JPS596661B2 - Shiatsu/massaging tools - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an acupressure/massage tool that performs acupressure or massage by pinching the affected area.

The inventor proposed an acupressure/massage tool in which fingertips facing each other are configured to operate on the palm body.

However, when attempting to perform acupressure and massaging using this device, when holding the palm of the hand and bringing it close to the affected area, both fingertips move, making it impossible to properly grasp the acupuncture points.

Additionally, if the timing of contact of the fingertips with the affected area is not the same (in many cases, one fingertip contacts the affected area before the other), the reaction force will be applied to the palm body, stabilizing the device. It becomes difficult to keep it in place.

Furthermore, when a hydraulic mechanism is used to operate both fingertips, two or more piston/cylinder mechanisms must be built into the palm body, which has the drawback of increasing the size and weight of the entire device.

Moreover, since the amount of oil is large, it is impossible to incorporate a pressure oil source into the palm body, and a pressure oil source must be installed separately.

In this case, the pressure oil supply hose has to be connected to the palm of the hand, which significantly impairs operability and is not practical.

In addition, since the fingertips are simply pivoted relative to the palm, the therapist applies acupressure by thrusting the fingertips into the affected area.
Or, since the massage cannot be performed in a massage-like manner, the patient feels strange as if using a machine or tool, and the therapeutic effect is insufficient.

This invention was made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to fix one of the fingertips to the palm body, making it easier to set it on the pot, and to make the drive mechanism for the movable fingertip smaller and lighter. By making it possible to incorporate it into the palm body, improving its operability, and making it possible for the movable fingertips to stick up against the affected area during acupressure and massage treatments, it can be used as a mechanical tool. The aim is to provide an acupressure/massage tool that eliminates discomfort and improves therapeutic effects.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained based on illustrated embodiments.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a palm body with a fixed fingertip 2 provided inside one end, and is a hollow body curved in an arc shape, with a grip portion 1a formed in the center.

The fixed fingertip 2 has a cushioning material 2b disposed on the phalanx body 2a and is covered with a flexible cover 20. If necessary, a heat insulating material 3 is placed over the phalanx body 2a in a plate shape. A heating element 4 such as a thermistor is installed.

A movable finger 5 made of a hollow body curved in an L-shape is pivotally attached to the palm Sentai 1 by a pivot 6, and a movable finger head is provided at the tip of the movable finger 5 opposite to the fixed finger head 2. γ is pivotally mounted by a pivot 8.

Like the fixed fingertip 2, the movable fingertip 1 has a phalanx body γa.
A cushioning material 1b is disposed on top of the cushioning material 1b, and these are covered with a flexible cover 10. If necessary, a heating element 10 such as a plate-shaped thermistork is placed on the phalanx body γa via a heat insulating material 9.
is attached.

The drive mechanism for pivoting the movable finger 5 around the pivot 6 with respect to the palm body 1 is a single-sided hydraulic piston cylinder whose return is constituted by a compression coil spring mechanism 11 in this embodiment. A tank 13 serving as a mechanism 12 and a pressure oil source is housed within the grip portion 1a of the palm body 1.

Further, an electric pump 14 as a driving source is disposed in the palm body 1 behind the fixed fingertip 2, and has a gear pump structure driven by a DC electric motor 14a.

The gear shaft 14b of the gear pump is the worm wheel 14
The worm wheel 14c is meshed with a worm 14d provided on the output shaft of the electric moke 14a.

The suction side of the gear pump is communicated with the pump 13, and the delivery side of the gear pump is communicated with a hydraulic chamber 15a of a relief valve 15 connected to the gear pump.

The IJ IJ-F valve 15 has a valve body 1 in the hydraulic chamber 15a.
5b slidably inserted into the compression coil spring 16.
is pressed toward the hydraulic chamber 15a.

The adjuster 15C supporting one end of the compression coil spring 16 is screwed onto the κ body 15e of the IJ-IJ-F valve 15 on the side of the relief chamber 15d, and its knob 15f protrudes outside the palm body 1.

A relief port 15g is opened on one side of the relief chamber 15d, and communicates with the suction side of the gear pump via a bypass passage 15h.

When the internal pressure of the hydraulic chamber 15a increases, the valve body 15b moves toward the relief chamber 15d against the compression coil spring 16.
The relief port 15.9 is gradually brought into communication with the hydraulic chamber 15a.

When the hydraulic chamber 15a is lowered, the valve body 15b is pushed back toward the hydraulic chamber 15a by the action of the compression coil spring 16, and communication between the relief port 15g and the hydraulic chamber 15a is cut off.

In this embodiment, the control element of the drive mechanism is a switching valve 1γ that can adjust the flow rate, and one passage 1γa is connected to the tank 13.
The tank 13 is connected to the tank 13 in communication with the tank 13.

