WO2017050525A1 - Drive unit for a massage system, and massage system comprising a drive unit of said type - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive unit (12) for a massage element. The drive unit (12) comprises a housing (28) which has a largely rotationally symmetrical, in particular cylindrical shape and which is delimited by two end disks (18, 26). The massage element can at least partially be clamped between the end disks (18, 26). For this purpose, one end disk (26) is connected to the housing (28) by a threaded connection. At least part of a housing thread (38) on the housing (28) is preferably designed in at least two portions, and the geometrical shapes of the units of which the radially inner portion of the housing thread (38) is composed are complementary in a largely interlocking manner. The invention further relates to a massage system comprising a drive unit (12) described above.

Description

 Drive unit for a massage system and massage system with such a drive unit

The invention relates to a drive unit for a massage system according to the preamble of patent claim 1, wherein the drive unit is at least partially insertable into a massage body of the massage system and wherein the drive unit comprises: a) an electric motor;

 b) An indirectly or directly driven by the engine

 Unbalance to cause the drive unit to vibrate;

 c) A housing in which the motor and the imbalance are arranged; d) A first end plate in the longitudinal direction of the housing

considered first end of the housing; e) A lid in the area of the viewed in the longitudinal direction of the housing second end of the housing, the ceiling! a second end plate, that of the first end plate

 opposite.

A drive unit with the aforementioned features is under the

Description "Blackroll-Set-Vyper" available on the market The well-known drive unit has control elements on both end discs

Control of the drive unit. For disassembly and assembly of the known drive unit from or to the massage body, at least one end plate must be removed. When removing or

Mounting this end plate electrical lines must be disconnected or connected. As a result, the retrofitting or replacement of a drive unit for an end user or for an end user is difficult to handle.

Another drive unit is available under the name "Power RolT on the market. The power roll has electrical components on both end plates, as a result of which the known drive unit is only extensively exchangeable for an end customer or consumer.

Both aforementioned drive units furthermore have at least one end disk for mounting and dismounting the drive unit, which are connected to the housing by one or more screws. The axial length of the drive unit is fixed. This is the

known drive units not adaptable to different length massage body.

From DE 20 2014 004 900 Ul and DE 20 2014 004 901 Ul drive units have become known in the manner of a

Bayonet closure can be fastened in a massage film. Furthermore, arranged in massage bodies vibrating drive units from US 2013/0281892 AI, US 2005/0070827 AI, US 2009/0176635 AI, US 8,337,437 B2, US 8,500,663 B2 and US 8,556,837 Bl become known.

Finally, US 2013/0267396 AI discloses a massage body in the form of a roll with different outer contours.

Object of the present invention is in contrast, a

Drive unit and to create a massage system with such a drive unit, wherein the drive unit is easily mounted for a consumer to a massage body of the massage system and disassembled from the massage body despite the simplest constructive training.

This object is achieved by a drive unit having the features of patent claim 1 and by a massage system having the features of patent claim 14. The dependent claims indicate expedient developments.

The object of the invention is thus achieved by a

Drive unit for a massage system. The drive unit is at least partially to a massage body of the massage system

arranged. The drive unit includes an electric motor. The motor is connected to the middle or directly to an imbalance, wherein the imbalance during a rotation of the motor causes the drive unit to vibrate. The motor and the imbalance are arranged in the housing. The housing is limited in its axial longitudinal extent by end plates. An end plate is part of a lid, with the

Housing is connected. The connection between the cover and the housing is effected by a cover thread in the lid, which engages in a housing thread of the housing. The threaded connection between the cover and housing allows axial length adjustment of the distance between the two end plates. As a result, axially differently long massage body can be stretched between the two end plates. In other words, the drive unit according to the invention generally allows an axial length compensation and thus an adaptability to differently long massage body.

When installing the drive unit, the user only has to arrange the housing on the massage body and then screw the cover onto the housing until the massage body is at least partially clamped firmly by the two end disks. By that in the

Housing thread engaging cover thread is preferably an axial length compensation of approximately learning possible.

To the drive unit largely positive fit in a

To be able to introduce a circular cross-section through-passage recess of the massage body, the housing is preferably cylindrical.

The drive unit can be supplied with voltage via an external power supply. For example, the drive unit can be supplied with voltage from an on-board voltage of a truck or automobile. Alternatively or additionally, the drive unit may comprise a battery and / or an accumulator. Especially

The drive unit preferably has a rechargeable accumulator, so that the drive unit can be used particularly user-friendly and autonomously in a massage system.

