# US 11,701,291 B2 · Massage machine

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- Number: US 11,701,291 B2
- Document ID: US11701291B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/260,678
- Filed: 2019-01-29
- Published: 2019-05-23
- Granted: 2023-07-18
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-02
- Assignees: Family Inada Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Family Inada Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Tomoki Nagamitsu; Tomoharu Fukuda; Atsushi Moritomo; Nichimu Inada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11701291B2

## CPC

- A61H 1/006: {Apparatus for applying pressure or blows for compressive stressing of a part of the skeletal structure, e.g. for preventing or alleviating osteoporosis}
- A61H 7/007: {Kneading}
- A61H 1/00: Apparatus for passive exercising (A61H5/00 takes precedence); Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
- A61H 1/0296: {Neck}
- A61H 7/00: Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for (electro-medical massage devices applying electric current by contact A61N1/18)
- A61H 7/004: {power-driven, e.g. electrical}
- A61H 9/0078: {with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs (mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776)}
- A61H 23/006: {Percussion or tapping massage (hand percussion A61H23/06)}
- A61H 23/02: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 39/04: Devices for pressing such points, e.g. Shiatsu {or Acupressure}(Massage or pressure on general areas A61H9/00 - A61H23/00)
- A61H 2201/0149: Seat or chair
- A61H 2201/0176: By stopping operation
- A61H 2201/0192: Specific means for adjusting dimensions
- A61H 2201/1207: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 2201/1215: Rotary drive
- A61H 2201/1238: with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
- A61H 2201/1409: Hydraulic or pneumatic means
- A61H 2201/1418: Cam
- A61H 2201/1427: Wobbling plate
- A61H 2201/1604: Head
- A61H 2201/1609: Neck
- A61H 2201/1614: Shoulder, e.g. for neck stretching
- A61H 2201/1623: Back
- A61H 2201/1633: Seat (A61H2201/0149 takes precedence)
- A61H 2201/1635: Hand or arm, e.g. handle
- A61H 2201/164: Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
- A61H 2201/1659: Free spatial automatic movement of interface within a working area, e.g. Robot
- A61H 2201/1661: Wobbling interface, e.g. Stewart platform or Hexapod
- A61H 2201/1664: linear
- A61H 2201/1678: Means for angularly oscillating massage elements
- A61H 2201/169: Physical characteristics of the surface, e.g. material, relief, texture or indicia
- A61H 2201/50: Control means thereof
- A61H 2201/5064: Position sensors
- A61H 2201/5066: Limit switches
- A61H 2201/5071: Pressure sensors
- A61H 2203/0431: in 90°/90°-position, like on a chair
- A61H 2205/04: neck
- A61H 2205/06: Arms
- A61H 2205/062: Shoulders
- A61H 2205/081: Back
- A61H 2205/088: Hip
- A61H 2205/10: Leg
- A61H 2205/12: Feet
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

A massage machine includes a seat unit on which a treatment subject person is configured to sit, a backrest unit configured to support a back of the person sitting on the seat unit, a base that is disposed in front of the backrest unit; and a treatment mechanism that is attached to the base configured to perform a massage on a shoulder of the person in a state where the person sits on the seat unit. The treatment mechanism includes a drive unit which includes an output shaft attached to the base and rotated by supplied power, and a treatment device configured to press the shoulder from above. In accordance with rotation of the output shaft, the treatment device oscillates in an upward/downward direction so as to perform the treatment on the shoulder.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A massage machine comprising:
a seat unit on which a treatment subject person is configured to sit;
a backrest unit configured to support a back of the person sitting on the seat unit;
a base that is disposed in front of the backrest unit; and
a shoulder treatment mechanism that is attached to the base configured to perform a massage on a shoulder of the person in a state where the person sits on the seat unit,
wherein the shoulder treatment mechanism includes:
a drive unit which includes an output shaft attached to the base and rotated by supplied power, the output shaft extends in an upward/downward direction, and
a treatment device configured to press the shoulder from above, and
wherein in accordance with rotation of the output shaft, the treatment device oscillates in the upward/downward direction so as to perform the treatment on the shoulder;
wherein the shoulder treatment mechanism further includes:
a swash plate cam obliquely attached to the output shaft, and
a treatment device holder attached to the swash plate cam so as to oscillate in the upward/downward direction without being rotated together by rotation of the swash plate cam; and
wherein the treatment device is integrally attached to the treatment device holder.

