초록 ▼

An adjustable massaging device includes a track comprising two rails formed on a support structure. The device includes a carriage assembly that causes a massaging unit comprising a pair of massaging members to move back and forth along the rails on the support structure. The massaging members are

An adjustable massaging device includes a track comprising two rails formed on a support structure. The device includes a carriage assembly that causes a massaging unit comprising a pair of massaging members to move back and forth along the rails on the support structure. The massaging members are mounted to a rotatable shaft in such a fashion as to perform a finger pressure-like massage or a tapping massage on the interior of the massaging surface, such that a user may be massaged by contacting the exterior of the massaging surface. The adjustable massaging device may be used in the back of a chair, for example, to massage a user's back. The support structure on which the massaging unit is formed is adjustable within the chair such that, in a retracted position, the massaging members are distanced from the massaging surface and the chair may be used as a standard office chair without any massaging parts contacting the massaging surface. In a number of deployed or massaging positions, the massaging members are in contact with the interior of the massaging surface and are capable of exerting various massage pressures. The support structure may be hinged to a bracket and pivotally movable with respect to the bracket by a handle or motorized means.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A massaging apparatus comprising: a massage surface; and at least one massaging member moveable along a support structure, said support structure being moveable towards and away from said massage surface; a guide rail affixed to a support structure, said guide rail including