The structural design of the drive unit according to the invention is further simplified when the cover thread is formed in the form of an internal thread and the housing thread in the form of an external thread. More preferably, the housing is formed at least in two parts, wherein the housing has a housing base part and a housing cover part. The housing base part is preferably partially connected form-fitting manner with the housing cover part. Further preferably, the housing base part and the housing cover part are produced by an injection molding process.

To facilitate the assembly of the drive unit, the first

End plate partially positively connected to the housing be connected. The first end plate is more preferably part of a closure part, which can be partially inserted between the housing base part and the housing cover part.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the

Housing base part in the region of the housing thread on at least one web. Furthermore, the housing cover part in the region of

Housing thread on at least one other web on. The at least one web of the housing base part and the at least one web of the

Housing cover part overlap in the assembled state of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the housing at least partially. The

Housing thread is thus made particularly solid and resilient.

Further preferred are on the housing base part in the region of

Housing thread formed a plurality of webs and formed on the Gehäusedeckeiteil in the region of the housing thread a plurality of further webs. The webs of the housing base part overlap in the mounted state of the housing at least partially with the webs of the housing cover part. As a result, the housing thread is further stabilized

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover thread and / or the housing thread is self-locking. The

Cover thread is difficult to unscrew from the housing thread. This avoids that the cover thread through the vibrating drive unit automatically releases from the housing thread.

Further preferably, cover threads and / or housing threads each have two mutually offset threads to achieve the self-locking of the cover thread or housing thread.

In order to further simplify the assembly and disassembly of the drive unit for the end customer, the drive unit preferably has at least one operating element only at the first end disk and no operating element at the second end disk or is operator-free

educated. As a result, during the assembly and disassembly of the drive unit to or from the massage body no electrical

Connections are closed or opened by the end user. For this reason, more preferably no fans are arranged on the end disks.

The drive unit should on the one hand easily be inserted into the massage body. On the other hand, the drive unit should rotate around its

Longitudinal axis be arranged in the massage body. According to the invention is therefore on the housing, in particular on the housing base part and / or on

Housing cover part formed a parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the housing extending longitudinal web, which projects radially further in the axial central region of the housing, as in the axial end regions of the housing, the longitudinal web is preferably formed in the form of a longitudinally extending arcuate elevation.

The housing preferably has a radial outer diameter of 45mm to 52mm or 8mm to 12mm. This is the

Drive unit designed especially effective for massaging the human body. The housing with a radial outside diameter of 45mm to 52mm can be used in a massaging body suitable for back massages in the form of a massage roller. The housing with a radial outer diameter of 8mm to 12mm is in a usable for limb massages massage body in the form of a

Massage roller can be used.

The imbalance has a fan surface for the axial movement of air in the drive unit. The fan surface is at least partially formed obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the housing. The fan surface largely has an angle between 1 ° and 89 °, in particular between 5 ° and 85 °, preferably between 10 ° and 80 ° to the axial longitudinal direction of the housing. The unbalance thereby fulfills a dual function by one hand, the drive unit with a rotation of the motor for

Vibrating brings and on the other hand creates an axial air movement to cool the engine.

In a drive unit with a housing, a motor and an imbalance, wherein the imbalance has a previously described fan surface for the axial movement of air, thereby becomes an independent

Seen invention. This independent invention can be combined as desired with all other features of the description.

More preferably, the drive unit has a motor control. The engine controller may be configured to control a periodic speed increase and / or periodic speed reduction of the engine. The drive unit is thereby designed to relax different muscle groups, which arises in high-frequency or low-frequency vibrations. The vibrations are preferably transmitted via a massage body to the muscle groups. The vibrations can become stronger and weaker undulating.

More preferably, the engine control is remotely controllable. For this purpose, the motor control can have a WLAN interface, a Bluetooth interface or another radio interface. In order to adapt the engine speed to the individual needs of the end customer, the motor control is preferably designed for continuously variable speed control.

More preferably, the engine controller may have a time delay

to the motor following the actuation of the

Motor control by a user only after a through the

To supply power to the motor control determinable time span. The time delay allows a relaxed and comfortable

Positioning of the drive unit before the vibrations

Complicate positioning.

Particularly preferably, the engine control has an automatic

Shutdown on, which shuts off the engine after a time determinable by the engine control. This prevents injuries due to too long applications.