The above switching -m1r has the passage 1γ on the side of the valve chamber 1γb.
a and communicates the valve chamber 17b with the other passage 1γd via the central valve port 17c.

The passage 17d is communicated with the hydraulic chamber 12a of the piston/cylinder mechanism 12 via a pipe line 18, and the pipe line 19
The IJ is connected to the hydraulic chamber 15a of the IJ-F valve 15 via the IJ-F valve 15.

The cone-shaped valve body 17e that opens and closes the valve port 17c is the valve chamber 1.
γb, is biased in a direction away from the valve opening 1γC by a compression coil spring 20, and is integral with the valve body 17e. There is.

Therefore, when the suppressing portion 17f is pressed, the amount of pressure oil supplied from the gear pump via the pipe line 19 and returning into the tank 13 via the passage 1γa is limited, and the amount of pressure oil supplied from the gear pump via the pipe line 18 is limited. It flows into the hydraulic chamber 12a of the mechanism 12.

In this case, the pressure in the hydraulic chamber 15a1 conduit 19, the passage 1γd1 conduit 18, and the hydraulic chamber 12a is increased from the gear pump, and the piston-cylinder mechanism 12 performs an expansion operation against the compression coil spring mechanism 11.

Then, the piston-cylinder mechanism 12 is connected to the cylinder 1.
The end of the piston rod 2b is pivotally connected to the palm body 1 by a pivot 21, and the end of the piston rod 12c is pivotally connected to the skeleton plate piece 5a of the movable finger 5 by a pivot 22. 5 pivots around the pivot 6 relative to the palm 1, and its tip moves toward the fixed fingertip 2.

If the resistance applied to the movable finger 5 is large, the pressure in the series of oil lines such as the hydraulic chamber 122 will increase, but the IJ-F valve 15 will not communicate the relief port 15g with the hydraulic chamber 15a until the set pressure is reached. , the hydraulic chamber 12 is sufficient to reach the set pressure.
The pressure at a can be increased, and when the set pressure is exceeded, the relief valve 15 operates to prevent excessive pressure from acting.

This set pressure is set by the compression coil spring 16 by operating the knob 15f.
determined by adjusting the prestress of

Further, when the valve body 1γe is sufficiently separated from the valve port 17c, pressure oil is returned to the tank 13 from the hydraulic chamber 12a of the piston cylinder mechanism 12 via the passage 1γd by the action of the compression coil spring mechanism 11, and The pressure oil in 15a is also in tank 1.
Returned to 3.

For this purpose, when the valve port 17c is opened, the pressure within the hydraulic chamber 12a must be reduced to such an extent that the pressure oil is discharged by the action of the compression coil spring mechanism 11.

It is necessary to take this point into consideration when designing.

Furthermore, the movable fingertip 7 is configured so that the movable fingertip 1 is rotated relative to the palm body 1 with a turning amount larger than the amount of pivoting of the movable finger 5 pivoted by the drive mechanism (piston cylinder mechanism 12). , a link mechanism 23 is disposed across the movable fingers 5 and the palm body 1.

The link mechanism 23 is located at a location away from the pivot point (pivot 6) between the palm body 1 and the movable finger 5, and is connected to the palm body 1 by a pivot 24 provided on the plate-like frame 1b of the palm body 1. a first link piece 23a pivotally connected to the first link piece 23a;
A second link piece 23b is pivotally connected to the frame plate piece 5a of the movable finger 5 by a pin 30 and a second link piece 23b is pivotally connected to the frame plate piece 5a of the movable finger 5 by the pin 25. 1 guide piece 23C, a third link piece 23d whose one end is pivotally connected to the second link piece 23b by a pin 26, and whose other end is pivotally connected to the skeleton plate piece 5a with a pivot 2γ, and the pin 26. The second and third link pieces 2 share the same
3b, 23d, and the other end is pivotally connected to the movable fingertip T by a pivot 28 at a location away from the pivot point (pivot 8) between the movable fingertip 5 and the movable fingertip γ. guide piece 23e
and groove-shaped first and second guide grooves 23f provided in the skeleton plate piece 5a to guide the pins 25 and 26.
and 29.

The link pieces 23a, 23b, and 23e constitute a Z-shaped link that can be expanded and contracted, and the third link piece and the second guide piece move relative to each other as the movable fingertip γ approaches the fixed fingertip 2. The link operation is restricted at the end of the second guide groove 23f so as not to reverse the angle by more than 180 degrees.

Similarly, the link movement of the first link piece and the first guide piece is restricted at the end of the first guide groove 29 so that the mutual angle does not exceed 180 degrees.

For this purpose, each guide groove 29 and 23f must be designed in a predetermined shape.

