is formed at the front of the front cylindrical portion 37L to secure the upper left treatment head 4d (upper treatment head 4d). The base end of the upper left treatment head 4d is fixed to the engagement portion 37b, and the upper left treatment head 4d rotates eccentrically around the engagement portion 37b.

The upper left treatment element 4d has approximately the same shape as the upper right treatment element 4a. The front cylinder portion 37L is inserted into the through-hole 24b provided at the base end of the left massage member 24L. This allows the left massage member 24L to be rotatably attached to the left rotation boss portion 26L.

Furthermore, a star-shaped fitting portion (not shown) formed in the upper left treatment head 4d engages with the engagement portion 37b protruding from the through-hole 24b, thereby fixing the upper left treatment head 4d to the left rotation boss portion 26L.

When the left rotating boss 26L rotates, the upper left treatment element 4d rotates. Rotation of the third gear 58L causes the left rotating boss 26L to rotate eccentrically relative to the second shaft member 60L, causing the upper left treatment element 4d to rotate eccentrically around an axis facing forward and backward, and the left massage element 24L to oscillate up and down and left and right.

Next, we will explain the left massage part 12L. Note that the left massage part 12L has a similar shape to the right massage part 12R, but mirrored left and right, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, 8, and 9, a left conversion unit 13L is provided at the base end of the left massage unit 12L. This conversion unit converts the rotational driving force into a clamping motion (up-and-down swinging motion) and transmits it to the left massage unit 12L.

In this embodiment, the left conversion portion 13L is a left rotation boss portion 26L. The left conversion portion 13L converts the rotation of the third gear 58L into a clamping motion (up-and-down swinging motion) of the left massage member 24L by eccentrically rotating the left rotation boss portion 26L.

The left massage section 12L has a left massage member 24L that massages the treatment area on the right side. The left massage member 24L is an arm-shaped member that is long in the vertical direction. The base end of the left massage member 24L has a through-hole 24d into which the front cylindrical portion 37L of the left rotation boss portion 26L is inserted.

A long vertical restriction groove 24e is provided in the middle of the left massage member 24L in the longitudinal direction. The restriction groove 24e restricts the left massage member 24L from co-rotating with the front tube portion 37L. When the left rotation boss portion 26L rotates eccentrically, the restriction pin slides in the restriction groove 24e in a substantially vertical direction, restricting the left massage member 24L from co-rotating with the left rotation boss portion 26L and allowing the left massage member 24L to oscillate up and down.

When the left rotating boss 26L rotates, the front tubular portion 37L rotates eccentrically relative to the second shaft member 60L, causing the left massage member 24L to swing up and down. In other words, the left massage member 24L and the left rotating boss 26L form a slider-crank mechanism.

The tip of the left massage member 24L is slightly bent outward and has a base 24f to which the lower left treatment element 4f (lower treatment element 4f) is rotatably attached. The lower left treatment element 4f has approximately the same shape as the lower right treatment element 4c.

In other words, when the third gear 58L rotates, the left rotating boss portion 26L (left conversion portion 13L) rotates eccentrically relative to the second shaft member 60L and converts it into a clamping action (up and down swinging movement), causing the left massage member 24L to swing up and down and left and right, and accordingly the treatment element 4f on the lower left side swings up and down and left and right.
[Operation mode]
Next, the operation of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First clamping operation (forward rotation)>
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment when rotated forward, as seen from the front. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment when rotated forward, as seen from the rear. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment when rotated forward, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the right rotation boss portion 26R.

Figures 4 to 6 show the state in which, when the third gear 58R is rotating forward, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14) rotates the third gear 58R half a turn in the forward direction, and then the right-hand rotation boss 26R rotates forward, causing the left massage part 12L and the right massage part 12R to switch to oscillating rotation in the same phase, thereby performing the first clamping action (clamping massage during forward rotation). Figure 7 is an enlarged view of Figure 6, showing a cross-section of the right-hand rotation boss 26R.

The user wraps the left and right belts (not shown) provided on the massage mechanism 2 around their waist, for example, so that the upper, lower, left, and right treatment elements 4a, 4c, 4d, and 4f touch the waist. The user operates the operation panel (not shown) provided on the massage mechanism 2 to issue a command to perform, for example, the first clamping operation, i.e., a forward rotation massage. The drive unit 10 drives the right drive mechanism 10R and the left drive mechanism 10L in response to the command.

As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the left drive mechanism 10L transmits the rotational drive force of the positive rotation direction component output from the left output shaft 15b of the drive motor 15 to the left rotation boss portion 26L. At the same time, the drive motor 15 simultaneously outputs the rotational drive force of the positive rotation direction component from the right output shaft 15a.

The rotational drive force of the forward rotation direction component is transmitted from the left output shaft 15b to the first gear 56L on the left side, rotating the two-stage gear consisting of the first gear 56L and second gear 57L. The rotational drive force of the forward rotation direction component is transmitted from the second gear 57L to the third gear 58L, causing the third gear 58L to rotate in the forward rotation direction (toward the left of the device, counterclockwise when viewed from the rear in Figure 6). As the third gear 58L rotates forward, the left rotation boss portion 26L, which is integral with the third gear 58L, rotates in the forward rotation direction.

By converting the left conversion unit 13L into a constant-phase up-and-down swinging motion, the left massage member 24L (left massage unit 12L) performs a clamping motion at a constant phase. The upper left treatment element 4d rotates eccentrically outward to the left of the device, approaching the lower left treatment element 4f and performing a clamping motion.

On the other hand, the right drive mechanism 10R transmits the rotational drive force in the forward direction output from the right output shaft 15a of the drive motor 15 to the right rotation boss portion 26R. The rotational drive force component in the forward direction is transmitted from the right output shaft 15a to the first gear 56R on the right side, causing the two-stage gear consisting of the first gear 56R and the second gear 57R to rotate.

The rotational driving force of the forward rotation direction component is transmitted from the second gear 57R to the third gear 58R (rotating body), causing the third gear 58R to rotate in the forward rotation direction (outward to the right of the device). As the third gear 58R rotates forward, the hook portion 51 slides within the hook groove portion 52 of the right rotation boss portion 26R in the forward circumferential direction (clockwise when viewed from behind in Figure 6), causing it to rotate a half turn in the forward rotation direction around the axis of the second shaft member 60R (shaft body).

The right conversion portion 13R rotates a half rotation in the forward direction around the axis of the second shaft member 60R due to the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching portion 14), causing the right rotation boss portion 26R to begin rotating in the forward direction half a rotation behind the rotation of the left rotation boss portion 26L.

In other words, the third gear 58R of the right conversion unit 13R rotates freely in the forward direction for a half rotation. After that, the right conversion unit 13R synchronizes with the rotation of the left conversion unit 13L, and the right massage unit 12R performs a clamping motion in the same phase as the left massage unit 12L.

Specifically, when the third gear 58R rotates in the forward direction, the hook portion 51 slides in the forward circumferential direction within the semicircular hook groove portion 52. The third gear 58R rotates idle around the axis of the second shaft member 60R for one half rotation in the forward direction.

When the third gear 58R (switching shaft 53) rotates half a turn in the forward direction, the half-turn clutch mechanism 14 causes one end wall 51a of the hook portion 51 to engage with the first rotation switching portion 54 (one end wall 54) within the hook groove portion 52. The right-hand rotation boss portion 26R begins to move half a turn behind the rotation of the left-hand rotation boss portion 26L, and as the third gear 58R rotates forward, the right-hand rotation boss portion 26R also rotates forward.

By delaying the movement of the right conversion unit 13R and converting it into an up-and-down swinging motion with the same constant phase as the left conversion unit 13L, the right massage member 24R (right massage unit 12R) performs a clamping motion with a constant phase. The upper right treatment element 4a rotates eccentrically outward to the right of the device, approaching the lower right treatment element 4c and performing a clamping motion.

Until the hook 51 engages with the first rotation switching part 54 (while the third gear 58R, which is the switching shaft 53, rotates a half turn in the forward direction), the left massage part 12L (left massage member 24L) continues to clamp, but the right massage part 12R (right massage member 24R) is temporarily stopped.

The half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 causes the right rotating boss 26R to rotate in the same clamping phase as the left rotating boss 26L. In other words, the left and right conversion units 13L, 13R are synchronized and converted into swinging motions of the same phase, and the right massage member 24R and the left massage member 24L begin to move in the same phase. In this way, the right massage unit 12R and the left massage unit 12L switch to clamping motions of the same phase, performing the first clamping motion.

In other words, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 synchronizes the conversion operation of the left rotating boss portion 26L (left conversion portion 13L) to the left massage portion 12L with the conversion operation of the right rotating boss portion 26R (right conversion portion 13R) to the right massage portion 12R, switching the left massage portion 12L and the right massage portion 12R to a clamping operation in the same phase, thereby performing the first clamping operation.

As a result, the left and right massage members 24L, 24R oscillate in the same clamping phase. The right massage member 24R can massage the treatment area on the upper right side of the user by eccentrically rotating the treatment element 4a on the upper right side outward to the right. Furthermore, the right massage member 24R can massage the treatment area on the lower right side of the user by oscillating the treatment element 4c on the lower right side up, down, left, and right.

On the other hand, the left massage member 24L can massage the treatment area on the upper left side of the user by eccentrically rotating the upper left treatment element 4d outward to the left, and can massage the treatment area on the lower left side of the user by swinging the lower left treatment element 4f up and down and left and right.
<Second clamping operation (reverse rotation)>
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment when rotated in reverse, as seen from the front. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment when rotated in reverse, as seen from the rear. Fig. 10 is a rear view of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment when rotated in reverse, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the right-hand rotation boss portion 26R.

Figures 8 to 10 show the state in which the right rotation boss 26R rotates in the reverse direction after the third gear 58R rotates half a turn in the reverse direction due to the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14), causing the right massage part 12R to switch to a pinching operation phase that lags behind the pinching operation phase of the left massage part 12L, thereby performing the second pinching operation. Figure 11 is an enlarged view of Figure 10, showing a cross-section of the right rotation boss 26R.

The user operates the operation panel provided on the massage mechanism 2 to perform the second clamping operation, i.e., a switching operation to perform a massage during reverse rotation. In response to the switching instruction, the drive unit 10 switches the rotation direction to reverse rotation and drives the right drive mechanism 10R and left drive mechanism 10L.

8 to 11, when the left drive mechanism 10L is switched to reverse rotation in response to a switching command, it transmits to the left rotation boss portion 26L the rotational drive force of the reverse rotation direction component output from the left output shaft 15b of the drive motor 15. At this time, the drive motor 15 simultaneously outputs the rotational drive force of the reverse rotation direction component from the right output shaft 15a.

