Massaging apparatus

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a massaging apparatus, more particularly to a massaging apparatus that is capable of massaging a desired area of a user's body.

[0002] A conventional massaging apparatus, such as a massage chair, includes a plurality of massage members mounted in seat, back and footrest portions of a chair body. However, since the positions of the massage members 13 mounted in the seat portion 121 and the footrest 123 are fixed, massagable areas for hips and legs of a user are limited. Furthermore, such a conventional massaging apparatus cannot massage a user' s body at front and lateral sides, the user's limbs at inner sides and the user's foot.

[0003] WO 2009/083781 discloses a massaging apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a massaging apparatus that can overcome the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.

[0005] According to the present invention, a massaging apparatus comprises the features recited in Claim 1.

[0006] According to aspects of the present invention, a massaging apparatus comprises the features recited in Claims 2 to 5.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective, partly cutaway view showing the first example of a massaging apparatus ;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing the first example;

Figure 3 is a schematic circuit block diagram illustrating the first example;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the first example when in a state of use;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the first example when in another state of use;

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the second example of a massaging apparatus;

Figure 7 is a partly schematic sectional view showing the preferred embodiment of a massaging apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the third example of a massaging apparatus;

Figure 9 is a schematic circuit block diagram illustrating the third example;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary schematic rear view showing the third example;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view of the third example taken along line XI-XI in Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view of the third example taken along line XII-XII in Figure 8; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the fourth example of a massaging apparatus.

[0008] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

[0009] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the first example of a massaging apparatus is shown to include a main frame 1, a drive unit 2, a massage unit 3, a control unit 4, and an operating unit 5.

[0010] The main frame 1 includes an upright guiding rail unit extending in a longitudinal direction (Y), such as a vertical direction, and a mounting seat 13 mounted slidably on the guiding rail unit. In this embodiment, the guiding rail unit includes opposite elongate lateral rail 1 rods 11 (only one is shown in Figure 1). The mounting seat 13 has opposite lateral sliding blocks 131 (only one is shown in Figure 1) connected slidably to a corresponding one of the lateral rail rods 11 of the guiding rail unit.

[0011] The drive unit 2 is mounted on the main frame 1 for driving the mounting seat 13 to move along the guiding rail unit in the longitudinal direction (Y). In this example, as shown in Figure 2, the drive unit 2 includes a bi-directional motor 24, a transmission wheel set, and a transmission belt 22. The bi-directional motor 24 has a motor shaft 25 in the form of a gear and journalled on the main frame 1. The transmission wheel set includes a plurality of transmission wheels 23, and is disposed rotatably on the main frame 1, and is rotatable in response to operation of the bi-directional motor 24. The transmission belt 22 is trained on the transmission wheels 23 and the motor shaft 25 of the bi-directional motor 24, and has opposite ends 221 connected to the mounting seat 13 of the main frame 1 such that the mounting seat 13 is co-movable with the transmission belt 22.

[0012] The massage unit 3 is mounted on the mounting seat 13, and includes a massage rod 32 having a head portion 31, and a motor 33 having an output shaft 331 journalled on the mounting seat 13 and connected to the massage rod 32 for driving eccentric rotation of the massage rod 32 relative to the output shaft 331.

[0013] The control unit 4 is connected electrically to the bi-directional motor 24 of the drive unit 2, and the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 for controlling the drive unit 2 and the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 so that the head portion 31 of the massage rod 32 is moved to a desired position through movement of the mounting seat 13 so as to contact a user' s body at a desired acupuncture point and that the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 drives the massage rod 32 to rotate at a desired speed.

[0014] The operating unit 5 is connected electrically to the control unit 4, and includes a plurality of input keys (not shown) that are operable so as to output a control signal to the control unit 4 such that the control unit 4 controls the bi-directional motor 24 of the drive unit 2 and the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 based on the control signal from the operating unit 5.