The link mechanism 23 having such a configuration is a hydraulic piston.
When the movable finger 5 pivots with respect to the palm body 1 by the operation of the cylinder mechanism 12, it operates as shown in FIGS. 7a to 7C,
The movable fingertip γ is rotated with respect to the palm body at a turning angle larger than the amount of pivoting of the movable finger 5.

As a result, it is possible not only to simply apply a pressing force to the affected area located between the fixed fingertip 2 and the movable fingertip γ, but also to exert acupressure and massaging effects such as kneading and thrusting.

As described in detail above, the present invention includes a palm body having a fixed fingertip at one end, a movable finger body pivotally attached to the palm body, and a movable finger body pivotally attached to the tip of the movable finger body, and the fixed fingertip pivotably attached to the tip of the movable finger body. a movable fingertip facing the palm body; a drive mechanism for pivoting the movable finger with respect to the palm body; This is because it is equipped with a link mechanism disposed across the movable fingertip, movable finger, and palm body so as to rotate with respect to the body, a drive source for the drive mechanism, and a control element for the drive mechanism. , you can easily place your fingertips against one pot.
I can comfortably perform shiatsu and massaging work.

Furthermore, since only the movable fingertips are driven, the drive mechanism, drive source, etc. can be made smaller and lighter, making it possible to incorporate them into the palm body and creating a structure with good operability.

Further, since the movement of the movable fingertip is specified, the movable fingertip makes a motion similar to a human fingertip, such as pushing in and thrusting, so that an effective acupressure/massage effect can be obtained.

Note that if a heating element is provided on the fingertip, it can also be used for thermopressure therapy, and the therapeutic performance can be further improved.

In addition, by using a hydraulic piston-cylinder mechanism as the drive mechanism, a pump as the drive source, and a manual switching valve as the control element, not only can these be built into the palm of the hand, but the flow rate can be adjusted using the switching valve. Since the finger pressure applied to the movable fingertip can be varied, the strength can be easily adjusted according to the patient's needs.

In addition, since the above pump is circulated to the hydraulic tank via the IJ valve, in this case,
The maximum pressure applied to the movable fingertip is regulated, allowing safe acupressure and massaging work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall longitudinal sectional side view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Figure 1, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a hydraulic pressure The circuit diagram and FIGS. 1a to 1c are explanatory views of the operation of the link mechanism. 1... palmar body, 2... fixed fingertips, 4.
...Heating element, 5...Movable finger, γ...
...Movable fingertip, 10...Heating element, 12.
...Piston cylinder mechanism, 13...
Tank, 14...Pump, 15...Relief valve, 11...Switching valve, 23...
link mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A palm body with a fixed fingertip provided at one end, a movable finger pivotally attached to the palm body, and a movable finger pivoted to the tip of the movable finger and facing the fixed fingertip. a movable fingertip; a drive mechanism that is built into the palm body and pivots the movable finger with respect thereto;
A link disposed across the movable fingertip, the movable fingertip, and the palm body so that the movable fingertip rotates with respect to the palm body with a rotation larger than the amount of pivoting of the movable finger pivoted by the drive mechanism. An acupressure/massage instrument comprising a mechanism, a drive source for the drive mechanism built into the palm body, and a number of control elements for the drive mechanism built into the palm body. 2. Acupressure according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixed fingertip and the movable fingertip are provided with heating elements.
Massaging tools. 3 The drive mechanism is a hydraulic piston-cylinder mechanism, the oil source is disposed in the palm body, the drive source is an electric pump, which is disposed in the palm body, and the control element controls the flow rate. The acupressure/massage tool according to claim 1, wherein the acupressure/massage tool is an adjustable switching valve, and the electric pump and the pressure oil source form a cycle via a relief valve. 4 The above-mentioned piston-cylinder mechanism is a single-sided piston-cylinder mechanism operated by a return action spring mechanism, and the above-mentioned control element connects a pressure oil source to an oil path connecting the delivery side of the pump and the above-mentioned piston-cylinder mechanism. The acupressure/massaging tool according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a manual switching valve capable of adjusting the flow rate. 5. The link mechanism includes a first link piece that is pivotally connected to the palm body at a location away from the pivot point between the palm body and the movable finger, and a first link piece that is pivotally connected to the first link piece. a second link piece;
a first guide piece provided on the movable finger and guiding the mutual pivot point of the first and second link pieces, and one end of which is pivotally connected to the second link piece and the other end of which is movable. Z that is pivotally connected to the finger and is extendable and retractable together with the first and second link pieces.
The third link piece constituting the glyph-shaped link has one end commonly pivoted to the mutual pivot point of the second and third link pieces, and a piece apart from the pivot point of the movable finger and the movable finger head. The acupressure/massaging tool according to claim 1, further comprising a second guide piece whose other end is pivotally connected to the movable fingertip.