The rotational drive force of the reverse rotation direction component is transmitted from the left output shaft 15b to the first gear 56L on the left side, causing the two-stage gear consisting of the first gear 56L and the second gear 57L to rotate. The rotational drive force of the reverse rotation direction component is transmitted from the second gear 57L to the third gear 58L, causing the third gear 58L to rotate in the reverse rotation direction (toward the inward right of the device, clockwise when viewed from the rear in Figure 10).

As the third gear 58L rotates in the reverse direction, the left rotating boss 26L, which is integrated with the third gear 58L, rotates in the reverse direction. The left conversion section 13L converts this into a constant-phase up-and-down swinging motion, causing the left massage member 24L (left massage section 12L) to perform a clamping motion at a constant phase. The upper left treatment element 4d rotates eccentrically inward to the right of the device, approaching the lower left treatment element 4f and performing a clamping motion.

On the other hand, when the right drive mechanism 10R is switched to reverse rotation in response to a switching command, it transmits the rotational drive force of the reverse rotation component output from the right output shaft 15a of the drive motor 15 to the right rotation boss portion 26R. The rotational drive force of the reverse rotation component is transmitted from the right output shaft 15a to the first gear 56R on the right side, causing the two-stage gear consisting of the first gear 56R and the second gear 57R to rotate.

A rotational drive force with a reverse rotational component is transmitted from the second gear 57R to the third gear 58R (rotating body), causing the third gear 58R to rotate in the reverse rotational direction (toward the left inward direction of the device). As the third gear 58R rotates in the reverse direction, the hook portion 51 slides within the hook groove portion 52 of the right-hand rotation boss portion 26R in the reverse circumferential direction (counterclockwise when viewed from behind in Figure 10), causing it to rotate a half turn in the reverse rotational direction around the axis of the second shaft member 60R (shaft body).

The right conversion portion 13R rotates in the reverse direction half a rotation around the axis of the second shaft member 60R due to the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching portion 14), causing the right rotation boss portion 26R to begin rotating in the reverse direction half a rotation behind the rotation of the left rotation boss portion 26L.

In other words, in the right conversion unit 13R, the third gear 58R rotates freely in the reverse direction for a half rotation. After that, the right conversion unit 13R rotates differently from the left conversion unit 13L, and the right massage unit 12R performs a clamping motion in a different phase from the left massage unit 12L.

Specifically, when the third gear 58R rotates in the reverse direction, the hook portion 51 slides in the circumferential direction of the reverse rotation within the semicircular hook groove portion 52. The third gear 58R rotates idle in the reverse direction around the axis of the second shaft member 60R by half a rotation.

When the third gear 58R (switching shaft 53) rotates half a turn in the reverse direction, the half-turn clutch mechanism 14 causes the other end wall 51b of the hook portion 51 to engage with the second rotation switching portion 55 (the other end wall 55) within the hook groove portion 52. The right-hand rotation boss portion 26R begins to move half a turn behind the rotation of the left-hand rotation boss portion 26L, and the right-hand rotation boss portion 26R rotates in the same reverse direction as the third gear 58R rotates in the reverse direction.

By delaying the movement of the right conversion unit 13R and converting it into an up-and-down swinging motion with a different phase from that of the left conversion unit 13L, the right massage member 24R (right massage unit 12R) performs a clamping motion with a different phase.

The upper right treatment element 4a rotates eccentrically inward to the left of the device, approaching the lower right treatment element 4c and performing a clamping action later than the clamping action of the upper left treatment element 4d and the lower left treatment element 4f. Looking at it from another perspective, it could also be seen that the clamping action of the right treatment elements 4a and 4c occurs first, and the clamping action of the left treatment elements 4d and 4f occurs later.

Until the hook 51 engages with the second rotation switching part 55 (while the third gear 58R, which is the switching shaft 53, rotates a half turn in the reverse direction), the left massage part 12L (left massage member 24L) continues to clamp, but the right massage part 12R (right massage member 24R) is temporarily stopped.

The half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 causes the right rotating boss portion 26R to start moving later than the left rotating boss portion 26L, rotating at a different phase from the rotational phase of the left rotating boss portion 26L. In other words, the right converting portion 13R converts the swinging motion of the left converting portion 13L into a swinging motion that is a delayed phase, and the right massage member 24R starts moving after the swinging motion of the left massage member 24L. In this way, the right massage portion 12R and the left massage portion 12L switch to a clamping motion with a different phase, performing the second clamping motion.

In other words, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 performs a delayed conversion operation that delays the conversion operation of the right rotating boss portion 26R (right conversion portion 13R) into the right massage portion 12R relative to the conversion operation of the left rotating boss portion 26L (left conversion portion 13L) into the left massage portion 12L, and switches to a second clamping operation that delays the phase of the clamping operation of the right massage portion 12R relative to the phase of the clamping operation of the left massage portion 12L.

As a result, the right massage member 24R has a different clamping action phase (delayed gripping and kneading action) from the left massage member 24L, and by causing the upper right treatment element 4a to rotate eccentrically (rotate inward to the left) differently (half a rotation behind) relative to the eccentric rotation (rotation inward to the right) of the upper left treatment element 4d, it is possible to massage the treatment area on the upper right side of the user.

In addition, the right massage member 24R can massage the treatment area on the lower right side of the user by moving the treatment element 4c on the lower right side closer and farther away in different (delayed) directions in response to the up/down/left/right rocking movement of the treatment element 4f on the lower left side.

The left massage member 24L can massage the treatment area on the upper left side of the user by eccentrically rotating the upper left treatment element 4d inward to the right. The left massage member 24L can also massage the treatment area on the lower left side of the user by swinging the lower left treatment element 4f up and down and left and right.

In other words, the right massage unit 12R can perform a pressure massage, for example, from the lower back to the lower back on the right side. The left massage unit 12L can perform a pressure massage, for example, from the lower back to the lower back on the left side. In this way, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 can switch between the first clamping operation and the second clamping operation by rotating the third gear 58R (switching shaft 53) forward or backward.

In the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the third gear 58R is rotated forward or backward to perform a massage, the upper and lower treatment elements 4a and 4c on the right side and the upper and lower treatment elements 4d and 4f on the left side move to sandwich the treatment area. However, because they are made of an elastic material (e.g., a material that deforms when pressed firmly), they deform appropriately, allowing for a comfortable massage to be given to the treatment area.

For example, as shown in Figure 1, the tip sides of the upper right treatment element 4a and the upper left treatment element 4d are formed from a rubber-like material. Furthermore, it is preferable to hollow out the thick portions of the tip sides of the upper right and left treatment elements 4a and 4d (by making the inside concave and erecting ribs to create space), thereby creating a structure that provides elastic strength and flexes when the upper right and left treatment elements 4a and 4d and the lower right and left treatment elements 4c and 4f sandwich the treatment area.

That is, the tips of the upper right and left treatment elements 4a and 4d should be covered with a rubber-like material, and a space should be provided within the area where they come into contact with the treatment area, allowing for appropriate deformation. The lower right and left treatment elements 4c and 4f should also be made of an elastic material.

In summary, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 of this embodiment rotates the third gear 58R, which is the switching shaft 53, in the forward direction, engaging one end wall 51a of the hook portion 51 with the first rotation switching portion 54 within the hook groove portion 52. This delays the rotation of the right rotation boss portion 26R by half a rotation relative to the rotation of the left rotation boss portion 26L, thereby synchronizing the rotation of the left and right rotation boss portions 26R, 26L and switching the phase of the clamping action of the right massage portion 12R and the phase of the clamping action of the left massage portion 12L to "the same phase."

This allows the left massage member 24L and the right massage member 24R to massage the lower back in the same clamping phase.

In addition, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 of this embodiment reverses the rotation of the third gear 58R, which is the switching shaft 53, and engages the other end wall 51b of the hook portion 51 with the second rotation switching portion 55 in the hook groove portion 52, thereby delaying the rotation of the right rotation boss portion 26R by half a rotation relative to the rotation of the left rotation boss portion 26L, thereby operating the right massage portion 12R.This switches the phase of the clamping action of the right massage portion 12R to a "delayed clamping action phase" relative to the phase of the clamping action of the left massage portion 12L.

As a result, the right massage member 24R can massage the user's right lower back at a different clamping phase than the left massage member 24L. In other words, the left massage section 12L (left massage member 24L) can perform a pressure massage from the left lower back to the lower back, and the right massage section 12R (right massage member 24R) can perform a pressure massage from the right lower back to the lower back.

In other words, in the switching unit 14 (half-rotation clutch mechanism 14) of this embodiment, when the third gear 58R (switching shaft 53), which is a rotating body, rotates half a turn in either the forward or reverse direction around the axis of the second shaft member 60R, which is a shaft body, and the hook portion 51 provided on the third gear 58R engages with the end walls 54, 55 (first rotation switching unit 54 or second rotation switching unit 55) within the hook groove portion 52 provided on the right rotation boss portion 26R, the right rotation boss portion 26R begins to rotate half a turn behind the rotation of the left rotation boss portion 26L, thereby switching the phase of the clamping action of the right massage portion 12R.

In other words, the pair of left and right massage parts 12 has a first massage part 12R (right massage part 12R) and a second massage part 12L (left massage part 12L).

The first massage unit 12R has an upper right massage element 4a and a lower right massage element 4c that perform a gripping and kneading massage on the treatment area by moving closer to and away from each other in the vertical direction. The second massage unit 12L is arranged to be paired with the first massage unit 12R and has an upper left massage element 4d and a lower left massage element 4f that perform a gripping and kneading massage on another treatment area by moving closer to and away from each other in the vertical direction.

The first massage part 12R and the second massage part 12L can be switched between the first clamping operation and the second clamping operation by the switching part 14 (half-rotation clutch mechanism 14).

In the first clamping operation, the approaching and separating phases of the upper right massage element 4a and the lower right massage element 4c of the first massage unit 12R and the approaching and separating phases of the upper left massage element 4d and the lower left massage element 4f of the second massage unit 12L are the same. In other words, in the first clamping operation, the pair of left and right massage units 12L, 12R repeatedly perform simultaneous gripping and kneading massages.

