WO2004107925A1

WO2004107925A1 - Massage machine, and mattress and bed with the same

Info

Publication number: WO2004107925A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/001331
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong-Sun Shin
Original assignee: Jong-Sun Shin
Priority date: 2003-06-05
Filing date: 2004-06-04
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Also published as: WO2004107925A8

Abstract

The invention relates to a bed equipped with a massage machine for massaging a whole body in a state of user's lying on. A bed equipped with a massage machine comprises a mattress, a frame for supporting the mattress, and a massage machine arranged at a certain place of the mattress. Herein, the massage machine includes a driving motor fixed to the frame, a rotary shaft connected to and rotated by the driving motor, and a massage plate coupled with an end of the rotary shaft. Especially, the rotary shaft has a slope section inclined at a predetermined degree with respect to a rotary axis thereof. Further, the massage plate is arranged to be sloped with respect to the rotary axis of the rotary shaft. Moreover, the upper surface of the massage plate is arranged to be adjacent to an upper surface of the mattress. With the use of the bed having such structure, a user lays a region of one's own body necessary for massage on an upper surface of the mattress equipped with the massage machine, and then the massage plate wobbles on all sides so that a portion of the circumference of the massage plate moves up and down, thus massaging the region of the user's body.

Description

SPECIFICATION

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

MASSAGE MACHINE, AND MATTRESS AND BED WITH THE SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a massage machine which is provided on a suitable site of a mattress or bed so as to massage a region of a waist, backbone and so on, and a mattress and bed equipped with the massage machine.

BACKGROUND ART

Up to now, it has been developed various type of beds. A conventional type of bed comprises a mattress having a suitable width, and a frame supporting the mattress. Furthermore, a mattress is made up of a pad enclosing the outside thereof, and a cushion for absorbing shocks placed within the pad. Herein, as materials of the cushion, it is used springs, water bags, and so on. These springs or water bags are arranged appropriately flat in series so as to form a shock absorbing structure. In order to manufacture a bed, the mattress made up in such manner as above-described, is placed on a flat mounting board provided to a frame, or is provided with a frame which is attached to the mattress and has support legs. Thus, a bed is manufactured as a sleeping apparatus.

Physical stress has been increased because of lack of exercise and increase of fatness caused by affluent living of a modern society and modern conveniences. As a result, a massaging machine is widely used for getting rid of stress. However, since a conventional bed is only for sleep, it is insufficient for getting rid of stress. Therefore, there is need for a bed which has a function of management of health and figure by means of massaging for getting rid of stress before sleep, as well as a function for sleep. Detailed Description of the Invention

Object of the Invention

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems. The object of the present invention is to provide a bed equipped with a massage machine for massaging a whole body in a state of user's lying on.

The other object of the present invention is to provide a massage machine which is able to be equipped inside of a mattress having a predetermined width and is convenient for equipment and treatment.

Solution of Problems According to the present invention, a bed equipped with a massage machine comprises a mattress, a frame for supporting the mattress, and a massage machine arranged at a certain place of the mattress. Herein, the massage machine includes a driving motor fixed to the frame, a rotary shaft connected to and rotated by the driving motor, and a massage plate coupled with an end of the rotary shaft. Especially, the rotary shaft has a slope section inclined at a predetermined degree with respect to a rotary axis thereof. Further, the massage plate is arranged to be sloped with respect to the rotary axis of the rotary shaft. Moreover, an upper surface of the massage plate is arranged to be adjacent to an upper surface of the mattress. With the use of the bed having such a structure, a user lays a region of one's own body necessary for massage on an upper surface of the mattress equipped with the massage machine, and then the massage plate wobbles on all sides so that a portion of the circumference of the massage plate moves up and down, thus massaging the region of the user' s body .