The motor controller may include a first board and a second board, wherein the second board - to save space - can be arranged transversely to the first board. Particularly preferably, the second circuit board is arranged perpendicular to the first circuit board.

The drive unit can have a USB connection. The USB port is particularly preferably designed in the form of a micro USB port. Through the USB port, the motor control can be powered. More preferably, an accumulator of the drive unit can be charged by voltage received via the USB connection. Finally, the motor control can be programmable via the USB port. The USB connection is particularly preferably located at the interface of the second circuit board, which is arranged transversely, in particular perpendicular, to the first circuit board. The object according to the invention is furthermore achieved by a massage system having a drive unit described above and a massage body.

The massage body is formed in particular in the form of a show mstoffkörpers. The foam body preferably has a roll shape or tubular shape. The inner tube diameter is preferably 45mm to 52mm or 8mm to 12mm. The massage body can furthermore be designed in the form of a tubular part or roller part. For example, the massage body may be in the form of a lumbar support. The massage body is preferably formed axially symmetrical to its longitudinal axis. He has in particular no longitudinal groove in its Innendurchgangsausnehmung. The massage body may have on its outside longitudinal grooves to improve the massage effect.

The massage body is particularly preferably expanded

Polypropylene (EPP) is formed. This is the massage body

particularly heat-insulating and stable.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a Ausführungsbeispieis the invention of the claims and with reference to the figures of

Drawing showing essential to the invention details.

The features shown in the drawing are shown such that the features of the invention can be made clearly visible. The various features may be implemented individually for themselves or for a plurality of combinations in variants of the invention. Show it:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assassingsystem with a

 Drive unit;

Figure 2 is a side view of the drive unit of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the drive unit of Figure 2 with a housing, a termination part and a screwed off from the housing cover.

Figure 4a is a side view of the lid of Figure 3;

Figure 4b is a sectional side view of the lid of Figure 4a, wherein the section taken along the line A-A according to Figure 4a;

Figure 5 is a side view of the housing of Figure 3, wherein a

 Housing base part and a housing cover part are shown separated from each other in Figure 5;

FIG. 6a shows a perspective view of the end part according to FIG. 3 and the motor control unit shown distanced therefrom;

FIG. 6b shows a perspective view of the Abschiussteiis according to

 FIG. 6a with motor control inserted therein;

FIG. 7a shows a side view of the drive unit according to FIG. 2 with the housing cover part removed;

FIG. 7b shows a plan view of the drive unit according to FIG. 7a; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the engine and one with the

Motor coupled unbalance according to Figure 7b. FIG. 1 shows a massage system 10 with a drive unit 12. The drive unit 12 is accommodated in a massage body 14. The massage body 14 is in the form of a massage roller or massage tube. The massage body 14 is cylindrical in shape and has along its longitudinal axis 16 a through-hole with a circular cross-section (not shown), in which the drive unit 12 is inserted as far as possible.

The massage body 14 may be parallel to the surface on its lateral surface

have central grooves 16 extending grooves or grooves (not shown) to enhance the massage effect of the massage body 14. The massage body 14 may alternatively be formed in the form of a seat part, for example, to represent a lumbar support in a motor vehicle seat to the embodiment shown.

The drive unit 12 has a first end plate 18, which bears against a first end face 20 of the massage body 14. At the first

End plate 18 are controls 22, 24 arranged or formed to continuously increase the vibration frequency of the massage system 10 and lower. The power supply of the massage system 10 via a USB port 25th

FIG. 2 shows the drive unit 12 in a side view. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the first end disk 18 faces a second end disk 26 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 16 of the drive unit 12. In the assembled state of the drive unit 12 of the massage body 14 (see Figure 1) is clamped at its end faces between the two end plates 18, 26. In order to avoid a rotation of the drive unit 12 about its longitudinal axis 16 during operation of the drive unit 12, a housing 28 of the drive unit 12 has longitudinal webs 30, 32. Seen parallel to the longitudinal axis 16, the longitudinal webs 30, 32 protrude in the middle Area of the housing 28 further radially than in the end regions of the housing 28. As a result, the housing 28 in the direction of

Longitudinal axis 16 easily inserted into the massage body 14 (see Figure 1) and yet secured against radial rotation.