In the second clamping motion, the phase of approaching and separating between the upper right massage element 4a and the lower right massage element 4c of the first massage unit 12R is different from the phase of approaching and separating between the upper left massage element 4d and the lower left massage element 4f of the second massage unit 12L. That is, in the second up-down motion, for example, the second massage unit 12L performs a gripping and kneading massage, and then, with a delay, the first massage unit 12R performs a gripping and kneading massage, and this is repeated. In the massage mechanism 2 of the present invention, not only the phase difference between the left and right massage units 12 changes, but also the timing of approaching and separating between the upper and lower massage elements 4 changes.
Second Embodiment
In the second embodiment, a neck-hanging type massager 1 equipped with the massage mechanism 2 of the present invention will be described as an example. In addition, in describing this embodiment, the front-to-back and left-to-right directions of the massager 1 are as shown in the drawings. These directions correspond to the directions seen from a user who wears the massager 1 around the neck and shoulders. In the following description, the directions shown in the drawings will be the directions when describing the neck-hanging type massager 1 equipped with the massage mechanism 2 of the present invention. In addition, for ease of viewing, some components are omitted or drawn using virtual lines.

First, the features of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment will be described below.

The massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment is characterized by the fact that the timing at which the upper right treatment element 4a and 4b arranged on the right massage unit 12R and the lower right treatment element 4c approach and separate (squeeze) each other is shifted from the timing at which the upper left treatment element 4d and 4e arranged on the left massage unit 12L and the lower left treatment element 4f approach and separate (squeeze) each other.

In other words, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, the treatment elements 4a and 4b at the upper right and the treatment elements 4d and 4e at the upper left move towards and away from each other in the left-right direction, the treatment element 4c at the lower right moves towards and away from the treatment elements 4a and 4b at the upper right in the up-down direction, and the treatment element 4f at the lower left moves towards and away from the treatment elements 4d and 4e at the upper left in the up-down direction.

In addition, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment is characterized by the fact that the vertical approach and separation between the upper left treatment elements 4a, 4b and the lower treatment element 4c arranged in the left massage section 12L is offset from the vertical approach and separation between the upper right treatment elements 4d, 4e and the lower treatment element 4f arranged in the right massage section 12R, thereby performing a pinching (grasping) massage.

In other words, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment changes the clamping action of the right massage unit 12R using the switching unit 14 (details of which will be described later), and can switch between clamping (grasping) massages in which the treatment units are clamped alternately on the left and right, and clamping (grasping) massages in which the treatment units are clamped on the left and right simultaneously, using the upper right treatment elements 4a, 4b and the lower right treatment element 4c arranged on the right massage unit 12R, and the upper left treatment elements 4d, 4e and the lower left treatment element 4f arranged on the left massage unit 12L.

In the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the output shaft 15a of the drive motor 15 (details described below) is rotated in the forward direction, the upper left treatment element 4d and the upper left treatment element 4e of the left massage section 12L swing left and right, and the lower left treatment element 4f moves closer to and away from the upper left treatment element 4d and the upper left treatment element 4e in the vertical direction (the movement of the left side is constant).

Furthermore, when the output shaft 15a rotates forward, the operation of the right massage unit 12R is switched by the switching unit 14, and the upper right treatment elements 4a and 4b swing left and right, moving toward and away from the upper left treatment elements 4d and 4e in the left-right direction. The lower right treatment element 4c moves toward and away from the upper right treatment elements 4a and 4b in the up-down direction.

In this way, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment performs a "first clamping operation" by having the upper left treatment element 4d, 4e and the upper right treatment element 4a, 4b move closer to and away from each other in the left-right direction, the lower left treatment element 4f move closer to and away from the upper left treatment element 4d, 4e in the up-down direction, and the lower right treatment element 4c move closer to and away from the upper right treatment element 4a, 4b in the up-down direction at the same timing (in the same phase).

In other words, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the output shaft 15a rotates forward, the upper right treatment elements 4a, 4b and the upper left treatment elements 4d, 4e move closer to each other, sandwiching the treatment area from the left and right, and when the upper right treatment elements 4a, 4b and the upper left treatment elements 4d, 4e move away from each other, the left and right sandwiching of the treatment area is loosened, and this process is repeated.

In addition, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the output shaft 15a rotates forward, the lower left treatment element 4f approaches the upper left treatment elements 4d and 4e, and at the same time, the lower right treatment element 4c approaches the upper right treatment elements 4a and 4b, thereby sandwiching the treatment area from above and below. Then, the lower left treatment element 4f moves away from the upper left treatment elements 4d and 4e, and at the same time, the lower right treatment element 4c moves away from the upper right treatment elements 4a and 4b, thereby loosening the vertical sandwiching of the treatment area.

In other words, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment simultaneously performs a gripping and kneading massage, with the upper right treatment applicators 4a, 4b and the upper left treatment applicators 4d, 4e sandwiching the treatment area from the left and right, the upper right treatment applicators 4a, 4b and the lower right treatment applicator 4c sandwiching the treatment area from the top and bottom, and simultaneously the upper left treatment applicators 4d, 4e and the lower left treatment applicator 4f sandwiching the treatment area from the top and bottom.

In addition, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the output shaft 15a of the drive motor 15 is rotated in the reverse direction, the upper left treatment element 4d and the upper left treatment element 4e of the left massage section 12L swing left and right, and the lower left treatment element 4f moves closer to and away from the upper left treatment elements 4d and 4e in the vertical direction (the movement of the left side is constant).

When the output shaft 15a rotates in the reverse direction, the operation of the right massage unit 12R is switched by the switching unit 14, causing the upper right massage elements 4a and 4b to swing left and right, and the upper left massage elements 4d and 4e to also swing left and right.

On the other hand, when the rotation of the rotary drive shaft 11 is switched, the switching shaft 53 (rotating body) rotates half a rotation around the rotary drive shaft 11 (shaft body) by the switching unit 14, and the first right rotary boss portion 26R and the second right rotary boss portion 46R start moving half a rotation later than the rotation of the first left rotary boss portion 26L and the second left rotary boss portion 46L.As a result, the lower right treatment element 4c starts moving half a rotation later than the lower left treatment element 4f, and the lower right treatment element 4c moves closer to and away from the upper right treatment elements 4a, 4b in the vertical direction at a different timing than the lower left treatment element 4f.

That is, in the right massage unit 12R, the treatment element 4c on the lower right side oscillates up and down with a phase difference of 180° relative to the treatment element 4f on the lower left side (the movement of the right side is variable).

In this way, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, the upper left treatment elements 4d and 4e and the upper right treatment elements 4a and 4b swing left and right, and the lower left treatment element 4f moves closer to and away from the upper left treatment elements 4d and 4e in the vertical direction, while the lower right treatment element 4c moves closer to and away from the upper right treatment elements 4a and 4b in the vertical direction with a delay (out of phase), thereby performing a "second clamping action."

In other words, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, when the output shaft 15a rotates in the reverse direction, the lower left treatment element 4f approaches the upper left treatment elements 4d and 4e, clamping the treatment area from above and below, while the lower right treatment element 4c moves away from the upper right treatment elements 4a and 4b, loosening the clamping of the treatment area from above and below.

The massage mechanism 2 then repeats different operations: when the lower left treatment element 4f moves away from the upper left treatment elements 4d and 4e, it loosens its grip on the treatment area from above and below, while the lower right treatment element 4c approaches the upper right treatment elements 4a and 4b and grips the treatment area from above and below.

In other words, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, the upper left treatment element 4d, 4e and the lower left treatment element 4f perform a constant approaching and separating movement in the vertical direction, while the right massage element 12R is switched by the switching unit 14 to a phase that delays the approaching and separating movement, so that the upper right treatment element 4a, 4b and the lower right treatment element 4c perform approaching and separating movements at different times, and the upper right treatment element 4a, 4b and the lower right treatment element 4c, as well as the upper left treatment element 4d, 4e and the lower left treatment element 4f alternately (alternately) left and right to sandwich the treatment elements from above and below, performing a grasping and kneading massage.

The massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment is described in detail below.

Figure 12 is a front perspective view showing an outline of a neck-mounted massager 1 (second embodiment) equipped with the massage mechanism 2 of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 12, the massage machine 1 of this embodiment has a massage mechanism 2 built into the massage main body 3, and multiple treatment elements 4 are provided in a protruding shape at the front of the massage main body 3. In this embodiment, a total of six treatment elements 4 are provided, three on each side.

A right grip portion 5R extends forward from the right side of the massage body 3, protruding from the front. A right grip belt 6R is attached to this right grip portion 5R in a suspended state. A left grip portion 5L extends forward from the left side of the massage body 3, protruding from the front. A left grip belt 6L is attached to this left grip portion 5L in a suspended state.

The user holds the left and right gripping parts 5L, 5R in their hands, presses the treatment elements 4 of the massage main body 3 against the area to be treated, such as the neck, shoulders, back, or lower back, and activates the massage mechanism 2 to perform a massage. Furthermore, by pulling the left and right gripping belts 6L, 6R downward with their hands, the treatment elements 4 can be pressed further against the area to be treated.

The massage machine 1 of this embodiment has a massage main body 3 that houses the massage mechanism 2, and a long grip part 5 that can be held by the user. A grip belt 6 is attached to the grip part 5 in a suspended manner. The massage main body 3 is a housing made of synthetic resin or the like, and is hollow inside. The massage main body 3 consists of a front cover body 3a formed in a concave shape that curves backward, and a rear cover body 3b formed in a convex shape that curves backward. The massage mechanism 2 is stored in the internal space formed by the combination of the front cover body 3a and rear cover body 3b.

An opening 7 that opens forward is formed on the front surface of the front cover body 3a (the front surface of the massage body 3). The treatment elements 4 of the massage mechanism 2 are positioned so that they protrude forward from the opening 7. A flexible cloth material (not shown) is attached to this opening 7 so as to cover the treatment elements 4. This cloth material reduces the pressure applied by the treatment elements 4, providing a comfortable massage to the treatment area.

The left end of the massage body 3 protrudes diagonally forward and narrows toward the left. A long right grip portion 5R is provided at the protruding left tip (left front end) toward the front. Similarly, the right end of the massage body 3 protrudes diagonally forward and narrows toward the right. A long left grip portion 5L is provided at the protruding right tip (right front end) toward the front. The left and right grip portions 5L, 5R are tapered toward the front to make them easier for the user to grip.

The left grip portion 5L houses a controller that controls the massage operation of the massage mechanism 2. An operation panel 8 for operating this controller is provided on the top surface of the left grip portion 5L. By sending commands from the controller via the operation panel 8 to the drive unit 10 (described below), it is possible to switch the massage operation using the switching unit 14 provided in the massage mechanism 2, and change the massage content, such as the intensity of the massage operation. The massage machine 1 of this embodiment can be used by gripping the left and right grip portions 5L, 5R and hanging it around the neck and shoulders, or by placing it against the lower back.