[0015] Since the head portion 31 of the massage rod 32 can be moved to a desired position in the longitudinal direction (Y), the massaging apparatus of the present invention is suitable for users with different sizes. In use, the user can adopt an appropriate posture for a desired massage area, such as a sitting posture for the user' s back, as shown in Figure 4, a standing posture for a front side of the user' s body, as shown in Figure 5, or a lying posture for the user's foot. Preferably, when the user adopts the sitting posture, a chair 6 movable relative to a base 7 in a transverse direction (X) transverse to the longitudinal direction (Y), such as a horizontal direction, is provided so as to facilitate position adjustment in the transverse direction (X) (see Figure 4). Furthermore, during massage, the user can control a massage pressure applied to the user's body through his/her weight, thereby ensuring an approximate massage pressure.

[0016] Figure 6 illustrates the second example of a massaging apparatus, which is a modification of the first example. In this example, the mounting seat 13 has a connecting portion 132 formed with a threaded hole 133 therethrough that extends in the longitudinal direction (Y).

[0017] In this example, the drive unit 2 includes an elongate threaded rod 26, the bi-directional motor 24, a transmission wheel 27, and a looped transmission belt 28. The threaded rod 26 is journnalled on the main frame 1, extends in the longitudinal direction (Y) through the threaded hole 133 in the connecting portion 132 of the mounting seat 13, and is connected threadedly to the connecting portion 132 of the mounting seat 13. The threaded rod 26 is rotatable relative to the main frame 1 so as to drive movement of the mounting seat 13 in response to rotation of the threaded rod 26. The transmission wheel 27 is mounted on and is co-rotatable with the threaded rod 26. The looped transmission belt 28 is trained on the transmission wheel 27 and the motor shaft 25 of the bi-directional motor 24.

[0018] Figure 7 illustrates the preferred embodiment of a massaging apparatus according to this invention, which is a modification of the second example. According to the invention, the massaging apparatus includes a thermal generating unit mounted to the main frame 1 for radiating heat toward the user's body. In this embodiment, the thermal generating unit includes two infrared heaters 6 disposed in the main frame 1 and flanking the massage unit 3 for generating heat so as to heat air in the main frame 1, and two fans 7 disposed in the main frame 1 and corresponding respectively to the infrared heaters 6 for blowing heated air out of the main frame 1 toward the user's body.

[0019] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, the third example of a massaging apparatus is shown to include a main frame 1', a first drive unit 8, a second drive unit 9, the massage unit 3, a control unit 4', and an operating unit 5'.

[0020] The main frame 1' includes an upright first guiding rail unit 14, a second guiding rail unit 15, and a mounting seat 13'. The first guiding rail unit 14 extends in the longitudinal direction (Y), and has opposite elongate lateral rail rods 141 spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (X) in this example. The second guiding rail unit 15 is mounted slidably on the first guiding rail unit 14, and includes two parallel elongate second rail rods 151 that extend in the transverse direction (X) and that are disposed spacedly between the lateral rail rods 141 of the first guiding rail unit 14, and two sliding blocks 152 (only one is shown) each interconnecting corresponding ends of the second rail rods 151. Each sliding block 152 has two engaging extensions 153 extending into and engaging slidably an engaging groove 142 in a corresponding lateral rail rod 141 such that each sliding block 152 is connected slidably to the corresponding lateral rail rod 141 of the first guiding rail unit 14. The mounting seat 13' is mounted slidably on the second rail rods 151 of the second guiding rail unit 15, and has parallel first and second connecting plates 134, 135 extending rearwardly and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (X) (see Figure 8) in this example. Each of the first and second connecting plates 134, 135 is formed with a through hole 1341, 1351 extending in the transverse direction (X), as best shown in Figure 12.

[0021] The first drive unit 8 is mounted on the main frame 1' for driving the second guiding rail unit 15 to move along the driving lateral rail rods 141 of the first guiding rail unit 14 in the longitudinal direction (Y). In this example, as shown in Figure 8, the first drive unit 8 includes a bi-directional motor 81, a transmission wheel set 83, and a transmission belt unit. The bi-directional motor 81 has a motor shaft 82. The transmission wheel set 83 is disposed rotatably on the main frame 1', and is rotatable in response to operation of the bi-directional motor 81. The transmission belt unit includes a looped first transmission belt 84 trained on the transmission wheel set 83 and the motor shaft 82, and a second transmission belt 85 trained on the transmission wheel set 83 and having opposite ends 851 connected respectively to the second rail rods 151 of the second guiding rail unit 15.

