US2306424A - Massager - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1942. w. G. Bl-:Tz 2,306,424;

MASSAGER Filed Nov'. lef 195e l 2 sheets-sheet 1 @Z4/mz Q5@ Dec.A 29,' 1942.v w. G; am i MAssAeER Filed Novl les, 1958 2l Sheets-Sheet 2 drivenmassaging device, but .more .in ,toza portable :power driven massaging;devcewith jiiexible fingers .individually :removable .and .i refplaceable .,on'the device, :and .with A:such '1 fingers themselves constructed andpositioned on 'thefdevvice ,so :that the operation-thereof .will simulate Patented Dec. 29, 1942 .U NITED S MAssAGnR *WiliiamGr BetzgLa; -1orte,=Ind. y feppucaaonfmvember 16,1938, serial No.v 240,762

4L Claims.

Myxinventionrelates in general toa apower kparticular the most beneficial manualzmassage.

A lifting, kneadingaction on the skin is the Vmost .efficient and beneficial massage, as. suchv an action .tends to stimulate'the'blood and'reach 1 subcutaneous vtissues which otherwise are not exercised in 'a mannerwhichv is vconducive tol a .healthy fskin. Fatty. tissuesflare yreached .in'this way and arey .broken vdown, r thus alleviating i any necessity i for .a strenuous reducing diet in f order .to lose extraneous weight.

Eiorts have been madeto simulateth-isaction in Vthe `prior art massaging devices. f-However,

many. of `the' devices '.have failed completely vto accomplish this end.. and others :which: haverbeen fairlygsatisfa-ctory from: the standpoint of operaz tion,;have been soA expensive; both in zoriginalicost fand :upkeepithat they have had` little'or nov commercial'success, and". have had Avery 'limited distribution. ,'Furthermore, rmany of I the lcomplicated, expensive devices which providerelatively satisfactory massaging require expert care and. can be operated successfully only by fa person skilled in the use of the particular-device.

It is an "object `of my .invention to provide `an improved portable, .light-'weight compact vfand sturdy-massaging device.

Aiurtherobject. is. to provide aV portable massaging device'. which maybe operated equally-as .well bythoseaskilled in'theart o'f massage/asby xa :person with relatively little knowledge thereof.

IA` further object of my invention is to providey a relatively inexpensive massager `which can f be adapted to direct motor drive, 1or indirect drive through a flexible shaft.

Another object of myfinvention is to yprovide a simpley mechanism requiring little or no servicing,

and :which has inexpensive massagingelements vwhich are readily replaceable when worn out.

One of the features of my inventionis'thejprovision of massage elements and driving mechanism whereby a lifting, kneadingmotion'is'imparted to'the kskin to provide themost'beneficial treatment. Furthermore, ldue 'to thepossibility of continuous treatment whichremains `uniform for any desiredperiod, the use of my devicefactuallyprovides improved results gover that-possible with manual finger massage.

Other objects and features of my invention-.will .be apparent from thefollowing detaileddescription ltaken 'with the :accompanying drawings Ivvherein:

' unit .embodying my invention, idriven by Ian ex- ..ternal motor gthrouglraflexible' shaft. y

.,:Fige`2isxabottomfviewthereofshowingparticu- ,larlyithefmassagingfingers.

.;Eig-w3 isasectional viewfalong thelineyS-al-:of Fig..2:s1f1owingl the manner in-whichthemassagying members-cooperate with-each otherlto liftthe skin.

. Figui is 1an enlargedasectional View alongthe l linedf4 of-Fig.x2 showing'v oneof the ,driven shafts and', massaging ngers carried thereon.

Fig, 5 is aside view of 'a modification fot my invention with vthe side or end fplate :thereof re- -moved.

.Fig-6 is-.abottomviewof a furtherA modi'cation of, myinvention.