Next, we will explain in detail the massage mechanism 2 built into the massage main body 3.

Figures 12 to 20 show the configuration of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment.

The upper diagram in Figure 13, Figures 14, 15, 16, etc. show a state in which both the left and right treatment elements 4a to 4f perform a gripping massage. Note that when both the left and right treatment elements 4a to 4f simultaneously perform a gripping and kneading massage, this is sometimes called a "double gripping massage."

The lower diagram in Figure 13, Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, etc. show the state in which the lower right massage member 25R equipped with the third treatment element 4c on the lower right is lowered, and the treatment elements 4d to 4f on the left side perform a grasping and kneading massage, while the treatment elements 4a to 4c on the right side perform a delayed grasping and kneading massage.

Note that the left treatment elements 4d-4f perform a gripping and kneading massage, followed by the right treatment elements 4a-4c performing a kneading massage, i.e., alternating left and right gripping and kneading massages, is sometimes called a "one-sided gripping massage."

The massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment comprises a drive unit 10 mounted on a base 9 and generating a drive force; a rotary drive shaft 11 mounted on the base 9 with its axis facing left and right and rotated by the drive force; massage units 12 equipped with treatment heads 4 at their distal ends and mounted in pairs on the left and right of the base 9; a conversion unit 13 mounted on the rotary drive shaft 11 and converting the drive force into a clamping motion (up and down rocking motion) and transmitting it to the massage units 12; and a switching unit 14 that switches the phase of the clamping motion of the massage units 12 depending on whether the rotary drive shaft 11 is rotated forward or backward.

In this embodiment, the switching unit 14 is provided on the right massage unit 12R side. In other words, the phase of the clamping action of the right massage unit 12R is switched relative to the phase (constant phase) of the clamping action of the left massage unit 12L.

As shown in Figures 14, 17, 20, etc., the drive unit 10 has a drive motor 15 that outputs a rotational drive force (drive power) and a gear case 16 that reduces the output rotational drive force to a predetermined speed. The drive motor 15 is a motor that can rotate forward and backward. The rotation direction, speed, etc. of the drive motor 15 can be controlled by operating the operation panel 8.

The drive motor 15 is located at the rear of the base 9 and is a single-shaft motor with an output shaft 15a that outputs rotational driving force. The output shaft 15a faces rightward and is positioned horizontally. A worm gear is attached to the output shaft 15a and is inserted into the gear case 16. The worm gear 15a meshes with a worm wheel 17 inside the gear case 16. The worm wheel 17 is attached to the rear side of the transmission shaft 18.

The transmission shaft 18 is mounted on the base 9 with its axis facing forward and backward, and is rotatably supported via bearings 19. A worm gear 20 is attached to the front side of the transmission shaft 18. The worm gear 20 meshes with a worm wheel 21 attached to the rotary drive shaft 11.

That is, the drive unit 10 reduces the rotational drive force generated by the drive motor 15 using a gear case 16 and transmits the reduced speed to the rotary drive shaft 11. An elongated cylindrical battery 22 is provided below the base 9 so as to face in the left-right direction. The battery 22 is small and has a sufficient capacity to drive the electric motor 15. An example of the battery 22 is a lithium-ion battery, but is not limited to this.

The rotary drive shaft 11 passes through the base 9 (gear case 16) and is positioned so that its axis faces left and right (horizontally). The rotary drive shaft 11 is a long, round rod-shaped shaft member, and is supported via bearings 23 so that its rotation direction can be freely switched. The rotary drive shaft 11 is positioned parallel to the output shaft 15a of the drive motor 15. A worm wheel 21 is attached to the right side of the rotary drive shaft 11.

A right converter 13R (first converter 13R) is provided on the right end of the rotary drive shaft 11, converting the rotary drive force into a clamping motion (up-down swinging motion). Furthermore, a left converter 13L (second converter 13L) is provided on the left end of the rotary drive shaft 11, converting the rotary drive force into a clamping motion (up-down swinging motion).

In other words, the rotary drive shaft 11 has the drive unit 10 located midway along its length, and the massage units 12L and 12R located at both its left and right ends. The rotary drive shaft 11 distributes and transmits the rotational drive force output from the drive motor 15 to the pair of left and right massage units 12L and 12R.

In this embodiment, "forward rotation" of the rotary drive shaft 11 refers to rotation from rear to top to front (clockwise in Figure 15), and "reverse rotation" refers to rotation from front to top to rear (counterclockwise in Figure 18). Regarding the definition of rotation of the rotary drive shaft 11, forward and reverse may be reversed.

As shown in Figures 14, 17, 20, etc., the massage unit 12 consists of a right massage unit 12R that massages the treatment area on the right side, and a left massage unit 12L that massages the treatment area on the left side. The massage unit 12 also has a pair of upper and lower massage members 24, 25.

In addition, a conversion unit 13 is provided at the base end of the massage unit 12, converting the rotational drive force into a clamping action and transmitting it to the massage unit 12. The conversion unit 13 has rotation bosses 26, 46 attached to the rotation drive shaft 11 and rotating integrally with the rotation drive shaft 11, annular fittings 27, 40 provided at the base end of the massage unit 12 and fitting into the outer peripheral edges (cam surfaces 30, 50) of the rotation bosses 26, 46, and a restriction unit 28 that restricts the massage unit 12 from rotating together with the rotation drive shaft 11.

In this embodiment, the rotation boss portions 26, 46 consist of a first rotation boss portion 26 and a second rotation boss portion 46. Furthermore, the annular fitting portions 27, 40 consist of a first annular fitting portion 27 and a second annular fitting portion 40.

First, we will explain the right massage unit 12R. Figures 14 and 17 are exploded views of the right massage unit 12R, right conversion unit 13R, and switching unit 14.

As shown in Figures 14 and 17, the right massage unit 12R has an upper right massage member 24R that massages the treatment area on the upper right side, and a lower right massage member 25R that massages the treatment area on the lower right side.

In this embodiment, the upper massage member 24 is a member that performs a "kneading massage," while the lower massage member 25 is a member that performs a "grasping massage." In other words, the upper massage member 24 and the lower massage member 25 perform different massage actions.

As shown in Figures 14, 17, etc., the upper right massage member 24R (first massage member 24R on the right side) has an upper right arm member 29R that protrudes forward, and a first right annular fitting portion 27R that fits into the first right rotation boss portion 26R (described later) from the outside. This upper right massage member 24R is configured to be line-symmetrical to the upper left massage member 24L (described later).

The base end of the upper right arm member 29R is attached to the rotary drive shaft 11, and the tip end is shaped to extend forward from the rotary drive shaft 11. The tip end of the upper right arm member 29R is shaped to branch upward and downward. A first treatment element 4a (upper treatment element 4a) and a second treatment element 4b (upper treatment element 4b) are provided at each of the upper and lower branched tips of the upper right arm member 29R.

In this embodiment, the upper treatment element on the right side is the first treatment element 4a and the second treatment element 4b, which are provided on the upper right massage member 24R, and the lower treatment element on the right side is the third treatment element 4c, which is provided on the lower right massage member 25R.

The upper treatment element on the left side is made up of two elements: an upper left treatment element 4d and a middle left treatment element 4e, both of which are attached to the upper left massage member 24L, and the lower treatment element on the left side is made up of a lower left treatment element 4f, which is attached to the lower left massage member 25L.

The first treatment element 4a is attached to the tip of the upper right arm member 29R, which branches upward. This first treatment element 4a (upper right treatment element 4a) is a cylindrical member with a rounded tip, and is attached so that it can rotate freely around an axis facing in the vertical direction.

The second treatment element 4b is attached to the tip of the upper right arm member 29R, which branches off downward. This second treatment element 4b (right middle treatment element 4b) is a roughly bale-shaped element with a rounded pressing portion, and is fixed to the lower tip of the upper right arm member 29R so that it faces forward and slightly upward. In other words, the first treatment element 4a and the second treatment element 4b are arranged so that they face each other in the vertical direction, sandwiching the upper right arm member 29R therebetween.

The first and second treatment elements 4a and 4b swing left and right, while the third treatment element 4c (described below) moves up and down relative to the first and second treatment elements 4a and 4b. The first and second treatment elements 4a and 4b massage the upper right treatment area (kneading massage) as the upper right massage member 24R swings due to the rotational drive force of the rotary drive shaft 11.

A first right annular fitting portion 27R, which constitutes the right conversion portion 13R, is provided on the base end side of the upper right arm member 29R. This first right annular fitting portion 27R is configured to be line-symmetrical to the first left annular fitting portion 27L (described later). The first right annular fitting portion 27R is configured to be able to fit into the first right cam surface 30R of the first right rotation boss portion 26R.

In other words, the inner diameter of the first right annular fitting portion 27R is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the first right cam surface 30R. When the first right annular fitting portion 27R fits onto the first right rotation boss portion 26R, the upper right massage member 24R rotates around the axis of the first right rotation boss portion 26R.

A right connecting portion 31R is provided below the first right annular fitting portion 27R. The right connecting portion 31R is provided so as to protrude inward in the width direction. This right connecting portion 31R is inserted into the right connecting hole 42R provided in the lower right massage member 25R, connecting the upper right massage member 24R and the lower right massage member 25R.

The right connecting portion 31R swings the lower right massage member 25R in conjunction with the upper right massage member 24R. In other words, the upper right massage member 24R and the lower right massage member 25R are connected so that they can rotate freely around the axis of the right connecting portion 31R.

A flat plate 32R is provided in the lower section connecting the upper right arm member 29R and the first right annular fitting 27R, and a groove 33 is formed on the inner surface of this flat plate 32R. The groove 33 guides the right support shaft 44R, which connects the lower right arm member 39R and the right ring member 40R (second right annular fitting 40R).

When the upper right massage member 24R moves left and right due to switching by the switching unit 14 (half-rotation clutch mechanism 14) described below, the right support shaft 44R moves up and down along the groove 33 formed on the inner surface of the flat plate material 32R of the upper right massage member 24R.

The first right annular fitting 27R is provided with a right restriction portion 28R that restricts the upper right massage member 24R from rotating together with the first right rotation boss 26R. The right restriction portion 28R has a right restriction pin 34R provided on the base end side of the first right annular fitting 27R (upper right massage member 24R) and a right restriction groove 35R into which the right restriction pin 34R slidably fits.

The right restriction pin 34R protrudes rearward from the outer peripheral surface (rear side) of the first right annular fitting portion 27R. The right restriction groove 35 is located opposite the right restriction pin 34 and is a long groove extending in the left-right direction. The right restriction pin 34 slides left-right in the right restriction groove 35, thereby restricting the upper right massage member 24R from rotating together with the rotary drive shaft 11.