[0022] The second drive unit 9 drives the mounting seat 13' to move along the second rail rods 151 in the transverse direction (X). In this example, referring to Figures 10 to 12, the second drive unit 9 includes an elongate threaded rod 91, a transmission sleeve 92, two bearings 93, a bi-directional motor 94, and a looped transmission belt 95. The threaded rod 91 is mounted fixedly on the second guiding rail unit 15, extends in the transverse direction (X) through the through holes 1341, 1351 in the first and second connecting plates 134, 135 of the mounting seat 13', and is disposed between the second rail rods 151 of the second guiding rail unit 15. The transmission sleeve 92 is sleeved rotatably on and is connected threadedly to the threaded rod 91, and has opposite first and second end portions 921, 922 that extend respectively through the through holes 1341, 1351 in the first and second connecting plates 134, 135 of the mounting seat 13' , and an intermediate gear portion 923 interconnecting the first and second end portions 921, 922, and disposed between and abutting against the first and second connecting plates 134, 135 of the mounting seat 13'. The bearings 93 are sleeved respectively on the first and second end portions 921, 922 of the transmission sleeve 92, and are disposed respectively in the through holes 1341, 1351 in the first and second connecting plates 134, 135 of the mounting seat 13'. The bi-directional motor 94 is mounted on the second connecting plate 135 of the mounting seat 13', and has a motor shaft 941. The transmission belt 95 is trained on the intermediate gear portion 923 of the transmission sleeve 92 and the motor shaft 941 of the bi-directional motor 94. The transmission sleeve 92 is rotatable relative to the threaded rod 91 in response to operation of the bi-directional motor 94 so as to move relative to the threaded rod 91 such that the intermediate gear portion 923 of the transmission sleeve 92 drives the mounting seat 13' to move in response to movement of the transmission sleeve 92.

[0023] The massage unit 3 is mounted on the mounting seat 13', and has the same configuration as that in the first example of Figure 2.

[0024] The control unit 4' is connected electrically to the bi-directional motor 81 of the first drive unit 8, the bi-directional motor 94 of the second drive unit 9 and the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 for controlling the first drive unit 8, the second drive unit 9 and the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 so that the head portion 31 of the massage rod 32 is moved to a desired position through movement of the mounting seat 13' and the second guiding rail unit 15 so as to contact a user's body at a desired acupuncture point and that the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 drives the massage rod 32 to rotate at a desired speed.

[0025] The operating unit 5' is connected electrically to the control unit 4', and is operable so as to output a control signal to the control unit 4' such that the control unit 4' controls the bi-directional motor 81 of the first drive unit 8, the bi-directional motor 94 of the second drive unit 9, and the motor 33 of the massage unit 3 based on the control signal from the operating unit 5'.

[0026] In such a configuration, by controlling the first and second drive units 8 and 9, the head portion 31 of the massage rod 32 is movable in the transverse and longitudinal directions (X, Y) so as to contact the user's body at various acupuncture points, thereby resulting in a relatively wide massage area as compared to the abovementioned conventional massage chair.

[0027] Figure 13 illustrates the fourth example of a massaging apparatus, which is a modification of the third example. Unlike the third example, the second guiding rail unit 15' further has two connecting portions 154 (only one is shown) each formed with a threaded hole therethrough that extends in the longitudinal direction (Y).

[0028] In this example, the first drive unit 8' includes an elongate threaded rod 86, a bi-directional motor 87, a transmission wheel 88, and a looped transmission belt 89. The threaded rod 86 is journalled on the main frame 1', extends in the longitudinal direction (Y) through the threaded holes 1541 in the connecting portions 154 of the second guiding rail unit 15. The threaded rod 86 is rotatable so as to drive movement of the second guiding rail unit 15 in response to rotation of the threaded rod 86. The bi-directional motor 87 is mounted on the main frame 1' and is connected electrically to and is controlled by the control unit, and has a motor shaft 871. The transmission wheel 88 is mounted on and is co-rotatable with the threaded rod 86, and is rotatable in response to operation of the bi-directional motor 87. The transmission belt 89 is trained on the transmission wheel 88 and the motor shaft 871 of the bi-directional motor 87.