### Claim 2

A massage machine comprising:
a seat unit on which a treatment subject person is configured to sit;
a backrest unit that is configured to support a back of the person when sitting on the seat unit;
a base that is disposed in front of the backrest unit; and
a shoulder treatment mechanism that is attached to the base so as to perform a massage on a shoulder of the person in a state where the person sits on the seat unit,
wherein the shoulder treatment mechanism includes:
a drive unit that includes an output shaft attached to the base so as to be rotated by supplied power, the output shaft extends in an upward/downward direction,
a first treatment device which is configured to press the shoulder from above, and
a second treatment device,
wherein when viewed along a width direction of the backrest unit, the second treatment device is located in front of the first treatment device,
wherein when viewed along the width direction of the backrest unit, in accordance with rotation of the output shaft, the first treatment device and the second treatment device are configured to perform treatment on the shoulder in conjunction with each other so as to change a distance between the first treatment device and the second treatment device;
wherein the shoulder treatment mechanism further includes:
a swash plate cam which is obliquely attached to the output shaft, and
a treatment device holder which is attached to the swash plate cam so as to oscillate in the upward/downward direction without being rotated together by rotation of the swash plate cam,
wherein the first treatment device is integrally attached to the treatment device holder, and
wherein the second treatment device is attached so that a base end side is oscillable around an oscillation axis extending along the width direction in which the treatment device holder is disposed, and a tip side performs the treatment on the shoulder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the base includes a first base and a second base,
wherein the second base is attached to the first base so that a base end side of the second base is oscillable,
wherein the drive unit is attached to the second base, and
wherein a biasing member for biasing a tip side of the second base in a direction away from the first base is provided between the first base and the second base.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The massage machine according to claim 3,
wherein the biasing member is configured to include an air bag and an air supply/discharge unit capable of inflating and deflating the air bag,
wherein the massage machine comprises a control unit capable of controlling the drive unit and the air supply/discharge unit, and
wherein the control unit is capable of controlling the drive unit and the air supply/discharge unit independently of each other.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The massage machine according to claim 3, further comprising:
movement means capable of moving the shoulder treatment mechanism in a height direction of the person;
first detection means for detecting a specific position in the height direction of the shoulder treatment mechanism;
second detection means for detecting an oscillation position of the second base with respect to the first base; and
a control unit capable of controlling the movement means,
wherein the control unit performs a first step of causing the first detection means to detect a specific position in a height direction of the shoulder treatment mechanism and a second step of causing the second detection means to detect an oscillation position of the second base so as to specify an optimal treatment position of the shoulder treatment mechanism with respect to the shoulder.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The massage machine according to claim 5,
wherein the movement means includes a lifting/lowering motor, and
wherein the control unit stops the lifting/lowering motor in a case where a load applied to the lifting/lowering motor reaches a predetermined value or greater.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The massage machine according to claim 5,
wherein the backrest unit includes
a mechanical treatment unit movable in the height direction with respect to the back, and
third detection means for detecting a specific position in the height direction by moving the treatment unit, and
wherein the control unit sets a shoulder position of the person which is detected by the third detection means as a reference position so as to specify a movement position of the shoulder treatment mechanism in the first step, based on the reference position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The massage machine according to claim 5, further comprising:
reclining means for causing the backrest unit to recline against the seat unit,
wherein the control unit performs the first step and the second step on position misalignment of the person with respect to the backrest unit which is caused by the reclining means, and corrects a treatment position of the person in the shoulder treatment mechanism.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The massage machine according to claim 5,
wherein the control unit stops driving of the shoulder treatment mechanism, in a case where the oscillation position detected by the second detection means reaches a predetermined value or greater.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1, 2)

The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the shoulder treatment mechanism is movable in the upward/downward direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1, 2)

The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the shoulder treatment mechanism is movable in the width direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1, 2)

The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
a pillow that supports a head of the person,
wherein the pillow includes position adjustment means which is capable of adjusting a head position of the person in the forward/rearward direction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1, 2)

The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein a fourth treatment device is attached to a position facing at least a shoulder outer surface or an upper arm outer surface of the person.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The massage machine according to claim 13,
wherein the fourth treatment device is attached to a side wall portion which protrudes rearward from an outer side in the width direction of the second treatment device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The massage machine according to claim 14,
wherein the fourth treatment device includes an air bag.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The massage machine according to claim 15,
wherein the air bag is attached to a front side as a fulcrum in the forward/rearward direction of the side wall portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1, 2)

The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the swash plate cam is configured to include an annular bearing, and the output shaft is attached so as to be eccentric with respect to a center of the annular bearing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 2)

The massage machine according to claim 2,
wherein the second treatment device is further supported by a link, and
wherein one end portion of the link is rotatably attached to the base, and the other end portion of the link supports the second treatment device so as to be oscillable around the oscillation axis extending along the width direction between the base end side and the tip side of the second treatment device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The massage machine according to claim 18,
wherein the link extends in the upward/downward direction, the one end portion is located on an upper side, and the other end portion is located on a lower side.

### Claim 20 (depends on 2)

The massage machine according to claim 2,
wherein a width of a tip portion of the second treatment device is wider than a width of a tip portion of the first treatment device.

### Claim 21 (depends on 2)

The massage machine according to claim 2,
wherein when viewed along the width direction of the backrest unit, a tip portion of the second treatment device is located below a tip portion of the first treatment device.

### Claim 22 (depends on 2)

The massage machine according to claim 2,
wherein at least one of the first and the second treatment device includes an air bag.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The massage machine according to claim 22, further comprising:
an air supply/discharge unit capable of inflating and deflating the air bag, and
wherein the air supply/discharge unit is capable of adjusting strength of the treatment using the air bag, and holding a treatment subject site.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The massage machine according to claim 23, further comprising:
a control unit capable of controlling the drive unit and the air supply/discharge unit,
wherein the control unit is capable of controlling the drive unit and the air supply/discharge unit independently of each other.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The massage machine according to claim 23, further comprising:
a support body that is disposed closer to the person than the air bag;
a third treatment device that is disposed in the support body; and
a forward/rearward movement mechanism capable of moving the support body forward to and rearward from the person by inflating and deflating the air bag.