14, 17, etc., the first rotation boss portion 26 is provided with a first right rotation boss portion 26R on the right end side of the rotation drive shaft 11, and a first left rotation boss portion 26L on the left end side of the rotation drive shaft 11. The first right rotation boss portion 26R and the first left rotation boss portion 26L are configured to be line-symmetrical to each other on the left and right.

The first right rotation boss 26R is a member provided on the upper right massage member 24R. The first right rotation boss 26R is a member that has a disk-shaped cylindrical member (right outer cylindrical member 36R) on the outside and a smaller-diameter cylindrical member (right inner cylindrical member 37R) on the inside.

That is, the first right rotation boss portion 26R is a member formed in the shape of a horizontally-facing stepped cylinder (flange shape). This first right rotation boss portion 26R has a right through-hole 38R that penetrates the right outer cylinder portion 36R and the right inner cylinder portion 37R.

The right end of the rotary drive shaft 11 is inserted into this right through-hole 38R. In this embodiment, the inner surface of the right outer cylinder portion 36R of the first right rotation boss portion 26R is inclined with respect to the outer surface. The right inner cylinder portion 37R is formed on the inner surface of the inclined right outer cylinder portion 36R.

The right inner cylinder portion 37R is also eccentrically positioned relative to the right through-hole 38R. In other words, the first right rotation boss portion 26R is attached eccentrically relative to the rotation drive shaft 11.

A first right cam surface 30R is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the right inner cylindrical portion 37R, and is inclined relative to the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11. The first right cam surface 30R is configured to be line-symmetrical to the first left cam surface 30L (described later).

The first right cam surface 30R is designed to fit into the first right annular fitting portion 27R of the upper right massage member 24R. Due to this shape, the first right rotation boss portion 26R is an inclined rotation boss portion.

The right inner cylinder portion 37R is also provided so that its axis passes through a position offset from the axis of the right outer cylinder portion 36R. Due to this shape, the first right rotation boss portion 26R is an eccentric rotation boss portion. In other words, the first right rotation boss portion 26R rotates at an angle and eccentrically relative to the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11.

As shown in Figures 14, 17, etc., the lower right massage member 25R (second massage member 25R on the right side) is a combination of two members: a lower right arm member 39R and a right ring member 40R. This lower right massage member 25R is configured to be line-symmetrical to the lower left massage member 25L (described later).

The lower right arm member 39R is a member provided at the tip side of the lower right massage member 25R. The lower right arm member 39R is a member whose longitudinal middle portion is bent downward in a roughly L-shape and whose tip is bent forward. A third treatment element 4c (lower right treatment element 4c) is attached to the tip. This third treatment element 4c (lower right treatment element 4c) has roughly the same shape as the first treatment element 4a and is attached so that it can rotate freely around an axis facing in the front-to-rear direction.

This third treatment element 4c moves towards and away from the first treatment element 4a and the second treatment element 4b in the vertical direction. In other words, the first treatment element 4a and the second treatment element 4b oscillate left and right, and the third treatment element 4c oscillates up and down.

A right through-hole 41R, with its axis facing left and right, is formed in the midpoint of the right lower arm member 39R in the longitudinal direction (the L-shaped bend). This right through-hole 41R is a hole into which the right support shaft 44R, which connects to the right ring member 40R (described below), is inserted.

The right through-hole 41R is aligned with the right through-hole 45R of the right ring member 40R, allowing the right support shaft 44R to be inserted. The right lower arm member 39R and right ring member 40R are connected so as to be rotatable around the axis of the right support shaft 44R inserted into the right through-hole 41R and right through-hole 45R.

A right connecting hole 42R with its axis facing left-right is formed at the base end of the right lower arm member 39R. The right connecting portion 31R of the right upper massage member 24R is inserted into this right connecting hole 42R. The right upper massage member 24R and the right lower massage member 25R are connected so that they can rotate freely around the axis of the right connecting portion 31R inserted into the right connecting hole 42R.

The right ring member 40R is a member provided on the base end side of the right lower massage member 25R. This right ring member 40R is configured to be line-symmetrical to the left ring member 40L, which will be described later. The right ring member 40R is a member formed in a ring shape that can be fitted onto the second right rotation boss portion 46R, which will be described later. In other words, the right ring member 40R is the second right annular fitting portion 40R.

A right protrusion 43R is formed on the outer periphery of the second right annular fitting portion 40R. The right protrusion 43R is formed so as to protrude in a triangular shape when viewed from the side. A right through-hole 45R is formed at the tip of this right protrusion 43R, into which the right support shaft 44R is inserted. The longitudinal midpoint of the right lower arm member 39R is supported for free rotation around the axis of this right support shaft 44R.

As shown in Figures 14, 17, etc., the second rotation boss portion 46 is located on the rotary drive shaft 11, with the second right rotation boss portion 46R provided inside the first right rotation boss portion 26R, and the second left rotation boss portion 46L provided inside the first left rotation boss portion 26L. The second right rotation boss portion 46R and the second left rotation boss portion 46L are configured to be line-symmetrical to each other on the left and right.

The second right rotation boss 46R is a member provided on the lower right massage member 25R. The second right rotation boss 46R is a member with a disk-shaped cylindrical member (right inner cylindrical member 47R) on the inside and a smaller-diameter cylindrical member (right outer cylindrical member 48R) on the outside. In other words, the second right rotation boss 46R is a member formed in the shape of a horizontally stepped cylinder (flange shape).

A right through-hole 49R is formed in the second right rotation boss 46R, penetrating the right outer cylinder 48R and the right inner cylinder 47R. The right side of the rotary drive shaft 11 is inserted into this right through-hole 49R. The right outer cylinder 48R is also eccentrically positioned relative to the right through-hole 49R. In other words, the second right rotation boss 46R is attached eccentrically to the rotary drive shaft 11.

In this embodiment, the outer surface of the right inner cylinder portion 47R of the second right rotation boss portion 46R is inclined relative to the inner surface. The angle of inclination of the outer surface of the right inner cylinder portion 47R of the second right rotation boss portion 46R is the same as the angle of inclination of the inner surface of the right outer cylinder portion 36R of the first right rotation boss portion 26R.

In other words, the outer surface of the right inner cylinder portion 47R and the inner surface of the right outer cylinder portion 36R are parallel surfaces. The right outer cylinder portion 48R is formed on the outer surface of the inclined right inner cylinder portion 47R. A second right cam surface 50R, inclined relative to the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11, is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the right outer cylinder portion 48R.

The second right cam surface 50R is designed to fit into the second right annular fitting portion 40R (right ring member 40R) of the lower right massage member 25R. The inclination angle of the second right cam surface 50R is the same as the angle of the first right cam surface 30R relative to the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11. Due to this shape, the second right rotation boss portion 46R is an inclined rotation boss portion.

The right outer cylinder portion 48R is also provided so that its axis passes through a position offset from the axis of the right inner cylinder portion 47R. This shape makes the second right rotation boss portion 46R an eccentric rotation boss portion. In other words, the second right rotation boss portion 46R rotates at an angle and eccentrically relative to the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11.

In this embodiment, the right conversion section 13R is a divided body consisting of a first right rotation boss section 26R and a first right annular fitting section 27R that swing the upper right massage member 24R, and a second right rotation boss section 46R and a second right annular fitting section 40R that swing the lower right massage member 25R.

The massage mechanism 2 of the present invention is equipped with a switching unit 14 that switches the phase of the clamping action of the left and right massage units 12.

Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the massage mechanism 2 during the first clamping operation and the massage mechanism 2 during the second clamping operation. Figure 14 is an exploded view of the right conversion unit 13R and the switching unit 14 during the first clamping operation. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss unit 26R on the right side during the first clamping operation. Figure 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss unit 26R shown in Figure 15.

Figure 17 is an exploded view of the right conversion section 13R and the switching section 14 during the second clamping operation. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss section 26R during the second clamping operation. Figure 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss section 26R shown in Figure 18.

As shown in Figures 13 to 19, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment is characterized by a configuration in which the clamping timing of the right massage section 12R and the clamping timing of the left massage section 12L are different (the timing can be shifted).

The right converter 13R (first converter 13R) is provided with a delay mechanism that shifts the timing of clamping the right massage part 12R, thereby making the timing of clamping the right massage part 12R and the left massage part 12L different.

The delay mechanism has a switching unit 14 that switches the phase of the clamping action of the left and right massage units 12. Note that the switching unit 14 may also be provided in the left conversion unit 13L of the left massage unit 12L.

The switching unit 14 in this embodiment switches the phase of the clamping action (periodic action) of the right massage part 12R relative to the phase of the clamping action (constant phase) of the left massage part 12L, depending on the forward and reverse rotation of the rotary drive shaft 11.

As shown in FIG. 13, the switching unit 14 is configured to be able to switch between a "first clamping action (double-grasp massage)" in which the pair of left and right massage units 12 are operated in the same phase, and a "second clamping action (single-grasp massage)" in which, after one of the left and right massage units 12 (in this embodiment, the left massage unit 12L) starts moving, the clamping action of the other massage unit 12 (the right massage unit 12R) is operated in a phase that is delayed relative to the phase of the clamping action of the massage unit 12.

In this embodiment, when the rotary drive shaft 11 is rotating forward, the switching unit 14 switches to the "first clamping operation," and when the rotary drive shaft 11 is rotating reversely, the switching unit 14 switches to the "second clamping operation."

The switching unit 14 can switch between the first clamping operation and the second clamping operation by delaying the start of movement of the right conversion unit 13R after the left conversion unit 13L has started moving.

The switching unit 14 preferably functions as a "rotation clutch mechanism" that rotates the rotor in the forward or reverse direction around the shaft by a predetermined angle (e.g., 1/4 rotation, 1/3 rotation, 1/2 rotation (half rotation)), and then delays the movement of the right massage unit 12R by the amount of rotation, thereby switching the phase of the clamping action of the massage unit 12. Note that the rotor is the member on which the hook 51, described below, is provided, and in this embodiment, the rotor is the switching shaft 53. In this embodiment, the shaft is the rotary drive shaft 11.

In this embodiment, the switching unit 14 employs a "half-rotation clutch mechanism" that switches the phase of the clamping action of the right massage unit 12R by rotating the switching shaft 53 provided on the rotary drive shaft 11 half a turn in the forward direction or half a turn in the reverse direction, and then delaying the movement of the right massage unit 12R.