A massage machine according to the present invention comprises: a frame; a driving motor fixed to the frame; a driving pulley fixed on an output shaft of the driving motor; a main rotary plate so supported by the frame as to rotate freely, the main rotary plate being so coupled with the driving pulley via a belt as to be rotated by the driving motor; a rotary shaft formed on one side of the main rotary plate so as to rotate along with the main rotary plate, the rotary shaft including a slope section inclined at a predetermined degree with respect to a rotary axis of the main rotary plate; and a massage plate so coupled with the rotary shaft as to be sloped with respect to the rotary axis of the main rotary plate. The massage machine having such a structure may be installed inside of a mattress including at least one cushion pad. Thus, the mattress equipped with the massage machine may be used by itself, or it may be used a bed wherein the mattress equipped with the massage machine is set on a frame for support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a whole structure of the bed equipped with the massage machine according to first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a partial area of the bed of Fig. 1 , in which the massage machine is installed;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a whole structure of the bed according to second preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a mattress equipped with a massage machine inside thereof is placed on a frame of the bed; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of the massage machine installed inside the mattress of Fig. 3. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. First, Figs. 1 and 2 shows a bed equipped with a massage machine according to first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, a bed 10 comprises a mattress 20, and a frame 30 supporting the mattress 20. In addition, the mattress includes at least one cushion pad. That is, the mattress comprises at least one layer of a main cushion pad 24 formed of springs, water bags and so on, and another cushion pad 22 for covering the main cushion pad 24.

The present invention is characterized in equipping a bed with a massage machine which is able to massage a region of user's waist, backbone, and so on. With explaining in detail, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a driving motor 42 having a speed changing function is arranged and fixed on a container 41 attached to a frame 30. The driving motor 42 is operated with connecting to power supply (not to be shown).

Furthermore, a rotary shaft 44, which is in the form of a crank so as to be inclined at a predetermined degree, is connected to an output shaft 43 of the driving motor 42. Herein, the rotary shaft 44 includes a slope section 45 inclined at a predetermined degree with respect to a rotary axis about which the output shaft 43 of the driving motor 42 rotates. The rotary shaft 44 provided with the slope section 45, may be formed by bending a straight bar at a predetermined degree, or by joining two straight bars to be angled at a predetermined degree. A bed according to the present invention should support a user's body weight, thus preferably having a structure which can support much more load.

In addition, a massage plate 46 is disposed on an upper end of the rotary shaft 44. The massage plate 46 is arranged on a suitable site of center area of the mattress 20 to be adjacent to an upper surface of the mattress 20. Preferably, the massage plate 46 is arranged to be adjacent to an inside surface of covering cushion pad 22 so as to support a hip of a user who lies down on a bed. Besides, the massage plate 46 is attached on an end of the rotary shaft 44 so as to be sloped with respect to the rotary axis about which the rotary shaft 44 rotates.

Further, the massage plate 46 is preferably coupled with the rotary shaft 44 so as to rotate freely with respect to the rotary shaft 44. For example, a bearing member 47 such as a ball bearing is provided on a lower surface of the massage plate 46. The one end of the rotary shaft 44 is engaged with such bearing member 47. The massage plate 46 and the rotary shaft 44 are coupled by the bearing 47 with each other. Accordingly, even though the rotary shaft 44 rotates, rotary power of the rotary shaft 44 is not transmitted into the massage plate 46 only the rotary shaft 44 rotates idly. Next, it will be described an operating mechanism of a bed equipped with a massage machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, with user's lying down on the bed, it is supplied with an electric power, and then the driving motor 42 starts. Simultaneously, the rotary shaft 44, which is extended from the output shaft 43 of the driving motor 42, rotates. According to the rotation of the rotary shaft 44, an incline plane of the massage plate 46 sloped with respect to the rotary axis of the rotary shaft 46 rotates in a 360-degree arc. Thus, a portion of the outer circumference of the massage plate 46 pushes up the lower surface of cushion pad 22. As a result, the cushion pad 22 protrudes to such an extent that the massage plate 46 pushes up the cushion pad 22. Such protrusion of the cushion pad 22 stimulates and massages user's body.

