US2271382A

US2271382A - Platform foot and body vibrator

Info

Publication number: US2271382A
Application number: US272194A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray W Worthington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-05-06
Filing date: 1939-05-06
Publication date: 1942-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1959-01-27

Description

Jan. 27, 1942.

R. W. WORTHINGTON PLATFORM FOOT AND BODY VIBRATOR INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1959 1942- R. w. WORTHINGTON 2,271,332

PLATFORM FOOT AND BODY VIBRATOR Filed May 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

BYfidM (4A 742x1 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,271,382

PLATFORM FOO!1 AND BODY VIBRATOR Ray W. Worthington, Los Angeles, Calif.

- Application May 6, 1939, Serial'No. 272,194

1 Claim.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus in which provision is made for producing a rapid vibration and applying, this vibration to a platform adapted to have placed thereon the feet of a person with the object of increasing the circulation of blood and also to greatly stimulate the nervous system of the person using this apparatus. Then too, it revitalizes tired aching feet and relaxes the entire body and muscles.

Provision is made for setting the machine in operation by a coin controlled electrical circuit. Further provision is made whereby the patient can regulate the intensity or speed of the vibration at will. Also, the intensity is very greatly increased by means of a rectifier tube in the electrical circuit. My invention also includes a diagram of the human nerve system arranged to be visible to the patient while he is using this apparatus and means whereby apparent motion can beimparted to this diagram giving it theappearance of nerve currents in action.

I accomplish these objects by means of the mechanical and electrical apparatus illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which similar numerals refer to similar parts in the several views. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a type of my invention having a platformon which the patient stands while taking treatment, and also showing the diagram of the nervous system facing him as he stands on the platform. The coin slot and the control are shown at the top of the column. Figure 2 is a modified type of my invention provided with a seat but having the same apparatus and platform on which the patient places his feet. Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one method of placing the control mechanism in the arrangement of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a vertical central section of the type shown in Figure 1, part of the apparatus being shown diagrammatically. Figure 5 is a top plan view of the platform assembly with the cover or platform itself removed. Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical and mechanical construction of the various elements. Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail of the coin actuated mechanism.

The construction and operation of my device is as follows: The numeral I representing a hollow base casting, having mounted therein a hollow vibrator coil 2, this coil having a pair of armatures 3 and SI, the upper armature 3 being supported on the coiled springs 4 by means of the plate extensions 3a, these armatures having opposed flanges 3b and 6a between which are interposed the rubber buffers or snubbers 5 to protect these elements from injury during the vibration of the armature 3 which would result if the flanges 3b of armature 3 came into actual contact with the flanges 6a of armature 6. Secured tothe upper armature 3 is a platform I which is further supported by the coiled springs 8. The coiled springs 4 and the coiled springs 8 being separated as shown serve to equalize the pressure under the platform I so that it will not tilt easily when stepped upon. Suitable electrical connections 41 and 49, leading to'otherparts of the device, are made to the hollow vibratorcoil 2, which coil 2 is held in place by the clamp members l l ,as shown in Figure 5.

At the back of the hollow base I and in a position facing a person standing on the vibrator platform 1 and integral with or securedto said base casting l: is a hollow column [2. This column I2 is provided with a removable door 13 at the back of the said column, the front of the column having an opening l4 adapted to receive a panel suitable to carry instructions and advertising matter. One method of utilizing thispanel opening 14 is to have a card or metal having perforated therethrough an outline of the human body showing the lines and ganglia of the nervous system, or in a similar manner showing the arteries and veins of the circulatory system. Means are also provided for illuminating this body diagram IS in such a manner as to cause apparent animation of the said body diagram. This feature will be more fully described hereinafter.

Secured to the upper part of the column [2 is a hollow cover I1 adapted to contain a rheostat l8 and having on its outer face a knob [9 by which the user can vary the intensity of the vibration.