FIG. 3 shows the drive unit 12 rotated with respect to FIG. 2. It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the first end disk 18 is partially positively connected to the housing 28. The second end plate 26 is part of a lid 36 which is screwed onto a housing thread 38. The housing thread 38 has two mutually offset

External thread, so that the lid 36 self-locking on the

Housing thread 38 can be screwed. In the direction of the longitudinal axis 16, the cover 36 can therefore more or less far on the

Housing thread 38 are screwed. In this way, the axial distance of the end plates 18, 26 can be varied in order to adapt the axial length of the drive unit 12 to the axial length of the mounting body 14 (see FIG. 1). In the end plates 18, 26 are respectively

Ventilation passage recesses 40, 42 are formed, of which for reasons of clarity in Figure 3 only one

Ventilation passage recess is provided with a reference numeral. The ventilation passage recesses 40, 42 serve to cool the drive unit 12.

FIG. 4a shows the cover 36 in a side view. It can be seen from FIG. 4a that the cover 36 has ventilation webs 44, of which only a first ventilation web is provided with a reference numeral in FIG. 4a. The ventilation webs 44 displace the massage body 14 (see FIG. 1) in the area of the ventilation passage recesses 40 (see FIG. 3) in order to ensure air circulation in the interior of the massage body 14 (see FIG. 1). FIG. 4b shows the cover 36 in a sectional view according to the lines AA in FIG. 4a. FIG. 4b shows that the cover 36 has a cover thread 46. The cover thread 46 is formed in the form of an internal thread. It has two axially staggered thread to the self-locking of the threaded connection between the

Cover thread 46 and the housing thread 38 (see Figure 3) to ensure.

FIG. 5 shows the housing 28 (see FIG. 3). The housing 28 has a housing base part 48 and a housing cover part 50.

Housing base part 48 and housing cover part 50 are partially positively connected connectable. In the region of the housing thread 38, the housing base part 48 has a plurality of webs 52, 54, 56. Furthermore, the housing cover part 50 has a plurality of further webs 58, 60, 62 in the region of the housing thread 38. The webs 52, 54, 56 mesh with the webs 58, 60, 62. The housing thread 38 is therefore in the mounted state of the housing 28 approximately on a solid block

formed, wherein the two housing halves of the housing base part 48 and the housing cover part 50 in the region of the housing thread 38 are separable.

FIG. 6a shows a terminating section 64 with the first end disk 18, wherein the terminating part 64 can be mounted in sections in a form-fitting manner on the housing 28 (see FIG. 5). In the final part 64, a motor controller 66 is receivable.

FIG. 6b shows the terminating part 64 inserted therein

Motor control 66. The motor control 66 has a first board 68 and a second board 70. In order to save installation space in the termination part 64, the second circuit board 70 is arranged perpendicular to the first circuit board 68. FIGS. 7a and 7b, which will be described jointly below, show the drive unit 12 without the housing cover part 50 (see FIG

FIG. 5). From FIGS. 7a and 7b it can be seen that the

Drive unit 12 has a motor 72. The motor 72 is connected via a motor shaft 74 with an imbalance 76, i. an eccentric, connected. The motor shaft 74 is mounted on bearings 78, 80. The bearings 78, 80 are preferably in the form of ball bearings. A rotation of the motor 72 is transmitted via the motor shaft 74 to the unbalance 76, so that the drive unit 12 radially vibrates. The imbalance 76 is arranged axially largely centrally in the drive unit 12 in order to generate uniform vibrations of the drive unit 12.

The power supply of the motor 72 erfoigt over the

Motor control 66. An accumulator 82 stores electrical energy to power the engine controller 66.

FIG. 8 shows the motor 72 with the motor shaft 74 and the imbalance 76. The imbalance 76 has fan surfaces 84, 86. The fan surfaces 84, 86 are formed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the imbalance 76. The longitudinal axis of the imbalance 76 coincides in the present case with the longitudinal axis of the motor shaft 74. A radial rotation of the imbalance 76 thus causes on the one hand a vibration of the motor shaft 74, which is located on the

Drive unit 12 (see Figure 1) and further on the massage body 14 (see Figure 1) transmits. On the other hand, the inclined fan surfaces 84, 86 cause an axial flow of air away from the motor 72 or, depending on the direction of rotation of the motor shaft 74, toward the motor 72. The combination of unbalance 76 and motor 72 shown in Figure 8 can be used in any drive unit.