Since the massage plate 46 supports the user's body, the massage plate 46 is in contact with the cushion pad 22. If the massage plate 46 rotates along with the rotary shaft 44, it may take place the friction between the massage plate 46 and the cushion pad 22. Accordingly, the driving motor may be subject to excessive load. As a result, the efficiency of the machine is deteriorated and it would be hard to massage smoothly. However, in case the massage plate 46 and the rotary shaft 44 are coupled via the bearing member 47, the massage plate 46 rotates freely with respect to the rotary shaft 44. Therefore, even though the rotary shaft 44 rotates by the driving motor 42, the massage plate 46 does not rotate directly. Only the incline plane of the massage plate 46, which is inclined with respect to the rotary axis of the rotary shaft 44, rotates in a 360-degree arc by means of the rotation of the rotary shaft 44. That is to say, the massage plate 46 which is in contact with a lower surface of the covering cushion pad 22 of the mattress 20 does not rotate, but a portion of the circumference of the massage plate 46 moves up and down in rotation so as to push up the cushion pad 22. In the meantime, it is possible to attach a supplemental cushion pad 48 on an upper surface of the massage plate 46. Thus, during work of the massage machine, it is prevent from pressing a human body with excessive force.

Next, the second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. In Figs. 3 and 4, components identical or similar to the first embodiment are represented by reference numerals identical to those of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 3 shows a mattress 20 equipped with a massage machine 50 according to the second embodiment on the inside thereof, and a bed 10 in which the mattress 20 is disposed on a frame 30. Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the massage machine 50 according to the second embodiment.

According to the present second embodiment, the massage machine 50 has a minimum of mounting height so as to be easy to be placed within the mattress 20. As shown in Fig. 4, a driving motor 42 is disposed and fixed at a suitable site of a housing frame 51 having an approximately rectangular skeleton. A driving pulley 52 is fixed on an output shaft 43 of the driving motor 42.

In addition, a main rotary plate 53 is coupled with the housing frame 51 so as to rotate freely. For example, the main rotary plate 53 is supported by means of a pivot or a bearing provided on a bottom surface of the housing frame 51. The main rotary plate 53 is able to rotate along with the driving motor 42 by means of being connected with the driving pulley 52 via a belt.

Preferably, the massage machine 50 according to the present second embodiment is designed to be able to be placed on the inside of the mattress 20 having a predetermined height. More preferably, considering the mounting height of the driving motor 42, the output shaft 43 of the driving motor 42 is disposed horizontally. In this case, an auxiliary pulley 54 is preferably interposed between the driving pulley 54 and the main rotary plate 53. The auxiliary pulley 54 includes a first pulley portion 54a and a second pulley portion 54b. The first pulley portion 54a is connected with the driving pulley 52 via a belt 55a. Further, the second pulley portion 54b is connected with the main rotary plate 53 via a belt 55b. Especially, as shown in Fig. 4, since the driving motor 42 is disposed horizontally, the belt 55a is coupled with the first pulley portion 54a and the driving pulley 52 with twisting in a 90-degree arc. The first pulley portion 54a and the second portion part 54b are combined with each other so as to constitute one auxiliary pulley 54.

On an upper surface of the main rotary plate 53 is provided a rotary shaft 44 which is bent to have a slope section inclined at a predetermined degree. In addition, a massage plate 46 is coupled with an upper end of the rotary shaft 44. The rotary shaft 44 and the massage plate 46 are formed in such a manner as those of the aforementioned first embodiment. That is, the rotary shaft 44 includes a slope section inclined at a predetermined degree with respect to a rotary axis about which the main rotary plate 53 rotates. And, the massage plate 46 is also coupled with an end of the rotary shaft 44 so as to be sloped with respect to a rotary axis about which the rotary shaft 44 rotates. Only, in view of the formation of the rotary shaft 44 on the main rotary plate 53, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment. Since the rotary shaft 44 is formed on the main rotary plate 53, the shape of the rotary shaft 44 may be modified variously. For example, in case the rotary shaft 44 is formed by bending a straight bar at a predetermined degree in the same manner as the first embodiment, an one end of the rotary shaft 44 is fixed onto the main rotary plate 53, and the other end of the rotary shaft 44 is coupled with the massage plate 46 via a bearing member 47 so that the massage plate 46 is able to rotate freely.

Besides, as a manner to allow the massage plate 46 not rotating directly but allow only an incline plane of the massage plate 46 rotating in a 360-degree arc, it is possible that an inclined hole (not to be shown) is formed on the main rotary plate 53, and then a straight form of the rotary shaft 44 is fitted with the inclined hole. But, in this case, the rotary shaft 44 should be also arranged to be inclined at a predetermined degree with respect to a rotary axis of the main rotary plate 53. Moreover, it is also possible that a bearing member is interposed within a inclined hole so that the rotary shaft freely rotates.