The cover I! is also provided with a slot and chute 20suitable to receive a coin 2i. 1

The coin control mechanism is as follows: 22

is an electric motor having a pinion 23 and a gear 24, arranged to produce very slow motion. Secured to the gear 24 is a cam 25 having on its periphery a notch 26. Mounted on said motor 22 but insulated therefrom is a lever arm 2'1 pivoted at 28 and having on its end adjacent to the said cam 25 a finger 3| adapted to ride on said cam and also adapted to drop into the notch 26. A suitable electric lead wire 29 connects the source of electrical power with one of the terminals 32 of the motor 22. Another connecting electric wire leads to a contact plate 33. A third electrical connection 34 is made between the lever 21 and the other terminal 35 of the motor 22.

The operation of this coin control mechanism is as follows: A coin 2| having been dropped into the slot and chute will roll down until it rests on the short end of the lever 21, the weight of the coin depressing the lever 21 until it contacts the plate 33, completing the electric circuit through the lever 21 and the connection 34 to the other motor terminal 35. After depressing the short end of the lever 21 the coin 2| passes'by gravity out of the chute 20 and downwardly over the end of the lever 21 into the coin box 36. It Will be understood that the coin strikes the end of the lever 21 and presses it into contact with the point below that it pauses only momentarily and then rolls into the box 36. The

depression of the short end of the lever 21 raises circle the finger 3| drops into the notch 26, lift-. ing the short end of the lever 21, thus breakingthe connection and stopping the motor.

The intensity control mechanism consists of the rheostat l8 with its knob and indicator l9 outside of the upper chamber I! and having mounted on its shaft a ratchet 43 and an escapement lever 4| having a tooth 44 adapted to engage the ratchet 43. This rheostat I8 is also provided with a coil spring 42 which automatically returns the rhesotat to a zero position when the current is out off. When the current is on, the magnet 39 is energized by the current through the

wires

38 and 38--a, and as soon as the current is cut off by the lever 21 opening the electrical circuit, the escapement lever 4| is drawn upwardly by means of the spring out of engagement with the ratchet 43, which is then returned to zero by the spring 42. The ma chine then remains inoperative until another coin is placed in the slot and chute.

For the purpose of obtaining a more desirable.

frequency of vibratory action through the vibratory coil 2 a Tungar rectifier tube 45is used for passing half wave impulses of current through said vibratory coil. Atransformer 46 is used in connection with this rectifier tube 45. The primary of the transformer 46 is connected to the AC circuit wires 30 and 41, the secondary of the transformer 46 being connected to the filament terminals of the rectifier tube 45, the catham ze nervous system or the circulatory system. This plate is held stationary in position back of the column opening l4. Back of this stationary plate 50 is a moving plate 5| which is provided with a great number of very small openings 52. This plate 5| is pivoted and suspended at its upper end 53, being given an oscillatory movement by means of the copper disc motor 54. This copper disc motor 54 consists of two magnets 55 having a disc armature 56 which is geared down to very slow motion by the pinion 51. The gears 58 actuate the crank disc 59, the crank pin of which is connected to the moving plate 5|, this motor being operated by electrical current through the wires 3|] and 60. Behind the

plates

50 and 5| is an electric light bulb 6| which is supplied with current by means of the wires 62 and 63.

In the form illustrated by Figures 2 and 3 a seat 64 supported by the springs 65 is provided to enable the patient to. have vibratory foot treatment While comfortably seated. In this type all of the mechanism shown and described in the other views is contained in the case 66 with the exception of the animated body diagram.

It will be understood that many variations, in the detailed construction and operation may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Ina platform foot and body vibrator comprising a base, a hollow vibrator coil located in said base, means for, holding said vibrator coil in a fixed location, a pair of armatures on either side of said vibrator coil one of which is freely movable, said freely movable armature having a, plate extension, core, pieces on said, armatures inside the said coil, a platform secured to said freely movable armature and forming a top surface on which a person may stand, the other, of said armatures being secured to the inside of said base, two sets of coiled compression springs located on the inside of said base and resting on the bottom thereof, the tops of one set of said springs bearing directly on the underside of said platform, and the tops; of the other set of springs bearing on the under side of said plate extension onsaid freely movable armature, said springs being of sufiicient resistance to support a person without flexure when standing on said platform, opposed fiangeson said armaturesoutside of. said vibratory. coil and having buffers between their faces, an electric circuit and a rectifier tube for passing half wave impulses of current through said vibratory coil, and. a coin controlled switch for closing said circuitto start the operation of said vibrator.

RAY W. WORTHINGTON.