US2230057A - Massage apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 1941. B, H11- L MASSAGE AFPRATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l vll v Il N INVENTOR W@ dy@ 1m-z8,1941.v B.,H|LL 2,230,057

, MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17 lo .l I3 if n INVR ya? mf/Wmv M Warentest Jan. 28, 1941 lJNl'iED STATES PATENT @ENCE 9 Claims.

rUnis invention relates to massage apparatus. The object of the invention is to provide massage apparatus which is o simple and sturdy construction, which massages more specifically those parts of the body in which massage is most beneficial, and which comprises a simple and complete adjustability to vary the vigor, the locus of application, and in large measure the sort, of the massage treatment which it gives.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a plan View of a massage table made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 1l is a side elevation thereof. Fig, lli is a fragmentary plan View of the supporting structure for the massage table and the actuating means therefor, taken in the plane oi the section line III-III of Fig. IV. Fig. IV is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the porn tion of the massage table shown in Fig. Ill, taken in the plane of the section line IV-IV of Fig. Till. Fig. V is a cross-sectional view through. the massage table taken through the slots in which the spine massaging members are located, and showing the adjustable mounting of those members.

In the illustrative embodiment of my invention, reference numeral I designates a supporting frame on which the massage table proper i. is reciprocably mounted by wheels 3 running in longitudinal tracks d. The organization of the apparatus is such that the massage table proper i is reciprocated longitudinally of the supporting frame l by its reciprocating movement to give the desired treatment. The reciprocating movement of the table 2 is regulable in length and coincidentally in rapidity.

Table 2 is driven from an electrical motor E by speed-reducing connection to a crank wheel E. This speed-reducing drive comprises two large diameter sheaves 'l and carrying small diameter pulleys 'la and ila; a small diameter pulley 9 on the armature shaft of the motor, and belts ifi, li and lil connecting the crank wheel E with the motor 5 by way of the large diameter sheaves and small diameter pulleys. Crank wheel ii has thereon means for regulating the length of stroke imparted to the table 2. Such means are shown as a crank bracket i3, having therein pintle holes lilin any of which there may be engaged the wrist pin lb of a crank arm ifi pivotally connected at il to the table 2.

An important massage effect obtainable by use of my massage apparatus is that of a back and spinal massage, which may be made effective throughout a greater or lesser length of the human spine. Means for effecting this massage are shown as two roller disks It mounted on a crossshaft It which may be rotatable, or upon which the disks may rotate. These disks extend through slots lill in the reciprocable table, and the slots Eil are of sufficient length to permit the maximum length of table stroke of which the adjustable (Cl. 12S-m57) crank connections are capable. They also are of sufficient width to permit some adjustment of the disks it toward and away from each other.

Assuming that a person lies face-up on the table, with the spinal region disposed in line with the interval between the disks i6, reciprocating movement of the table carries the person massaged along the roller disks with his or her spine lying between them. In accordance with the length of the persons back which it is desired to message in each movement of the table, adjustment of the table stroke may be made. That adjustment need be made only infrequently. It is useful frequently so to adjust the position of the roller disks i3 that they project a greater or lesser distance above the upper surface of the table. To this end the cross shaft l which carries the roller disks lil is made readily adjustable by mounting the end brackets, or bearings il! of the shaft on, or as part of, vertically extended .racks 2t, movable in guides 23. Pinions 2li carled by a cross shaft 2E act simultaneously on the two racks 2?! to raise or lower roller shaft i9. At one pinion shaft i5 carrie-s a hand wheel 2t by which it may be rotated.

This vertical adjustment permits adaptation to the body region which is massaged, as for comparison to the neck or lower back region oi the perso-n receiving massage. It also permits the massage in a selected region of the persons body to be more or less vigorous, as may be desired, in each individual case; and permits the vigor of the massage treatment to be increased or decreased as it proceeds.

The apparatus also comprises adjustable means for massaging the legs of a subject, which means may be used, either alone, or in conjunction with back-massaging means, The leg massaging means of the apparatus is in the form of a pair of contoured rolls il mounted by a cross shaft 2i; at a level above the surface of table 2. As shown, cross shaft 23 is vertically adjustable in the assembly, being carried on vertical bracket arms it, having therein a series of perforations lt is also adjustable by cooperation of the vertical bracket arms 2li with two horizontal side brackets provided with a series of perforations 30d. By inserting pins :il at each side of the table in a selectively matched pair of perforations of a vertical bracket and @llc of a horizontal bracket, a single operation may serve adjustably to position rollers El both vertically and hori- Zontally with respect to the surface of table 2.