In other words, in this embodiment, the delay operation of the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 causes the first right-hand rotation boss portion 26R and the second right-hand rotation boss portion 46R, which are provided on the right side of the rotary drive shaft 11, to begin rotating half a rotation later than the rotation of the first left-hand rotation boss portion 26L and the second left-hand rotation boss portion 46L, thereby switching the right massage portion 12R to a clamping action phase that lags behind the clamping action phase of the left massage portion 12L.

However, the term "half-rotation clutch mechanism 14" is intended to include rotations other than half a rotation (180°). Examples include 120°, 90°, etc.

As shown in Figures 14 to 19, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14) of this embodiment has a hook portion 51 provided on the rotary drive shaft 11, a hook groove portion 52 into which the hook portion 51 slidably fits, and a switching shaft 53 on which the hook portion 51 is provided.

In this embodiment, the switching shaft 53 is a cylindrical member attached so as to cover the right end of the rotary drive shaft 11. The switching shaft 53 rotates together with the rotary drive shaft 11. The switching shaft 53 (rotating body) rotates a half turn in the forward or reverse direction relative to the rotary drive shaft 11 (shaft body), and then rotates the first right rotation boss portion 26R and the second right rotation boss portion 46R.

The inner diameter of the switching shaft 53 is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the rotary drive shaft 11, and its outer diameter is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the right through-holes 38R and 49R. A protruding hook 51 is formed on the outer periphery of this switching shaft 53, pointing radially outward.

In this embodiment, the hook portion 51 is provided along the outer periphery of the switching shaft 53 and is a plate-shaped member that is long in the axial direction of the switching shaft 53 (rotary drive shaft 11). In other words, the hook portion 51 can be considered a curved bulge that extends along the hook groove portion 52, which will be described later.

The hook portion 51 is a curved member having a side wall of the same arc shape as the outer curved surface of the switching shaft 53, and two end walls 51a, 51b. One end wall 51a is a wall surface that engages with the first rotation switching portion 54 of the hook groove portion 52 during forward rotation. The other end wall 51b is a wall surface that engages with the second rotation switching portion 55 of the hook groove portion 52 during reverse rotation.

In other words, the hook portion 51 is shaped to fit into the hook groove portion 52, and its length (height) in the front-to-rear direction is approximately the same as that of the hook groove portion 52. This hook portion 51 slides within the hook groove portion 52 around the axis of the switching shaft 53 (rotation drive shaft 11).

In this embodiment, the hook groove portion 52 is a groove having a crescent-shaped (C-shaped) track that circles the outer periphery of the switching shaft 53 (rotary drive shaft 11) in a side cross-sectional view. The hook groove portion 52 is provided along the outer periphery of the switching shaft 53 and is a long (deep) groove extending in the axial direction of the switching shaft 53 (rotary drive shaft 11).

That is, the hook groove portion 52 is a curved groove that is the same arc as the outer curved surface of the hook portion 51. The hook groove portion 52 is also a curved groove that follows the hook portion 51. In other words, the hook groove portion 52 is shaped to fit the hook portion 51, and its length (depth) in the front-to-rear direction is approximately the same as the height of the hook portion 51.

In this embodiment, the hook groove portion 52 consists of a hook groove portion 52a formed in the right through-hole 38R of the first right rotation boss portion 26R and a hook groove portion 52b formed in the right through-hole 49R of the second right rotation boss portion 46R. The hook groove portions 52a and 52b have the same shape. In other words, when the first right rotation boss portion 26R and the second right rotation boss portion 46R are assembled, the hook groove portions 52a and 52b are connected to each other.

This hook groove portion 52 is an arc-shaped groove that circles the outer periphery of the switching shaft 53, forming a track with two end walls. These two end walls, i.e., side wall portions 54, 55, serve as rotation switching portions 54, 55 that switch the rotation of the rotary drive shaft 11.

When the rotary drive shaft 11 rotates forward or backward, the rotation switching units 54, 55 engage the hook 51, which has rotated half a turn, to delay the operation of the right conversion unit 13R and switch the clamping action of the right massage unit 12R.

In this embodiment, one end 54 of the semicircular hook groove portion 52 is the first rotation switching portion 54. The first rotation switching portion 54 is a portion for synchronizing the operation of the left and right conversion portions 13L, 13R during forward rotation of the rotary drive shaft 11.

In other words, when the rotary drive shaft 11 rotates forward, the hook portion 51 of the switching shaft 53 rotates a half turn in the forward direction around the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11. Then, one end 51a of the hook portion 51 engages with the first rotation switching portion 54, causing the right rotation boss portions 26R, 46R to begin rotating together with the left rotation boss portions 26L, 46L. This coordinates the movements of the left and right conversion portions 13L, 13R, and switches the right massage portion 12R to the "first clamping operation."

The other end 55 of the semicircular hook groove 52 is the second rotation switching section 55. The second rotation switching section 55 is a section that delays the operation of the right conversion section 13R relative to the operation of the left conversion section 13L during reverse rotation of the rotary drive shaft 11.

In other words, when the rotary drive shaft 11 rotates in the reverse direction, the hook portion 51 of the switching shaft 53 rotates a half rotation in the reverse direction around the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11, and then the other end 51b of the hook portion 51 engages with the second rotation switching portion 55, causing the right rotary boss portions 26R, 46R to begin rotating half a rotation later than the left rotary boss portions 26L, 46L. This delays the operation of the right conversion portion 13R relative to the operation of the left conversion portion 13L, and switches the right massage portion 12R to the "second clamping operation."

In other words, when the rotary drive shaft 11 rotates forward, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14) causes the switching shaft 53 to rotate half a turn forward around the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11, while the movement of the right massage member 12R is temporarily stopped. After that half turn, when one end 51a of the hook portion 51 engages with the first rotation switching unit 54 (one end 54) in the hook groove portion 52, the temporarily stopped right massage member 12R begins to move (delayed operation), causing the operation of the left and right conversion units 13L, 13R to synchronize, switching the phase of the clamping operation of the right massage portion 12R and the left massage portion 12L to the same phase and performing the first clamping operation (double-grasping massage).

In addition, when the rotary drive shaft 11 rotates in the reverse direction, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 temporarily suspends the movement of the right massage member 12R while the switching shaft 53 rotates half a turn in the reverse direction around the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11. After that half turn, when the other end 51b of the hook portion 51 engages with the second rotation switching portion 55 (the other end 55) in the hook groove portion 52, the paused massage member 12R begins to move (delay operation), and the right massage portion 12R is switched to a clamping operation phase that lags behind the clamping operation phase of the left massage portion 12L, thereby performing a second clamping operation (one-sided gripping massage).

Until the hook portion 51 engages with the first rotation switching portion 54 or the second rotation switching portion 55 (while the switching shaft 53 rotates half a turn), the first left rotation boss portion 26L and the second left rotation boss portion 46L continue to rotate, but the first right rotation boss portion 26R and the second right rotation boss portion 46R are temporarily stopped.

In other words, the left massage unit 12L (upper left massage member 24L and lower left massage member 25L) is performing a clamping operation, but the right massage unit 12R (upper right massage member 24R and lower right massage member 25R) is temporarily stopped.

Here, we will explain the left massage part 12L. Note that the left massage part 12L has a similar shape to the right massage part 12R, but mirrored left to right, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

Figure 20 is an exploded view of the left massage unit 12L and left conversion unit 13L. As shown in Figure 20, the left massage unit 12L has an upper-left massage member 24L that massages the treatment area on the upper left side, and a lower-left massage member 25L that massages the treatment area on the lower left side.

The upper left massage member 24L (first massage member 24L on the left side) has a left upper arm member 29L that protrudes forward and a first left annular fitting portion 27L that fits onto the first left rotation boss portion 26L (described below) from the outside. This upper left massage member 24L is configured to be line-symmetrical to the upper right massage member 24R.

The left upper arm member 29L has the same shape as the right upper arm member 29R. The tip of the left upper arm member 29L is provided with an upper left treatment element 4d and a middle left treatment element 4e. The upper left treatment element 4d has the same shape as the first treatment element 4a. The middle left treatment element 4e has the same shape as the second treatment element 4b.

The upper left treatment element 4d and the middle left treatment element 4e swing left and right, and the lower left treatment element 4f, described below, moves up and down relative to the upper left treatment element 4d and the middle left treatment element 4e. The upper left treatment element 4d and the middle left treatment element 4e massage the treatment area on the upper left side as the upper left massage member 24L swings due to the rotational driving force of the rotary drive shaft 11.

A first left annular fitting portion 27L that constitutes the left conversion section 13L is provided at the base end of the left upper arm member 29L. This left upper arm member 29L is configured to be line-symmetrical to the right and left upper arm member 29R. The first left annular fitting portion 27L is configured to be able to fit into the first left cam surface 30L of the first left rotation boss portion 26L. In addition, a left connecting portion 31L is provided below the first left annular fitting portion 27L.

This left connecting portion 31L is inserted into the left connecting hole 42L provided in the lower left massage member 25L, connecting the upper left massage member 24L and the lower left massage member 25L. As with the upper right massage member 24R, a flat plate member 32L is provided in the lower portion connecting the upper left arm member 29L and the first left annular fitting portion 27L. A groove is formed on the inner surface of the flat plate member 32L to guide the left support shaft 44L.

The first left annular fitting portion 27L is provided with a left restriction portion 28L that restricts the upper left massage member 24L from rotating together with the first left rotation boss portion 26L. This left restriction portion 28L has a left restriction pin 34L and a left restriction groove 35L.

The first left rotation boss 26L is a member provided on the upper-left massage member 24L. This first left rotation boss 26L is configured to be line-symmetrical to the first right rotation boss 26R. The first left rotation boss 26L is a member that has a disk-shaped left outer cylinder 36L on the outside and a small-diameter left inner cylinder 37L on the inside.

A left through-hole 38L is formed in the first left rotation boss portion 26L, and the left end of the rotary drive shaft 11 is inserted into this left through-hole 38L. A first left cam surface 30L inclined relative to the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the left inner cylinder portion 37L. The first left rotation boss portion 26L is also eccentric relative to the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11. The first left rotation boss portion 26L rotates at an angle and eccentrically relative to the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11.

As shown in Figure 20, the lower left massage member 25L (second massage member 25L on the left side) is a combination of two members: a lower left arm member 39L and a left ring member 40L. This lower left massage member 25L is configured to be line-symmetrical to the lower right massage member 25R.

The left lower arm member 39L is a member provided at the tip side of the left lower massage member 25L. The left lower treatment element 4f is attached to the tip of the left lower arm member 39L. This left lower treatment element 4f has approximately the same shape as the third treatment element 4c.