Claims

1. A massaging apparatus including:

a main frame (1) including guiding rail unit extending in a longitudinal direction (Y), and a mounting seat (13) mounted slidably on said guiding rail unit;

a drive unit (2) mounted on said main frame (1) for driving said mounting seat (13) to move along said guiding rail unit in the longitudinal direction (Y);

a massage unit (3) mounted on said mounting seat (13) and including a massage rod (32) having a head portion (31), and a motor (33) having an output shaft (331) journalled on said mounting seat (13) and connected to said massage rod (32) for driving eccentric rotation of said massage rod (32) relative to said output shaft (331): characterized by

a thermal generating unit mounted to said main frame (1) for radiating heat toward a user's body, the thermal generating unit comprising at least one infrared heater (6) disposed in said main frame (1) for generating heat so as to heat air in said main frame (1), and at least one fan (7) disposed in said main frame for blowing heated air out of said main frame toward the user's body.

2. The massaging apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further characterized by a control unit (4) connected electrically to said drive unit (2) and said motor (33) of said massage unit (3) for controlling said drive unit (2) and said motor (33) of said massage unit (3) so that said head portion (31) of said massage rod (32) is moved to a desired position through movement of said mounting seat (13) so as to contact a user's body at a desired acupuncture point and that said motor (33) of said massage unit (3) drives said massage rod (32) to rotate at a desired speed.

3. The massaging apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, further characterized in that said drive unit (2) includes:

a bi-directional motor (24) connected electrically to and controlled by said control unit (4), and having a motor shaft (25) journalled on said main frame (1);

a transmission wheel set (23) disposed rotatably on said main frame (1) and rotatable in response to operation of said bi-directional motor (24), and

a transmission belt (22) trained on said transmission wheel set (23) and said motor shaft (25) of said bi-directional motor (24) and having opposite ends (221) connected to said mounting seat (13) of said main frame (1).

4. The massage apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, further characterized in that:

said mounting seat (13) has a connecting portion (132) formed with a threaded hole (133) therethrough that extends in the longitudinal direction (Y); and

said drive unit (2) includes
an elongate threaded rod (26) journalled on said main frame (1), extending in the longitudinal direction (Y) through said threaded hole (133) in said connecting portion (132) of said mounting seat (13), and connected threadedly to said connecting portion (132) of said mounting seat (13), said threaded rod (26) being rotatable relative to said main frame (1) so as to drive movement of said mounting seat (13) in response to rotation of said threaded rod (26),
a bi-directional motor (24) connected electrically to and controlled by said control unit (4), and having a motor shaft (25),
a transmission wheel (27) mounted on and co-rotatable with said threaded rod (26), and
a looped transmission belt (27) trained on said transmission wheel (27) and said motor shaft (25) of said bi-directional motor (24).

5. The massage apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that:

said guiding rail unit includes opposite elongate lateral rail rods (11) spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction (X) transverse to the longitudinal direction (Y); and

said mounting seat (13) has opposite lateral sliding blocks (131) each connected slidably to a corresponding one of the lateral rail rods (11) of said guiding rail unit.

Ansprüche

1. Massagevorrichtung, die umfasst:

einen Hauptrahmen (1) mit einer Führungsschieneneinheit, die sich in einer Längsrichtung (Y) erstreckt, und einem Montagesitz (13), das verschiebbar auf der Montageschieneneinheit montiert ist;

eine Antriebseinheit (2), die auf dem Hauptrahmen (1) montiert ist, um den Montagesitz (13) anzutreiben, so dass es sich in der Längsrichtung (Y) entlang der Führungsschieneneinheit bewegt;

eine Massageeinheit (3), die auf den Montagesitz (13) montiert ist und eine Massagestange (32) mit einem Kopfabschnitt (31) und einen Motor (33) mit einer Ausgangswelle (331), die auf dem Montagesitz (13) drehbar gelagert und mit der Massagestange (32) verbunden ist, umfasst, um eine exzentrische Drehung der Massagestange (32) relativ zu der Ausgangswelle (331) anzutreiben, gekennzeichnet durch