The operating mechanism of the massage machine according to the present second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment. That is, the massage plate 46 is arranged to prop up user's hip in contact with an upper cushion pad of the mattress 20, and a portion of the circumference of the massage plate 46 moves up and down in all sides while the massage plate 46 wobbles according to the rotary shaft 44 rotating along with the main rotary plate 53. Since the massage plate 46 can rotate freely with respect to the rotary shaft 44 due to the bearing member 47, rotary power of the rotary shaft 44 is not directly transmitted into the massage plate 46. In other words, the massage plate 46 does not directly rotate, but an incline plane of the massage plate 46 inclined with respect to a rotary axis of the main rotary plate 53 rotates in a 360-degree arc. As a result, a protrusion of the massage plate 46 pushing up a cushion pad massages user's body while rotating in a 360-degree arc.

It is preferable that the massage machine according to the second embodiment is designed to be installed in a mattress having a certain width. Since a mounting height of the driving motor 42 is minimized, and then a mattress 20 including a massage machine 50 is able to be easily installed on a frame 30 of a bed 10, it facilitates the equipment and maintenance of the machine.

Industrial Applicability According to a bed equipped with a massage machine, when a user lies down on the bed, a region of waist, backbone, and so on may be forcibly massaged in a convenient way. Therefore, it allows a user to have an exercise for strengthening and relaxing muscles, and to manage one's own figure while losing weight around waist, stomach, and so on. That is, the present invention is able to provide a bed having the exercise function for the management of health and figure. Moreover, the present invention provides a mattress equipped with a massage machine inside thereof, which is convenient for installation on a frame of a bed. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A bed, comprising: a mattress; a frame for supporting the mattress; and a massage machine arranged at a certain place of the mattress; wherein the massage machine includes,

(a) a driving motor fixed to the frame,

(b) a rotary shaft connected to and rotated by the driving motor, the rotary shaft having a slope section inclined at a predetermined degree with respect to a rotary axis of the rotary shaft, and

(c) a massage plate arranged to be adjacent to an upper surface of the mattress, the massage plate being so coupled with an end of the rotary shaft as to be sloped with respect to the rotary axis of the rotary shaft.

2. The bed according to claim 1, wherein the massage plate is so coupled as to rotate freely with respect to the rotary shaft.

3. The bed according to claim 2, wherein the massage machine further includes a bearing member, through which the massage plate is coupled with the end of the shaft.

4. The bed according to claim 1, wherein the mattress includes at least one cushion pad, the cushion pad being arranged on the massage plate.

5. A massage machine, comprising: a frame; a driving motor fixed to the frame; a driving pulley fixed on an output shaft of the driving motor; a main rotary plate so supported by the frame as to rotate freely, the main rotary plate being so coupled with the driving pulley via a belt as to be rotated by the driving motor; a rotary shaft formed on one side of the main rotary plate so as to rotate along with the main rotary plate, the rotary shaft including a slope section inclined at a predetermined degree with respect to a rotary axis of the main rotary plate; and a massage plate so coupled with the rotary shaft as to be sloped with respect to the rotary axis of the main rotary plate.

6. The massage machine according to clam 5, wherein the slope section of the rotary shaft is formed by bending a straight shaft.

7. The massage machine according to claim 6, wherein one end of the rotary shaft is fixed on the one side of the main rotary plate, and the other end of the rotary shaft is coupled with the massage plate so that the massage plate is able to rotate freely with respect to the other end of the rotary shaft.

8. The massage machine according to claim 7, wherein the massage machine further includes a bearing member, through which the massage plate is coupled with the other end of the rotary shaft.

9. The massage machine according to claim 5, wherein the driving motor and the rotary plate are arranged in such a manner that a rotary axis of the driving motor and the rotary axis of the rotary plate are substantially perpendicular to each other.

10. The massage machine according to claim 9, wherein the massage machine further includes an auxiliary pulley which comprises a first pulley portion coupled with the driving pulley via a belt, and a second pulley portion coupled with the rotary plate via a belt and combined with the first pulley portion.

11. A mattress for a bed, comprising: a massage machine as depicted in any one of claims 5 through 10, and at least one cushion pad arranged on the massage plate of the massage machine.

12. A bed comprising a mattress according to claim 11.