The lower left treatment element 4f moves toward and away from the upper left treatment element 4d and the middle left treatment element 4e in the vertical direction. In other words, the upper left treatment element 4d and the middle left treatment element 4e swing left and right, while the lower left treatment element 4f swings up and down.

A left through-hole 41L into which the left support shaft 44L is inserted is formed in the L-shaped bent portion of the left lower arm member 39L. The left lower arm member 39L and left ring member 40L are connected so as to be rotatable around the axis of the left support shaft 44L, which is inserted into the left through-hole 41L and left through-hole 45L.

A left connecting hole 42L is formed at the base end of the left lower arm member 39L, into which the left connecting part 31L is inserted. The left upper massage member 24L and the left lower massage member 25L are connected so as to be rotatable around the axis of the left connecting part 31L inserted into the left connecting hole 42L.

The left ring member 40L is provided on the base end side of the left lower massage member 25L and is a second left annular fitting portion 40L that fits onto the second left rotation boss portion 46L. This second left annular fitting portion 40L is configured to be line-symmetrical to the second right annular fitting portion 40R.

A left protrusion 43L is formed on the outer periphery of the second left annular fitting portion 40L, and a left through-hole 45L is formed in this left protrusion 43L, into which the left support shaft 44L is inserted. The longitudinal midpoint of the left lower arm member 39L is supported for free rotation around the axis of the left support shaft 44L.

The second left rotation boss 46L is a member provided on the left lower massage member 25L. This second left rotation boss 46L is configured to be line-symmetrical to the second right rotation boss 46R. The second left rotation boss 46L is a member that has a disk-shaped left inner cylinder 47L on the inside and a small-diameter left outer cylinder 48L on the outside of that.

A left through-hole 49L is formed in the second left rotation boss portion 46L, and the left side of the rotation drive shaft 11 is inserted into this left through-hole 49L. A second left cam surface 50L inclined relative to the axis of the rotation drive shaft 11 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the left outer cylinder portion 48L.

The second left cam surface 50L is configured to be line-symmetrical to the second right cam surface 50R. The second left rotation boss portion 46L is eccentric with respect to the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11. The second left rotation boss portion 46L rotates at an angle and eccentrically with respect to the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11.

In this embodiment, the left conversion part 13L is a divided body consisting of a first left rotating boss part 26L and a first left annular fitting part 27L that oscillate the upper left massage member 24L, and a second left rotating boss part 46L and a second left annular fitting part 40L that oscillate the lower left massage member 25L.
[Operation mode]
Next, the operation of the massage machine 1 equipped with the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First clamping operation>
Fig. 15 is a view of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment seen from the right side, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss portion 26R. Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of Fig. 15, and is a cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss portion 26R.

Figure 15 shows the state in which, when the rotary drive shaft 11 is rotating forward, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14) causes the switching shaft 53 to rotate half a turn in the forward direction, and then the right rotation boss 26R rotates forward, causing the left massage part 12L and the right massage part 12R to switch to oscillating rotation in the same phase, thereby performing the first clamping action (double-grasp massage).

The user grasps the left and right gripping portions 5L, 5R with both hands, places the massager 1 against the upper back, such as the shoulders, or the lower back, such as the waist, and operates the operation panel 8 provided on the left gripping portion 5L. At this time, the user presses, for example, the operation button to perform the first clamping operation, i.e., double-grasp massage (simultaneous left and right gripping and kneading massage).

As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the drive unit 10 is driven, and the rotary drive shaft 11 rotates forward due to the rotational drive force of the drive motor 15. As the rotary drive shaft 11 rotates forward, the left conversion unit 13L rotates, and the left massage unit 12L performs a vertical clamping motion at a constant phase.

The right conversion unit 13R begins to rotate with a delay of one half rotation of the switching shaft 53 in the forward direction due to the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14). In other words, the right conversion unit 13R enters a state in which the rotary drive shaft 11 spins freely in the forward direction for one half rotation. After that, the right conversion unit 13R synchronizes with the rotation of the left conversion unit 13L, and the right massage unit 12R performs left-right and up-down clamping motions in the same phase as the left massage unit 12L.

Specifically, when the switching shaft 53 rotates in the forward direction in conjunction with the forward rotation of the rotary drive shaft 11, the hook portion 51 slides within the semicircular hook groove portion 52 in the forward circumferential direction (clockwise when viewed from the side in Figure 16), rotating a half rotation in the forward direction around the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11. In other words, the switching shaft 53 idles a half rotation in the forward direction (toward the massage machine 1).

When the switching shaft 53 rotates half a turn in the forward direction, the half-turn clutch mechanism 14 causes one end 51a of the hook portion 51 to engage with the first rotation switching portion 54 (one end wall 54) within the hook groove portion 52.

The right conversion unit 13R rotates the switching shaft 53 (rotating body) a half rotation in the forward direction around the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11 (shaft body) by the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14), causing the right rotation bosses 26R, 46R to begin rotating in the forward direction half a rotation behind the rotation of the left rotation bosses 26L, 46R. The first right rotation boss 26R and the second right rotation boss 46R rotate in the same forward direction as the rotary drive shaft 11 rotates forward.

Until the hook 51 engages with the first rotation switching part 54 (while the switching shaft 53 rotates a half turn in the forward direction), the left massage part 12L (upper left massage member 24L and lower left massage member 25L) performs a vertical clamping operation, but the right massage part 12R (upper right massage member 24R and lower right massage member 25R) is temporarily stopped.

As a result, the first right rotating boss portion 26R and the second right rotating boss portion 46R rotate in the same clamping motion phase as the first left rotating boss portion 26L and the second left rotating boss portion 46L. In other words, the left and right conversion portions 13L, 13R synchronize and convert into swinging motions of the same phase. In other words, the right massage portion 12R and the left massage portion 12L switch to up-and-down swinging motions of the same phase, performing the first clamping motion.

As a result, the upper and lower massage members 24L and 25L on the left side and the upper and lower massage members 24R and 25R on the right side perform a first clamping action in which they clamp in the left-right and up-down directions in the same phase.

In other words, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment can perform a kneading massage by squeezing the center of the user's shoulders (or the center of the waist) from the left and right, by moving the first treatment element 4a and second treatment element 4b of the upper right massage member 24R and the upper left treatment element 4d and left middle treatment element 4e of the upper left massage member 24L toward and away from each other in the left-right direction.

In addition, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment allows the third treatment element 4c of the lower right massage member 25R to move closer to and away from (closer to) the first and second treatment elements 4a and 4b of the upper right massage member 24R in the vertical direction, thereby performing a gripping and kneading massage by grasping and squeezing the user's shoulder to back (or right waist) from the center to the right from above and below.

In addition, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment can perform a gripping and kneading massage by vertically grasping and squeezing the user's shoulder to back (or left waist) to the left of the center, by vertically moving the lower left treatment element 4f of the lower left massage member 25L toward and away from the upper left treatment element 4d and the middle left treatment element 4e of the upper left massage member 24L.

That is, the right massage portion 12R and the left massage portion 12L can massage the left, right and center shoulders to the back (or the lumbar region).
<Second clamping operation>
Fig. 18 is a view of the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment seen from the right side, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss portion 26R. Fig. 19 is an enlarged view of Fig. 18, and is a cross-sectional view of the first right rotation boss portion 26R.

Figure 18 shows the state in which, when the rotary drive shaft 11 is rotating in the reverse direction, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14) causes the switching shaft 53 to rotate half a turn in the reverse direction, and then the right rotation boss 26R rotates in the reverse direction, causing the right massage unit 12R to switch to a clamping action phase that lags behind the clamping action phase of the left massage unit 12L, thereby performing the second clamping action (one-sided gripping massage).

The user operates the operation panel 8 to switch to the second clamping operation, i.e., one-sided grip massage (alternate left and right grip massage).

As shown in Figures 18 and 19, the drive unit 10 is driven, and the rotary drive shaft 11 rotates in the reverse direction due to the rotary drive force of the drive motor 15. As the rotary drive shaft 11 rotates in the reverse direction, the left conversion unit 13L rotates, and the left massage unit 12L performs a vertical clamping motion at a constant phase.

Meanwhile, the right conversion unit 13R begins to rotate after a delay of half a rotation of the switching shaft 53 in the reverse direction due to the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14). In other words, in the right conversion unit 13R, the rotary drive shaft 11 spins idly for half a rotation in the reverse direction (towards the rear of the massage machine 1). After that, the right conversion unit 13R rotates in a different direction from the left conversion unit 13L, and the right massage unit 12R performs a vertical clamping motion in a different phase from the left massage unit 12L.

Specifically, when the switching shaft 53 rotates in the reverse direction in conjunction with the reverse rotation of the rotary drive shaft 11, the hook portion 51 slides within the semicircular hook groove portion 52 in the circumferential direction of the reverse rotation (counterclockwise when viewed from the side in Figure 19), rotating a half rotation in the reverse direction around the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11. In other words, the switching shaft 53 spins idle in the reverse direction by a half rotation.

When the switching shaft 53 rotates half a turn in the reverse direction, the half-turn clutch mechanism 14 causes the other end 51b of the hook portion 51 to engage with the second rotation switching portion 55 (the other end wall 55) within the hook groove portion 52.

The right conversion unit 13R rotates the switching shaft 53 (rotating body) half a rotation in the reverse direction around the axis of the rotary drive shaft 11 (shaft body) due to the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 (switching unit 14), causing the right rotation bosses 26R, 46R to begin rotating in the reverse direction half a rotation behind the rotation of the left rotation bosses 26L, 46R. The first right rotation boss 26R and second right rotation boss 44R rotate in the reverse direction in conjunction with the reverse rotation of the rotary drive shaft 11.

Until the hook 51 engages with the second rotation switching part 55 (while the switching shaft 53 rotates half a turn in the reverse direction), the left massage part 12L (upper left massage member 24L and lower left massage member 25L) performs a vertical clamping action, but the right massage part 12R (upper right massage member 24R and lower right massage member 25R) is temporarily stopped.

As a result, the first right rotation boss portion 26R and the second right rotation boss portion 44R rotate with a phase that differs from the rotation phase of the first left rotation boss portion 26L and the second left rotation boss portion 44L. In other words, the right conversion portion 13R converts the oscillation motion into a phase that lags behind the oscillation conversion of the left conversion portion 13L.

This half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 causes the right conversion unit 13R to start moving later than the left conversion unit 13L, and the upper right massage member 24R starts moving later than the swinging motion of the upper left massage member 24L. Similarly, the lower right massage member 25R starts moving later than the swinging motion of the lower left massage member 25L.

