The present invention relates generally to a massage device, and more particularly to a massage device that comprises a locking mechanism to releasably lock the massage assemblies from moving.
Simulated massaging or kneading of parts of the body to aid circulation or relax the muscles has gained popularity, particularly, among people who are lack of exercise. The simulated massaging or kneading effects can be achieved electromagnetically and/or mechanically by means of a massage device. For the mechanical massaging or kneading, the massage device is usually designed to have a plurality of massage nodes and a driving system to drive the plurality of massage nodes to rotate so as to simulate massaging or kneading when applied to parts of interest of the body, and also move back and forth along a massage case so as to move the plurality of massage nodes to the parts of interest of the body. Such a massage device is known from
Usually, means such as screws are used to secure massage assemblies including massage nodes of a massage device to its massage case so as to present movements of the massage assemblies against the massage case during transportation. For such a massage device, if users inadvertently activate the massage device without unscrewing the screws, it will damage the massage device.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
To this end, the present invention provides the massage device defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the subclaims.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications therein may be affected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.
The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein:
The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the disclosure are now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a", "an", and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification.
As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," "containing," "involving," and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to.
The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
Referring first to
The base cover 110 has a first end portion 113, an opposite, second end portion 114, a longitudinal axis 111 and two guiding rails 112 formed parallel to the longitudinal axis 111. The two guiding rails 112 are adapted for cooperating with the carriage 130 and translating the pair of massage members 150 along the longitudinal axis 111. Other numbers of guiding rails can also be utilized to practice the present invention. The base cover 110 may also have a series of ribs 115 and supporting structures 116 for supporting and securing a top cover (cushion) to form a housing for accommodating the carriage 130, the first transmission assembly 140 and the massage assembly therein. The base cover 110 is made of a durable material, such as wood, plastic, alloy or the like.
The carriage 130 includes a chassis member 131 having an end portion 131a and at least one tab 131a protruded from the end portion 131b, where the at least one tab 131b defines a hole 131c therein, and a shield member 132. The shield member 132 is placed over the chassis member 131 to form a chamber between the chassis member 131 and the shield member 132. The chassis member 131 has two grooves 134 spaced-apart and formed on the bottom surface of the chassis member 131. The two grooves 134 are configured and sized to receive the two guiding rails 112 of the base cover 110, respectively. The cooperation of the guiding rails 112 of the base cover 110 and the grooves 134 of the chassis member 131 provides longitudinal guidance and support to the carriage 130 as it translates along the guiding rails 112. That is, when the carriage 130 is engaged with the base cover 110, the guiding rails 112 are respectively received in the grooves 134 of the chassis member 131, respectively, and the carriage 130 is longitudinally movable back and forth along the plurality of guiding rails 112 of the base cover 110. Other numbers of grooves can also be utilized to practice the present invention. The number of grooves 134 is corresponding to the number of guiding rails 112 formed in the base cover 110.
The first transmission assembly 140 is secured in the carriage 130. As shown in
The second transmission assembly 170 is engaged with the first transmission assembly 140. As shown in
Each massage members 150 includes a massage bracket 155 has a first end portion 155a and a second portion 155b, a pair of massage heads 157 is mounted to the first end portion 155a and the second end portion 155b, respectively, of the massage bracket 155. Both the first and second end portions 155a and 155b are bent towards a direction that is perpendicular to the bracket body. The massage bracket 155 is attached to the massage driving bracket 151.
Each massage head 157 may have a mushroom-shape or the like. The massage head 157 may include a structure 157a and a mushroom-shape node 157b for housing the structure 157a therein. The massage head 157 may also have an energy source of capable of generating at least one thermal energy and photonic energy. For example, the source energy includes a lamp base, a PCB board attached to the lamp base, and heating lamps attached onto the PCB board.
As shown in
The locking mechanism 180 is pre-set such that the at least one tab 131a of the chassis member 131 is received in the at least one step-like recess 181a of the base member 181; the peg 183a of the of the bolt member 183 is snapped, through the first opening 182a of the cushion member 182, into the bore of the base member 181; the at least one cylindrical column 183b of the bolt member 183 is snapped, through the at least one second opening 182b of the cushion member 182 and the hole 131c of the at least one tab 131a of the chassis member 131, into the at least one step-like recess 181a of the base member 181; and the base portion 184 of the wedge member 184 is positioned under the cushion member 182 and releasably engaged with the bolt member 183, thereby locking the chassis member 131 from moving.
When the motor 141 is activated, the eccentric block 185 rotates around the driving shaft 141a of the motor 141, and the rotation of the eccentric block 185 causes the protrusion 185a to push the side portion 184b of the wedge member 184 to move towards a position limit point of the cushion member 182 so as to eject the bolt member 183, thereby releasing the at least one tab 131 a of the chassis member 131 from the base member 181 of the locking mechanism 180.
Briefly, the present invention, among other things, recites a massage device that utilizes a locking mechanism to releasably lock the massage assemblies from moving.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defmed by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.
It is disclosed a locking mechanism and a massage device of using same. The locking mechanism includes a base member secured to the a base cover of the massage device, a cushion member positioned over the base member, a bolt member positioned over the cushion member, a wedge member operably engaged with the bolt member, and an eccentric block engaged with the wedge member and a motor of the massage device. The locking mechanism is configured such that the carriage of the massage device is pre-locked against movements, and the activation of the motor unlocks the massage device.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.