eine Wärmeerzeugungseinheit, die an dem Hauptrahmen (1) montiert ist, um Wärme in Richtung eines Körpers eines Benutzers abzustrahlen, wobei die Wärmeerzeugungseinheit wenigstens eine Infrarotheizung (6), die in dem Hauptrahmen (1) angeordnet ist, um Wärme zu erzeugen, um Luft in dem Hauptrahmen (1) zu erwärmen, und wenigstens einen Ventilator (7) aufweist, der in dem Hauptrahmen angeordnet ist, um erwärmte Luft aus dem Hauptrahmen in Richtung des Körpers des Benutzers auszublasen.

2. Massagevorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die ferner durch eine Steuereinheit (4) gekennzeichnet ist, die mit der Antriebseinheit (2) und dem Motor (33) der Massageeinheit (3) elektrisch verbunden ist, um die Antriebseinheit (2) und den Motor (33) der Massageeinheit (3) zu steuern, so dass der Kopfabschnitt (31) der Massagestange (32) durch die Bewegung des Montagesitzes (13) zu einer gewünschten Position bewegt wird, um den Körper eines Benutzer an einem gewünschten Akupunkturpunkt zu berühren, und dass der Motor (33) der Massageeinheit (3) die Massagestange (32) antreibt, um sich mit einer gewünschten Drehzahl zu drehen.

3. Massagevorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Antriebseinheit (2) umfasst:

einen bidirektionalen Motor (24), der mit der Steuereinheit (4) elektrisch verbunden ist und von ihr gesteuert wird und eine Motorwelle (25) hat, die drehbar auf dem Hauptrahmen (1) gelagert ist;

einen Übertragungsradsatz (23), der drehbar auf dem Hauptrahmen (1) angeordnet ist und ansprechend auf den Betrieb des bidirektionalen Motors (24) drehbar ist, und

einen Treibriemen (22), der auf den Übertragungsradsatz (23) und die Motorwelle (25) des bidirektionalen Motors (24) aufgezogen ist und dessen entgegengesetzte Enden (221) mit dem Montagesitz (13) des Hauptrahmens (1) verbunden sind.

4. Massagevorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, die ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass:

der Montagesitz (13) einen Verbindungsabschnitt (132) hat, der mit einem Gewindeloch (133) durch ihn hindurch ausgebildet ist, das sich in der Längsrichtung (Y) erstreckt; und

die Antriebseinheit (2) umfasst:

eine längliche Gewindestange (26), die drehbar auf dem Hauptrahmen (1) gelagert ist, sich in der Längsrichtung (Y) durch das Gewindeloch (133) in dem Verbindungsabschnitt (132) des Montagesitzes (13) erstreckt und schraubend mit dem Verbindungsabschnitt (132) des Montagesitzes (13) verbunden ist, wobei die Gewindestande (26) relativ zu dem Hauptrahmen (1) drehbar ist, um ansprechend auf die Drehung der Gewindestange (26) die Bewegung des Montageauflagers (13) anzutreiben,

einen bidirektionalen Motor (24), der elektrisch mit der Steuereinheit (4) verbunden ist und von dieser gesteuert wird und eine Motorwelle (25) hat,

ein Übertragungsrad (27), das auf der Gewindestange (26) montiert ist und zusammen mit ihr drehbar ist, und

einen herumgeschlungenen Treibriemen (27), der auf das Übertragungsrad (27) und den bidirektionalen Motor (24) aufgezogen ist.

5. Massagevorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:

die Führungsschieneneinheit entgegengesetzte längliche seitliche Schienenstangen (11) umfasst, die in einer Querrichtung (X) quer zu der Längsrichtung (Y) voneinander beabstandet sind; und

der Montagesitz (13) entgegengesetzte seitliche Gleitblöcke (131) hat, die jeweils verschiebbar mit einer entsprechenden der seitlichen Schienenstangen (11) der Führungsschieneneinheit verbunden sind.