Taking a synopsis of all the figures of the drawing, the invention relates in summary to a drive unit 12 for a Massage body 14. The drive unit 12 has a housing 28 with largely rotationally symmetrical, in particular cylindrical, shape, wherein the housing 28 is limited by two end plates 18, 26. The massage body 14 is at least partially clamped between the end plates 18, 26. For this purpose, an end plate 26 is connected via a threaded connection with the housing 28. At least part of a housing thread 38 formed on the housing 28 is

preferably formed at least in two parts, wherein geometric shapes of the units that make up the radially inner part of the

Housing thread 38 composed, largely positive fit

complete. A motor 72 of the drive unit 12 is preferably connected to an unbalance 76, wherein the unbalance 76 is a fan of the

Drive unit 12 represents. An engine controller 66 of

Drive unit 12 may be configured to periodically vary the speed of motor 72. Alternatively or additionally, the

Motor controller be designed to delay the start of the engine 72. For cooling the motor 72, at least one

End disk 18, 26, in particular both end disks 18, 26, at least one vent passage recess 40, 42 have. The invention further relates to a massage system 10 with a previously described drive unit 12.

Claims

claims A drive unit (12) for a massage system (10), wherein the  Drive unit (12) at least partially into one  Massage body (14) of the massage system (10) is insertable and wherein the drive unit (12) comprises  a. An electric motor (72);  b. One directly or indirectly from the engine (72)  driven imbalance (76) to cause the drive unit (12) to vibrate;  c. A housing (28) in which the motor (72) and the  Imbalance (76) are arranged;  d. A first end plate (18) in the longitudinal direction of  Housing (28) considered first end of the housing (28); e. A lid (36) in the region of the longitudinal direction of  Housing (28) considered the second end of the housing (28), wherein the lid (36) has a second end plate (26) which is opposite to the first end plate (18); the lid (36) having a lid thread (46) engaged with a housing thread (38) formed on the housing (28),  characterized, in that the imbalance (76) has a fan surface (84, 86) for the axial movement of air in the drive unit (12), wherein the fan surface (84, 86) is formed at least in sections obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the housing (28). 2. Drive unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover thread (46) in the form of an internal thread and the  Housing thread (38) is formed in the form of an external thread. 3. Drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (28) has a housing base part (48) and a  Housing cover part (50), wherein the housing base part (48), in particular partially positively, with the  Housing cover part (50) is connectable. 4. Drive unit according to claim 3, characterized in that on the housing base part (48) in the region of the housing thread (38) a web (52, 54, 56) is formed on the GehäusedeckelteN (50) in the region of the housing thread (38) another web (58, 60, 62) is formed, wherein the webs (52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62) viewed axially in the longitudinal direction of the housing (28) at least partially overlap. 5. Drive unit according to claim 4, characterized in that on the housing base part (48) in the region of the housing thread (38) a plurality of webs (52, 54, 56) are formed and on  Housing cover part (50) in the region of the housing thread (38) a plurality of further webs (58, 60, 62) are formed, with the webs (52, 54, 56) of the housing base part (48) axially in  Longitudinal direction of the housing (28) viewed at least partially overlap. 6. Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover thread (46) and / or the Housing thread (38) is self-locking / are formed. 7. Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (12) a  Operating element (22, 24) for direct or indirect  Control of the motor (72), wherein the operating element (22, 24) on the first end plate (18) is arranged and on the second end plate (26) no operating element is arranged. 8. Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (28) has a parallel to  has central longitudinal axis (16) of the housing (28) extending longitudinal web (30, 32), in the axial center region of the  Housing (28) is formed radially further projecting than in the axial end portions of the housing (28). 9. Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing has a radial  Outside diameter between 45mm and 52mm. 10. Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (12) has a Motor controller (66), wherein the motor controller (66) in particular for controlling a cyclic speed increase and / or cyclic speed reduction of the motor (72) is formed. 11. Drive unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the motor controller (66) has a time delay to supply the motor (72) following the control operation by a user only after a time determinable by the motor controller (66) with voltage. 12. Drive unit according to claim 10 or 11, characterized  characterized in that the engine control (66) has a first  Board (68) and a second board (70), wherein the second board (70) transversely, in particular perpendicular, to the first board (68) is arranged. 13. Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (12) has a USB port (25), in particular in the form of a micro-USB port, to supply the drive unit (12) with voltage. 14 massage system (10) with a drive unit (12) according to  one of the preceding claims and a  Massage body (14), in particular in the form of a  Foam body.