The half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 performs a delayed conversion operation that delays the conversion operation of the right conversion unit 13R to the right massage unit 12R relative to the conversion operation of the left conversion unit 13L to the left massage unit 12L, and performs a second clamping operation that delays the phase of the vertical clamping operation of the right massage unit 12R relative to the phase of the vertical clamping operation of the left massage unit 12L.

As a result, the upper massage member 24R and lower massage member 25R on the right side perform a second clamping action, which is a delayed vertical clamping action at a different phase relative to the upper massage member 24L and lower massage member 25L on the left side.

In other words, the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment can perform a gripping and kneading massage by vertically grasping and squeezing the user's shoulder to back (or left waist) to the left of the center, by vertically moving the lower left treatment element 4f of the lower left massage member 25L toward and away from the upper left treatment element 4d and the middle left treatment element 4e of the upper left massage member 24L.

On the other hand, in the massage mechanism 2 of this embodiment, the third treatment element 4c of the lower right massage member 25R moves toward and away from the first and second treatment elements 4a and 4b of the upper right massage member 24R with a phase difference of 180° in response to the vertical approaching and moving away movement of the lower left treatment element 4f relative to the upper left treatment elements 4d and 4e, thereby performing a gripping and kneading massage by grasping and squeezing the user's shoulder to back (or right waist) from the center to the right from above and below.

In this way, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 can switch between the first clamping action (double-grasp massage) and the second clamping action (single-grasp massage) by the right massage part 12R and the left massage part 12L by rotating the rotary drive shaft 11 forward or reverse.

In summary, when the rotary drive shaft 11 is rotating forward, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 rotates the switching shaft 53 half a turn in the forward direction, engaging one end wall 51a of the hook portion 51 with the first rotation switching portion 54 in the hook groove portion 52. This delays the operation of the right massage portion 12R by half a turn to synchronize it with the operation of the left massage portion 12L, thereby switching the phase of the up-down clamping operation of the right massage portion 12R and the phase of the up-down clamping operation of the left massage portion 12L to "in-phase."

This allows the first clamping operation to be performed in which the upper left massage member 24L massages the left shoulder and the lower left massage member 25L massages the left side of the back, all in the same vertical clamping operation phase.

Furthermore, during the same vertical clamping phase, the upper right massage member 24R massages the right shoulder, and the lower right massage member 25R massages the right side of the back, thereby performing a first clamping operation.

Furthermore, when the rotary drive shaft 11 is rotating in the reverse direction, the half-rotation clutch mechanism 14 rotates the switching shaft 53 by a half rotation in the reverse direction, engaging the other end wall 51b of the hook portion 51 with the second rotation switching portion 55 in the hook groove portion 52. This delays the operation of the right massage portion 12R by a half rotation, and switches the phase of the up-down clamping operation of the right massage portion 12R to a "delayed clamping operation phase" relative to the phase of the up-down clamping operation of the left massage portion 12L.

As a result, the upper right massage member 24R performs a second clamping action in the up-and-down direction at a different phase from the upper left massage member 24L, massaging the user's right shoulder.

In addition, the lower right massage member 25R performs a vertical clamping action at a different phase from the lower left massage member 25L. Therefore, when the lower left massage member 25L is raised, the lower right massage member 25R is lowered, allowing for a second clamping action to be performed, massaging the right side of the user's back at different timings in the vertical direction.

In other words, with different phases on the left and right sides, the left massage unit 12L performs a grasping massage from the left shoulder to the back, and then the right massage unit 12R performs a kneading massage from the right shoulder to the back.

In other words, in the switching unit 14 (half-rotation clutch mechanism 14) of the present invention, when the switching shaft 53, which is a rotating body, rotates half a turn in either the forward or reverse direction around the axis of the rotation drive shaft 11, which is also a shaft body, and the hook portion 51 provided on the switching shaft 53 engages with the end 54, 55 (first rotation switching unit 54 or second rotation switching unit 55) of the hook groove portion 52 provided on the right rotation boss portion 26R, 46R, the right rotation boss portion 26R, 46R begins to rotate half a turn behind the rotation of the left rotation boss portion 26L, 46L, thereby switching the phase of the up-and-down clamping action of the right massage portion 12R.

As described above, the massage mechanism 2 of the present invention is equipped with a switching unit 14 (half-rotation clutch mechanism 14), which switches the phase of the vertical clamping action of the right massage unit 12 and the left massage unit 12. This allows a single device to effectively apply a variety of massage actions to the user's treatment area (e.g., the neck (nape), shoulders, lower back, etc.), thereby providing a variety of kneading sensations and providing a good massage. In other words, the massage mechanism 2 of the present invention can change the kneading method when massaging the treatment area to provide an effective massage.

The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In particular, matters not explicitly stated in the embodiments disclosed herein, such as operating conditions, control conditions, component dimensions, and weight, do not deviate from the scope of ordinary skill in the art and are matters that would be easily imagined by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

For example, the length and shape of the upper massage member 24 and lower massage member 25 provided in the massage mechanism 2, the inclination angle of the upper massage member 24 (first rotation boss portion 26 (first cam surface 30)) and the lower massage member 25 (second rotation boss portion 46 (second cam surface 50)) relative to the rotary drive shaft 11, the left-right separation distance between the left and right massage portions 12, and the vertical separation distance between the upper massage member 24 and the lower massage member 25 can be changed as appropriate in consideration of the treatment range.

Furthermore, the phase difference of the clamping action (up and down swinging movement) of the massage part 12 by the switching part 14, the relationship between the hook part 51 of the switching shaft 53 and the hook groove part 52 of the right rotation boss part 26R, 46R (for example, the shape (sliding range) of the hook part 51 and the hook groove part 52), etc. are not limited to those exemplified and can be changed as appropriate. In other words, the rotation angle of the switching shaft 53 until the hook part 51 engages with the first rotation switching part 54 or the second rotation switching part 55 (the end wall 54, 55 of the hook groove part 52) can be a half turn or any angle.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 massage machine 2 massage mechanism 3 massage body 4 treatment element 4a upper treatment element 4c lower treatment element 9 base 10 drive unit 10R right drive mechanism 10L left drive mechanism 11 rotation drive shaft 12 massage unit 12R right massage unit (first massage unit)
12L Left massage section (second massage section)
13 Conversion unit 13R Right conversion unit (first conversion unit)
13L Left conversion unit (second conversion unit)
14 Switching unit (half-rotation clutch mechanism)
15 Drive motor 15a Right output shaft (right worm gear)
15b Left output shaft (left worm gear)
24 Massage member (upper massage member)
24R Right massage member (upper right massage member)
24L Left massage member (upper left massage member)
25 Lower massage member 25R Right lower massage member 25L Left lower massage member 26 Rotation boss portion (first rotation boss portion)
26R Right rotation boss portion (first right rotation boss portion)
26L Left rotation boss part (first left rotation boss part)
27 First annular fitting portion 27R First right annular fitting portion 27L First left annular fitting portion 30R First right cam surface 30L First left cam surface 40 Ring member (second annular fitting portion)
40R Right ring member (second right annular fitting portion)
40L Left ring member (second left annular fitting portion)
46 Second rotation boss portion 46R Second right rotation boss portion 46L Second left rotation boss portion 50R Second right cam surface 50L Second left cam surface 51 Hook portion 51a One end 51b Other end 52 Hook groove portion 52a Hook groove portion 52b Hook groove portion 53 Switching shaft 54 First rotation switching portion 55 Second rotation switching portion 56R First gear (right side)
56L 1st gear (left side)
57R 2nd gear (right side)
57L 2nd gear (left side)
58R 3rd gear (right side)
58L 3rd gear (left side)
59R First shaft member 59L First shaft member 60R Second shaft member 60L Second shaft member

Claims (5)

A drive motor;
a rotary drive shaft rotated by the drive motor;
a first massage part and a second massage part on the left and right of the rotation drive shaft ;
A massage mechanism including:
The first massage unit includes an upper massage member having an upper treatment element at its distal end, a lower massage member having a lower treatment element at its distal end, and a first conversion unit that converts the rotational driving force of the rotational drive shaft into vertical motion of the upper massage member and the lower massage member so as to move the upper massage element and the lower massage element toward and away from each other in the vertical direction;
The second massage unit includes an upper massage member having an upper treatment element at its tip end, a lower massage member having a lower treatment element at its tip end, and a second conversion unit that converts the rotational driving force of the rotational drive shaft into vertical motion of the upper massage member and the lower massage member so as to move the upper massage element and the lower massage element toward and away from each other in the vertical direction,
The first conversion part and the second conversion part each include a rotation boss part that rotates integrally with the rotation drive shaft, a first cam surface and a second cam surface formed on the outer periphery of each rotation boss part, an annular fitting part that is provided on the base end side of the upper massage member and fitted onto the first cam surface in a state where rotation with the rotation drive shaft is restricted, and an annular fitting part that is provided on the base end side of the lower massage member and fitted onto the second cam surface in a state where rotation with the rotation drive shaft is restricted,
The first cam surface and the second cam surface are eccentric with respect to the axis of the rotary drive shaft, and the first conversion unit is provided with a switching unit that makes the up and down movements of the first massage unit and the second massage unit in the same phase when the rotary drive shaft rotates forward, and makes the up and down movements of the first massage unit and the second massage unit out of phase when the rotary drive shaft rotates backward.
A massage mechanism characterized by: The switching unit is
an engagement piece provided on the rotary drive shaft so as to be integrally rotatable; and a groove formed in the rotation boss portion provided on the first conversion portion, into which the engagement piece is slidably fitted;
When the rotary drive shaft rotates in the forward direction, the engagement piece rotates in the forward direction within the groove.
The massage mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the engagement piece is engaged with one end of the groove portion, thereby causing the first massage portion and the second massage portion to perform massage operations in the same phase . The massage mechanism of claim 2, wherein the switching unit is configured such that when the rotary drive shaft rotates in the reverse direction, the engagement piece rotates in the reverse direction within the groove, and the engagement piece engages with the other end within the groove, causing the first massage unit to perform a massage operation in a different phase from the massage operation of the second massage unit . 4. The massage mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the switching portion is a half-rotation clutch mechanism in which one end of the groove and the other end of the groove are spaced apart by 180 degrees. The massage mechanism described in claim 1, characterized in that the first cam surface and/or the second cam surface are inclined with respect to the axis of the rotary drive shaft so that the upper treatment element and the lower treatment element can move back and forth in the left and right direction as the rotary drive shaft rotates .