The utility of leg-massaging rolls 2l is apparent. If the legs of a person resting on the table lie upon rolis movement of the table, carrying the legs of the person over these rolls, gives an effective massage treatment to the legs. By adjusting the rolls, and adjusting the position of the person on the table, a massage may be given his legs from the ankles to the hips, and the adjustability is found particularly desirable in massaging difficult regions, such as the inner part of the knee joints and the ankles. Assuming that both the back-massaging roller disks I8 and the leg-massaging rollers I9 are to be used simultaneously, longitudinal relative adjustment of these massaging agencies is of particular advantage inasmuch as it permits them to be spaced to operate simultaneously upon selected body regions of persons taking the massage. It also permits both massage treatments to be performed simultaneously, on selected body regions of persons of very different height. The adjustability of the massaging agencies both individually and relatively gives the apparatus ability by an eX- tremely simple structure to perform a wide range of massaging functions.

The leg-massaging rolls 2l have a further function co-operative with the back-massaging function of the roller disks I8. This is because, by supporting the legs of a person taking massage at a selected height, they tend properly to position the back of that person with respect to the back-massaging disks.

In the usual use of the apparatus, the subject lies relaxed upon the table, or body-supporting platform, with his or her spine between, or in line with, the interval between the roller disks I 8. The position of the subject longitudinally of the table or platform is primarily determined 'lin accordance with the spinal region for which massage is chiefly desired. Since the mounting of the roller disks is rigid, they are adjusted vertically to give an adequate pressure on both sides of the spine without undue discomfort to the subject. The length of stroke is adjusted', primarily to cause the body in reciprocation of the table or platform to traverse the rollers in the spinal region which is to be massaged, so that the massage may be adequately applied without incurring any danger from a stroke of such length as undesirably to act upon any spinal region. It is to be emphasized that the subject may be, and desirably is, wholly relaxed during the massage treatment.

Whereas the disks I8 and the contoured rolls 21 have been herein dened respectively as backmassaging members and leg-massaging or legsupporting members, such description is definitive merely of their primary function in massage. Both may be utilized in massaging other regions of the human body and the terms used are, therefore, to be taken as terms of description and not `as terms of limitation. It is clear that other changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements of my massage apparatus, as well as in the utilization of those elements without going beyond the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In massage apparatus the combination of a horizontally reciprocable body-supporting platform, a plurality of diversely formed sets of bodycontacting members mounted in cooperative position with respect to the said body-supporting platform and adjustable both toward and away from each other in a longitudinal direction and vertically with respect to the said body-supporting platform, and power actuated driving means and connections for reciprocating the body-supporting platform with respect to the said bodycontacting members.

2. Massage apparatus in accordance with the definition of claim 1 having in the driving connections for the said body-supporting platform an adjustable stroke connection, varably determining the length of movement of the said bodysupporting platform with respect to the said body-contacting members.

3. Massage apparatus in accordance with the denition of claim 1 in which the body-contacting members of one of the said diverse sets are contoured. rolls and in the other of the diverse sets are roller disks.

4. In massage apparatus the combination of a horizontally reciprocable body-supporting platform with a set of back-massaging rollers projecting through the said body-supporting platform, a leg support mounted in regulably spaced relation to the said set .of back-massaging rollers, and power actuated driving means and connections for reciprocating the said body-supporting platform with respect to the said back-massaging rollers.

5. In massage apparatus the combination of a horizontally reciprocable body-supporting platform with a set of roller disks projecting through the said body-supporting platform in closely spaced relation, vertically adjustable mounting means for the said set of roller disks, and power actuated driving means and connections for reciprocating the said body-supporting platform with respect to the said set of roller discs.

6. In massage apparatus the combination of a horizontally reciprocable body-supporting platform with a set of back-massaging rollers projecting through the said body-supporting platform, a leg support, an adjustable mounting for the said leg support giving vertical adjustment thereof and regulable spacing from the set of back-massaging rollers, and power actuated driving means and connections for reciprocating the said body-supporting platform with respect to the said back-massaging rollers.

7. Massage apparatus in accordance with the definition of claim 6 having in the driving connections for the said body-supporting platform an adjustable stroke connection, variably determining the length of movement of the said bodysupporting platform with respect to the said back-massaging rollers.

8. Massage apparatus in accordance with the denition of claim 6 in which the back-massaging rollers are carried by mounting means which are vertically adjustable with respect to the said body-supporting platform adjustably to determine the projection of the said back-massaging members above the surface level of the said bodysupporting platform.

9. In massage apparatus the combination of a horizontally reciprocable body-supporting platform with a set of back-massaging rollers projecting through said body-supporting platform in closely spaced relation, vertically adjustable mounting means for the said Set of back-massaging rollers, and power-actuated driving means and adjustable stroke connections thereto for reciprocating the said body-supporting platform with respect to the said back-massaging rollers and for varying the length of the reciprocating movement of the said body-supporting platform.

BENJAMIN HILL.

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