'I' is` a: sectionalK viewalongtthe line `:Im-'Lof Fig-6i as to a` portionv of the device, andffshowing other r portions 1 in elevation `:andra `massaging,- element-:in section. y

Irr practicing; my: invention, I fprovide massag- 4 ,ingzapparatusincluding a portable: framefandia .plurality v ;of massaging elements ,fmovably s supfported thereon. :Each massaging element ;in

cludes :arffrictionally Vretained :bulb-like ,ilexible 'ingerirhavingv an annular restricted mouthand. a flexible integralv cover extending therefrom to provide'a compressible end portionat each finger. Each finger .is frictionally retained upon a correspending projection having a shoulder forfreceiving theannular mouth of thefinger behind the -same;for":reinovably retaining suchziinger. *.'The

f projection lis mounted on the driven portionof the massaging device and Ais of such la sheight, :or

length, so far as protruding into the nger is Iconcerned, that` the end of theiingerv can befreadily compressed iwheniin operation to providexa relatively' soft, yielding ifstructure which -willnot \in jure theyportion of thebodyfof the perso-n' being 40 .massaged, yetwillpknead the skin -to reach the Msubcutaneous tissues and give the maximum stimulation .to :the portion of the body :being imassaged. The fingers are retained on such` pro- .jectiongsothat theyv will withstand all types of massaging with the. device,iand yet, can'tbe .readily removed forreplacement purposes when'they becomezworn.

'.'Referringnow to the drawings, Fig. ishows a portable massaging fdevice embodying .my1inven tion,adapted,to be driven by an external motor through the vmedium of f' a demountable `flexible shaft. This device comprises a one-piece U- shaped'frame :I0 :havinga pair of -end portions l I and I2 with a; handle I3'rigidly securedto. the

s yoke of the' frameand carrying apair of rotatable: shafts- |'4v vand i6 therein. A .couplingfmernberv l1 Y(Fig. 2) is irigidly connected to thewshait f I :llL for :connection withra: corresponding coupler member. 'on ','a exible shaft 1in; .accordance rwith :therusualrzpractica LIhey rotary; movement ofy the.

such fingers continuously move on said shaftsVv toward one another to lift the skin to be massaged intermediate the fingers, as shown in Fig.

3. The ngers are preferably provided of a rub` ber material although it is understood that the invention is not limited to this material if they other characteristics required, as willl be apparent, areupresent.

'I'he shafts I4 and I5 are hexagonal in cross section, and 'this configuration assists in the spacing of the fingers 2|' both longitudinally and angularly of the shafts so that a group ofthree fingers lies in an arcuate 'diagonal or substantially helical path extending approxiniately180'J over the entire periphery of a shaft. This mounting conguration is shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The shafts themselvesare spaced apart in the frame a distance such that there is a slight spacing intermediate the substantially cylindrioal path of rotation of the outerV tip of all of the fingers on one shaft and a corresponding path for the tips of the fingers on the'other shaft. This prevents the possibility of jamming the tips of fingers on one shaft againstthe tips of fingers on the other shaft, should theshafts become angularly displacedfronithe position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, for instance, and also eliminates the possibility of undesirable pinching f of skin between the two sets of rollers. Furthervmore, with' the fingers positioned in the arcuate diagonal line, and the two shafts I4andV I6 angularly positioned with reference to one another so that the sets of fingers on one shaft follow` corresponding sets of fingers in timing, there is a progressive lifting and kneading action resulting from the operation of the device which represents the most desirable massaging action.

The desirable massaging action obtained with the structure described above is assisted in pro-- viding the most beneficial massage by means of the individual fingers 2| with yieldingrelatively soft tips which directly engage the skin. Eachof the fingers 2| comprises a bulb-like, or hollowf shell-like member having an annular enlarged rim 22 at the mouth thereof and extending outwardly through an integral wall 23 narrower in width than the annular rim 22 to form a cornpressible yielding tip at the outer end of each finger. The finger is mounted on a projection or knob-like element 24 which may preferably be provided in metal, and is rigidly secured on a shaft I4 or I6 by means of an integral or connected threaded stud 28 fitting in a correspondingly threaded aperture in the shaft. A' washer 2'I is provided intermediate the shaft and knob as shown on Fig. 4, to seat the finger, close the mouth thereof in cooperation with the knob, and limit the distance which the finger is inserted over such knob. Each knob 24 over the entire massaging device has an enlarged head portion 28 and a restricted neck portion 29 providing a shoulder therebetween to receive the annular rim 22 on a finger thereon. The resiliency of the annular rim 22 is such as to frictionally retain a finger on a knob 24 during a massaging operation, yet make it possible to quite readily remove a worn finger from a' knob by pulling more strenuously on the finger than' would be represented by the pulling pressure on each finger in a massaging operation. Likewise this resiliency is such that the annular rim 22 can be forced over the rounded face of the head 23 of each knob to mount a finger on a knob.

The height of a knob 24 and length of the internal cavity of a finger 2| are such that a conj siderable portion of the internal cavity of each finger lies above the top of the head 28 of a knob so as to provide an ample yielding mass at the end of each finger for accomplishing the best massaging action.

As is clear from Figs. 3 and 4 the knob 24 and consequently the fingers 2| are provided in oppositely disposed pairs as A and B in Figs. 2 and 3. Each pair in turn is angularly displaced'from each adjacent pair as is indicated by fingers C and D in Figs. 2 and 3. In other Words, the first pair of massage elements on each shaft lis angularly displaced and in a different phasev relationship than the adjacent pair. This same condition applies to the other adjacent pairs of massage elements over both of the' two'shafts.

In order to project heat directly onto the portion of the body being massaged 4with allof the `beneficial results of such heat, a heatingI coil 3| is mounted and suitably insulated in a hood 32 supported atv the' top of the frame Il'and intermediate the two endA portions II and I2. The current for the heating coil 3| may be provided through a line 33 carried in the handle I3 of the massaging device and connected at one end of the coil as shown in Fig. 2.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 5 in which a portable massaging' device is provided, including a motor 34 carried directly on a' frame 36 for direct drive of the massaging elements. 'A worm gear 34A is mounted on the motor shaft'and is in driving engagement with worm gears 3'! and 31' mounted at corresponding ends of driven shafts 31A and 31B, respectively. Mounted on the opposite ends of shaftsv 31A and 31B are worm gears 38A and 38B, respectively, which are operatively associated with gears '39A and 39B, respectively. Gears 39A and 39B are mounted on rotatable shafts 4I and 42,`respectively. With the double Worm gear units 38A and' 39A, and 33B and 39B for the shafts 4I and 42, it is possible to vary thespacing intermediate the shafts 4I and 42 with a minimum of cost and troublefrom the standpoint of manufacture. The shafts 4I and 42'are provided in a hexagonal conguration identical with the shafts I4 and I6, in this respect, and the fingers 2| are also provided identical with the fingers illustrated in detail in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and mounted on the shafts 4| and 42 in a manner identical with that illustrated and previously described. The massaging device can be readily moved over the skin of a patient by means of a handle 43 secured to the motor 34.

A-further modification of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In view ofthe possibility of pulling hair on a patients head as a result of massaging the head with the structures of Figs. 1 and 5, due to rotation of the shafts and fingers thereon toward one another, a rotatable head 46 is provided in the structure of Figs. 6 and 7 which is driven through a substantially reciprocating link 41 pivotally secured to a disc 48 at one end and to a disc 49 at the other end. The disc 49 is rotated through 360 through a driving connection including a stub shaft 5| and a coupler portion 52 for connection with an external, flexible driving shaft in the same manner as described with reference to the structure in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. As is apparent from both Figs. 6 and 1, the disc 49 is smaller than the disc 48. The link 41 is pivotally secured adjacent the. periphery of each disc. The ratio between the diameters of the discs 49 and 48 is such that while the disc 49 rotates completely through 360, the disc 43 rotates in vone direction through approximately 180 and then in the opposite direction through the same circular path. As a result of this motion, the lingers 2| secured to the head 46 act through the hair of the patient and directly onto the scalp in a massaging motion very similar to that normally practiced in a manual massage of the head, causing the scalp to be moved sufficiently to loosen and stimulate the same without in any way pulling the hairs or causing discomfort to the patient.

In order to more readily accommodate a plurality of fingers on the circular head 46, these fingers are provided in a substantially conical form as is apparent in Fig. '1. Each finger, and the lingers are preferably provided in a rubber material as mentioned above, comprises an annular rim 22 and an integral compressible cover at a tip portion 23. Each finger is frictionally and removably secured to a knob 24' similar to the knob 24 of Fig. 4 having a head portion 28 2 and a restricted neck portion 29 for carrying a finger thereon in a clincher-like manner as previously described.

The stub shaft 5| for the disc 49 and a similar shaft 53 for the disc 48 are each journalled I'.

in a frame plate 54 acting with a frame member 56 and frame plate 51 to provide a closed hous-k ing for the link 41 and associated movable mechanism. The housing is long and relatively narrow, and of such a size as to be comfortably grasped in the hand of an operator to serve as the operating handle for the complete massaging device. It is understood that a motor member, if desired, can be directly connected to the shaft as 5I to drive the massaging device in a manner similar to the drive for the structure of Fig. 5.

Although I have described my invention in its preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby but changes and modifications may be made therein all within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A massage device for carrying in the hand for body massage and the like including in combination a pair of spaced-apart rotatable shafts, a plurality of massage elements on each shaft positioned thereon in pairs and each element in a pair being substantially oppositely disposed with respect to the other element, With each pair of massage elements axially disposed on said shaft with reference to the next adjacent pair and in a different phase relationship on said shaft relative to said adjacent pair, means on each of said shafts for individually supporting said massage elements thereon and positioned on each shaft to provide said massage element pairs in saidv different phase relation, frame means supporting said shafts radially displaced from one anotherk a distance such that the circumferential path followed by the outer tips of the massage elements on one shaft does not cut the circumferential path followed by the outer tips of the massageoelements on the other shaft, a motor mounted on said frame means having a shaft arranged intermediate said two shafts, with the axes of said motor shaft and said two shafts being in a-parallel relation, individual driving means for each of said two shafts including an elongate-d driven member operatively connected at one end to the corresponding shaft, and gear means on said motor shaft operatively connected to each of said driven members at the other end thereof to simultaneously drive both said driven members to drive said two massage element shafts in opposite directions.

2. A power-actuated massaging device forearrying in the hand for body massage and the like, including in combination a pair of spaced apart rotatable shafts, frame means for supporting said shafts, each of said shafts having a plurality of massaging elements securely but removably carried thereon, means carrying said massage elements on said shafts including a plurality of projections on said shafts extending radially from the shafts and arranged in pairs substantially over the axial length of said shaft, with the projections in each pair being substantially oppositely disposed on said shaft, said carrying means for each of the massage elements including a threaded portion and each of said shafts having a corresponding threaded opening for threadably receiving said threaded portion, withr each of said massage elements having a hollow interior fitting over a corresponding projection and held releasably thereon.

3. A massaging device for carrying in the hand for body massage and the like, including in cornbination a pair of spaced apart'l rotatable shafts, frame means for supporting said shafts, a plurality of massaging elements individually carried on said shafts, with each of said shafts having threaded apertures extending radially therethrough, said apertures being axially spaced with adjacent ones thereof being in an angularly displaced relation, and a supporting member for each of said massaging elements, said supporting member having a head portion and a threaded shank portion, with said head portion being adapted to retain a corresponding massaging element thereon, and said shank portion being threadable in the end of an aperture,

4. A massaging device for carrying in the hand for body massage and the like including in combination a pair of spaced apart rotatable shafts, each of said shafts having a plurality of hat sides oppositely arranged in pairs, and axially spaced threaded apertures extending radially therethrough, with said apertures being relatively angularly spaced so that adjacent ones thereof correspond to a different pair of shaft sides, frame means for supporting said shafts, each of said shafts having a plurality of substantially 'hollow massaging elements securely but removably carried thereon, and a carrying unit for each of said massaging elements, said carrying unit having a head portion, a threaded shank portion, and an intermediate'engaging portion, with said threaded portion being threadable in the end of one of said apertures until said engaging portion frictionally engages the shaft side corresponding to said aperture end, the threaded por-` tions at opposite ends of a corresponding aperture being spaced apart axially of said corresponding aperture, and each of said hollow massaging elements fitting over a corresponding head portion to be releasably held thereon.

WILLIAM G. BETZ.

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