Revendications

1. Appareil de massage, comprenant :

un cadre principal (1) comprenant une unité à rail de guidage verticale s'étendant dans un sens longitudinal (Y), et un siège de montage (13) monté de façon coulissante sur ladite unité à rail de guidage ;

une unité d'entraînement (2) montée sur ledit cadre principal (1) pour entraîner ledit siège de montage (13) pour le déplacement le long de ladite unité à rail de guidage dans le sens longitudinal (Y) ;

une unité de massage (3) montée sur ledit siège de montage (13) et comprenant une tige de massage (32) comportant une partie à tête (31), et un moteur (33) comportant un arbre de sortie (331) tourillonné sur ledit siège de montage (13) et raccordé à ladite tige de massage (32) pour entraîner la rotation excentrique de ladite tige de massage (32) par rapport audit arbre de sortie (331) ; caractérisé par

une unité génératrice thermique montée sur ledit cadre principal (1) pour faire rayonner de la chaleur vers le corps d'un utilisateur, l'unité génératrice thermique comprenant au moins un élément chauffant infrarouge (6) disposé dans ledit cadre principal (1) pour générer de la chaleur afin de chauffer de l'air dans ledit cadre principal (1), et au moins un ventilateur (7) disposé dans ledit cadre principal pour souffler de l'air chauffé hors dudit cadre principal vers le corps de l'utilisateur.

2. Appareil de massage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en outre par une unité de commande (4) connectée électriquement à ladite unité d'entraînement (2) et audit moteur (33) de ladite unité de massage (3) pour commander ladite unité d'entraînement (2) et ledit moteur (33) de ladite unité de massage (3) de sorte que ladite partie à tête (31) de ladite tige de massage (32) soit déplacée jusqu'à une position souhaitée par le mouvement dudit siège de montage (13) afin d'entrer en contact avec le corps d'un utilisateur à un point d'acupuncture souhaité et que ledit moteur (33) de ladite unité de massage (3) entraîne ladite tige de massage (32) pour la rotation à une vitesse souhaitée..

3. Appareil de massage selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en outre en ce que ladite unité d'entraînement (2) comprend :

un moteur bidirectionnel (24) connecté électriquement à, et commandé par, ladite unité de commande (4), et comportant un arbre de moteur (25) tourillonné sur ledit cadre principal (1) ;

un jeu de roues de transmission (23) disposé de façon rotative sur ledit cadre principal (1) et rotatif en réponse au fonctionnement dudit moteur bidirectionnel (24), et

une courroie de transmission (22) entraînée sur ledit jeu de roues de transmission (23) et ledit arbre de moteur (25) dudit moteur bidirectionnel (24) et comportant des extrémités opposées (221) raccordées audit siège de montage (13) dudit cadre principal (1).

4. Appareil de massage selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en outre en ce que :

ledit siège de montage (13) comporte une partie de raccordement (132) formée avec un trou fileté (133) à travers celle-ci qui s'étend dans le sens longitudinal (Y) ; et

ladite unité d'entraînement (2) comprend

- une tige filetée allongée (26) tourillonnée sur ledit cadre principal (1), s'étendant dans le sens longitudinal (Y) à travers ledit trou fileté (133) dans ladite partie de raccordement (132) dudit siège de montage (13), et raccordée de façon filetée à ladite partie de raccordement (132) dudit siège de montage (13), ladite tige filetée (26) étant rotative par rapport audit cadre principal (1) afin d'entraîner le mouvement dudit siège de montage (13) en réponse à la rotation de ladite tige filetée (26),

- un moteur bidirectionnel (24) connecté électriquement à, et commandé par, ladite unité de commande (4), et comportant un arbre de moteur (25),

- une roue de transmission (27) montée sur, et conjointement rotative avec, ladite tige filetée (26), et

- une courroie de transmission bouclée (27) entraînée sur ladite roue de transmission (27) et ledit arbre de moteur (25) dudit moteur bidirectionnel (24).

5. Appareil de massage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que :

ladite unité à rail de guidage comprend des tiges de rail latérales allongées opposées (11) espacées l'une de l'autre dans un sens transversal (X) transversal au sens longitudinal (Y) ; et

ledit siège de montage (13) comporte des blocs coulissants latéraux opposés (131) chacun raccordé de façon coulissante à une correspondante des tiges de rail latérales (11) de ladite unité à rail de guidage.

Drawing