GB2194444A

GB2194444A - Vibrating massage device

Info

Publication number: GB2194444A
Application number: GB8711974A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Henry Furguson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-05-30
Filing date: 1987-05-21
Publication date: 1988-03-09
Also published as: GB8711974D0

Abstract

A portable vibratory massage device comprises a rigid sheet (1) to which is connected an electric motor (2). Vibrations are produced by an eccentric weight (3) connected to a shaft (5) of the motor (2). To enhance the vibratory action the sheet (1) overlays a cushioned resilient pad (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable vibratory massage device The present invention concerns a vibrating massage device.

Vibrating massage device are known for easing of back problems, health and fitness, nervous tension, insomnia and similar ailments. The known devices are usually incorporated in a framework such as a bed or mattress frame whereby they cannot be moved to another location easily as they are made for one particular size of framework.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable device which can be used in any location where a person requiring massage or vibratory treatment can rest such as a bed, cot, armchair, sofa or couch.

According to the present invention a portable vibratory massage device comprises a rigid sheet connected to a vibratory prime mover.

In one form of the invention the rigid sheet overlays a cushioned resilient pad to enhance the vibratory action of the sheet. The prime mover is preferably a variable speed electric motor to the shaft of which is connected at least one adjustable eccentric weight. In this way there are produced vibrations which are transmitted to the rigid sheet. For ease of carrying a handle can be provided on the rigid sheet but it could also be provided on the motor.

Preferably the device is provided with a switching system which can be programmed to alter the speed of the motor or the position of the or each eccentric weight.

The device can also be provided with a heated pad likewise controlled by the switching system.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of the device; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan; Figure 3 is a plan of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is an end view of an electro-magnet and air foil; Figure 5 is an enlarged section of the electro-magnet and air foil of Fig. 4 Figure 6 is a corresponding side view; Figure 7 is a plan of a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is a corresponding side view; Figure 9 is a corresponding side elevation; Figure lOa is a side elevation of the weighting device showing two sliding weights and one fixed weight; Figure lOb is a corresponding plan; Figure 11 is a side elevation of a weighting device comprising one sliding weight and one adjustable fixed weight;; Figure 12 is a side elevation of a weighting device comprising one sliding weight; Figure 13 is an end elevation common to Figs. 10a, 10b, 11 and 12; Figure 14a is a side elevation of a weighting device comprising two sliding weights and a fixed weight mounted on a sliding tube; and Figure 14b is a detail of the pin, pin slots and reverse side of the adjustment cap shown in Fig. 14a.

Reference is now made to the embodiment of the invention which is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

A prime mover, preferably in the form of an electric motor 2 having a shaft 5, is secured to a sheet 1, which may be of galvanized iron or other suitable material. A weight 3 is secured to the motor shaft 5. A pad 4 which is preferably of foam rubber or similar materiai, is secured down the middle of the sheet 1.

When the motor 2 is activated the shaft 5 rotates the weight 3 which in turn causes the sheet 1 to rock from side to side on the pad 4 which acts as a pivot bearing allowing the sheets two longest sides to rock in a see-saw fashion thereon; the sheet 1 is caused to vibrate as it rocks.

The device described is inserted for example between the mattress and base of a bed with the pad 4 lowermost and when the power source is turned on the sheet 1 will vibrate in the manner described above, which movement is transferred to the mattress. The vibrating device can tone up and relax muscles, mobilize joints and revitalize the body of the user. If the motor is slowed down to 60 revolutions per minute the mattress will rock at the same speed which is equal to the relaxed heart beat, relaxing the body of the user and even sending the user to sleep; it can give security to a new born infant and help it to sleep, reminding it of its mother's heart beat when it was in the womb.

Such a device can have an electronic timer and have variable speed control (not shown). The weight 3 can be adjustable in magnitude and position to alter the vibrations.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The parts shown in these drawings are listed hereunder: 11 electro magnet 12 thin steel air foil 13 cooling fan 14 adjustable weight 15 housing for cooling fan 13 16 air vent 17 electric motor 18 air intake for electric motor 17 19 mounting bolt for electric motor 20 rubber mounting washer for bolt 19 21 electric cable 22 13 amp plug 23 adjusting current box 24 adjusting current knob for magnet 11 25 adjusting current knob for motor 17 26 on-off switch 27 brackets for electro-magnet 11 28 cable for electro-magnet 11 29 support for electro-magnet 11 30 lifting handle for device 31 rigid sheet 32 foam rubber pad (5mm gauge) 33 housing for motor 17 34 mounting nut for electro-magnet 35 socket for electro magnet 36 adjusting nut for weight 37 securing wing nut 38 thread on nut shaft 39 spindle for electric motor 17 40 support tie 41 magnetic strip 42 support base for electro-magnet When the electric motor 17 and electro-magnet 11 are switched on the air foil 12 rotates.

The electro-magnet 11 attracts or repels the magnetic air foil 12 when it is adjacent thereto.

This causes the motor 17 to be off-centered which vibrates and pulsates the rigid sheet 31 and is transferred to a mattress causing the mattress springs in vibrate whereby the whole of the mattress vibrates or rocks, vibrating at high speed and rocking at low speed. