Systems and methods for massaging legs of a vehicle occupant
Methods and systems are provided for massaging legs of an occupant of a vehicle. The systems include a leg support member configured to be disposed adjacent to a seat cushion of a seat of a vehicle and support a portion of legs of an individual while the individual is sitting on the seat cushion, a massage device configured to perform a massage of the portion of the legs, and a control module configured to receive a command to perform the massage and to activate the massage device in response to receiving the command.
1 . A method, comprising:
disposing a leg support member within a vehicle adjacent to a seat cushion of a seat of the vehicle, wherein the leg support member is coupled to the seat, positioned forward of the seat cushion, and is configured to move relative to the seat cushion to extend a seating surface beyond the seat cushion;
supporting at least one of thighs and calves of legs of an individual with the leg support member while the individual is sitting on the seat cushion;
receiving, by a control module, a command to perform a massage on the at least one of thighs and calves of legs of the individual;
activating, with the control module, one or more massage devices positioned within the leg support member to perform the massage on the at least one of thighs and calves of the legs supported by the leg support member, wherein at least a first of the one or more massage devices includes an inflatable body configured to controllably inflate and deflate, wherein at least a second of the one of more massage devices includes a vibration motor configured to produce rhythmic vibrations, wherein at least a third of the one or more massage devices includes a movable roller configured to apply a massaging force; and
activating, with the control module, one or more heating elements disposed in the leg support member to provide heat therapy concurrently with the massage.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling the one or more massage devices to the control module with a wiring harness, wherein the leg support member is configured to be releasably coupled to the seat, and wherein the leg support member includes a seat cover secured to an edge of the leg support member and configured to be disposed on the seat cushion.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating the command in response to the individual providing user input with a human interface device of the vehicle, wherein the control module is configured to adjust one or more massage parameters selected from intensity, speed, direction, and mode in response to additional user input provided by the individual.
4 . A system, comprising:
a leg support member configured to be disposed adjacent to a seat cushion of a seat of a vehicle and support at least one of thighs and calves of legs of an individual while the individual is sitting on the seat cushion, wherein the leg support member is coupled to the seat, positioned forward of the seat cushion, and is configured to move relative to the seat cushion to extend a seating surface beyond the seat cushion;
one or more massage devices positioned within the leg support member and configured to perform a massage of the at least one of thighs and calves of the legs, wherein at least a first of the one or more massage devices includes an inflatable body configured to controllably inflate and deflate, wherein at least a second of the one of more massage devices includes a vibration motor configured to produce rhythmic vibrations, wherein at least a third of the one or more massage devices includes a movable roller configured to apply a massaging force;
one or more heating elements disposed in the leg support member and configured to provide heat therapy concurrently with the massage; and
a control module configured to receive a command to perform the massage and to activate the one or more massage devices to perform the massage on the at least one of thighs and calves of the legs supported by the leg support member in response to receiving the command.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more massage devices is coupled to the control module with a wiring harness, wherein the leg support member is configured to be releasably coupled to the seat, and wherein the leg support member includes a seat cover secured to an edge of the leg support member and configured to be disposed on the seat cushion.
6 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a human interface device configured to generate the command in response to the individual providing user input with the human interface device, wherein the control module is configured to adjust one or more massage parameters selected from intensity, speed, direction, and mode in response to additional user input provided by the individual.
7 . A vehicle, comprising:
a seat having a seat cushion configured to support an individual sitting on the seat cushion;
a leg support member configured to be disposed adjacent to the seat cushion and support at least one of thighs and calves of legs of the individual while the individual is sitting on the seat cushion, wherein the leg support member is coupled to the seat, positioned forward of the seat cushion, and is configured to move relative to the seat cushion to extend a seating surface beyond the seat cushion;
one or more massage devices positioned within the leg support member and configured to perform a massage of the at least one of thighs and calves of the legs, wherein at least a first of the one or more massage devices includes an inflatable body configured to controllably inflate and deflate, wherein at least a second of the one of more massage devices includes a vibration motor configured to produce rhythmic vibrations, wherein at least a third of the one or more massage devices includes a movable roller configured to apply a massaging force;
one or more heating elements disposed in the leg support member and configured to provide heat therapy concurrently with the massage; and
a control module configured to receive a command to perform the massage and to activate the one or more massage devices to perform the massage on the at least one of thighs and calves of the legs supported by the leg support member in response to receiving the command.
8 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the one or more massage devices are coupled to the control module with a wiring harness, wherein the leg support member is configured to be releasably coupled to the seat, and wherein the leg support member includes a seat cover secured to an edge of the leg support member and configured to be disposed on the seat cushion.
9 . The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a human interface device configured to generate the command in response to the individual providing user input with the human interface device, wherein the control module is configured to adjust one or more massage parameters selected from intensity, speed, direction, and mode in response to additional user input provided by the individual.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the seat includes a frame having a primary structure configured to support the seat cushion and a secondary structure configured to support the leg support member, and wherein moving the leg support member includes sliding the secondary structure relative to the primary structure.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the leg support member is configured to pivot relative to an end of the seat cushion to support the at least one of thighs and calves of the legs in one or more positions between a lowermost pivoting position and an uppermost pivoting position.
12 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the seat includes a frame having a primary structure configured to support the seat cushion and a secondary structure configured to support the leg support member, and the secondary structure is configured to slide relative to the primary structure.
13 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the leg support member is configured to pivot relative to an end of the seat cushion to support the at least one of thighs and calves of the legs in one or more positions between a lowermost pivoting position and an uppermost pivoting position.
14 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the seat includes a frame having a primary structure configured to support the seat cushion and a secondary structure configured to support the leg support member, and the secondary structure is configured to slide relative to the primary structure.
15 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the leg support member is configured to pivot relative to an end of the seat cushion to support the at least one of thighs and calves of the legs in one or more positions between a lowermost pivoting position and an uppermost pivoting position.