What is claimed is: 1. A massaging apparatus comprising: a massage surface; and at least one massaging member moveable along a support structure, said support structure being moveable towards and away from said massage surface; a guide rail affixed to a support structure, said guide rail including a first raceway having a generally V-shaped cross-section and said guide rail including a second opposing raceway spaced apart from said first raceway; and a carriage assembly including at least one rotatably attached guide wheel and at least one biasing member acting in opposition to said guide wheel, said guide wheel being adapted to travel within said first raceway, thereby coupling a carriage assembly to said guide rail, and said biasing member being adapted to bear against said second raceway, wherein force applied by said biasing member centers said guide wheel within said first raceway. 2. The massaging apparatus as in claim 1, in which said massaging apparatus includes an interior and an exterior, said massage surface forms an exterior surface of a massaging panel, and said support structure is disposed within said interior of said massaging apparatus and is capable of achieving at least one massage position in which said at least one massaging member contacts an opposed interior surface of said massaging panel, and at least one retracted position in which said at least one massaging member does not contact said massaging panel. 3. The massaging apparatus as in claim 1, in which said support structure is pivotally moveable towards and away from said massage surface. 4. The massaging apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a bracket disposed in fixed position with respect to said massage surface and in which said support structure is coupled to said bracket and moveable with respect to said bracket. 5. The massaging apparatus as in claim 4, in which said bracket is generally planar and peripherally surrounds and is pivotally coupled to said support structure, and said support structure is obliquely moveable with respect to said bracket. 6. The massaging apparatus as in claim 4, in which said massaging apparatus includes an interior and an exterior and said bracket is disposed within said interior. 7. The massaging apparatus as in claim 1, in which said massage surface is included as the back part of a chair and is adapted for a user's back to rest against, and said support structure including said at least one massaging member, is disposed within said chair. 8. The massaging apparatus in claim 1, in which said massaging member is rotationally moveable along said support structure. 9. The massaging apparatus in claim 8, in which said massaging member is partially discoid in shape. 10. The massaging apparatus in claim 8, in which said massaging member is further capable of oscillatory motion. 11. The massaging apparatus in claim 1, in which said support structure includes a generally planar portion along which said at least one massaging member moves, and said support structure is pivotally moveable with respect to said massage surface. 12. The massaging apparatus in claim 1, in which said massage surface and said support structure are each oriented generally vertically, and said at least one massaging member moves vertically along said support structure. 13. The massaging apparatus in claim 12, in which said support structure includes a top and a bottom, said top being hingedly attached to said massaging apparatus and said bottom being moveable towards and away from said massaging surface. 14. The massaging apparatus in claim 1, further comprising a handle capable of moving said support structure to a plurality of positions. 15. The massaging apparatus in claim 14, further comprising a position lock for locking said handle into a plurality of handle positions corresponding to said plurality of positions of said support structure. 16. The massaging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said support structure includes a generally planar portion along which said at least one massaging member is moveable. 17. A massaging apparatus comprising: a chair including a back section having a receiving panel for a user's back to rest against; a massaging member moveable along a support structure disposed within said back section, said support structure capable of moving with respect to said receiving panel and achieving a plurality of deployed positions in which said massaging member is in contact with an interior surface of said receiving panel and at least one retracted position in which said massaging member is not in contact with said receiving panel; at least one guide rail affixed to the support structure, said guide rail including at least a first raceway; a carriage assembly including at least one rotatably attached guide wheel, said guide wheel having a shaped surface being adapted to travel within said first raceway thereby coupling said carriage assembly to said guide rail said carriage assembly further including the massaging member; and a driving mechanism to translate the carriage assembly axially along said guide rails, the driving mechanism mounted on the carriage assembly, wherein said support structure is pivotally attached to said frame and capable of being positioned in a plurality of positions various distances from said receiving panel. 18. The massaging apparatus as in claim 17, in which said support structure is pivotally moveable within said back section. 19. The massaging apparatus as in claim 17, in which said support structure is coupled to a generally planar bracket which peripherally surrounds said support structure, and said support structure is pivotally moveable with respect to said bracket. 20. The massaging apparatus as in claim 19, in which said bracket is oriented generally vertically, and said support structure is hinged to said bracket near the top of said bracket, and is free to swing with respect to said bracket at the bottom of said bracket. 21. The massaging apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said chair comprises a recliner. 22. The massaging apparatus as in claim 19, in which said back section includes a frame therein and in which said bracket is integrally formed as a part of said frame and is composed of wood. 23. The massaging apparatus in claim 17, in which said support structure is oriented generally vertically and said massaging member is capable of motion along a vertical direction. 24. The massaging apparatus in claim 17, wherein the driving mechanism drives said guide wheel for translation along said at least one guide rail. 25. A massaging apparatus comprising a massaging device disposed within a back portion of a chair, including: a chair having a back portion and a receiving panel for a user's back to rest against an exterior surface thereof; a guide rail affixed to a support structure, said guide rail including a first raceway having a generally V-shaped cross-section and said guide rail including a second opposing raceway spaced apart from said first raceway, parallel to the plane of movement of a carriage assembly; said carriage assembly including at least one rotatably attached guide wheel and at least one biasing member acting in opposition to said guide wheel, said guide wheel being adapted to travel within said first raceway, thereby coupling said carriage assembly to said guide rail, and said biasing member being adapted to bear against said second raceway, wherein force applied by said biasing member centers said guide wheel within said first raceway; said carriage assembly further including a massaging member and means for driving said guide wheels, wherein said carriage assembly translates axially along said guide rails; and said support structure capable of being displaced towards and away from said receiving panel. 26. The massaging apparatus of claim 25, in which said support structure is coupled to a bracket fixed into position within said back portion and said support structure is capable of oblique movement with respect to said bracket. 27. The massaging apparatus of claim 25, in which said support structure is capable of achieving a first position in which said massaging member contacts an interior surface of said receiving panel and a second position in which said massaging member does not contact said interior surface of the receiving panel. 28. A chair-type massaging apparatus comprising a massaging device disposed within a portion of said apparatus, said massaging device including: a frame attached within a back portion of a chair, said back portion including a receiving panel for a user's back to rest against an exterior surface thereof; at least one guide rail affixed to a support structure, said guide rail including at least a first raceway; a carriage assembly including at least one rotatably attached guide wheel, said guide wheel being adapted to travel within said first raceway thereby coupling said carriage assembly to said guide rail; biasing means for biasing the roller against the raceway; and said carriage assembly further including a massaging member and means for driving said guide wheels, wherein said carriage assembly translates axially along said guide rails, wherein said support structure is pivotally attached to said frame and capable of being positioned in a plurality of positions various distances from said receiving panel.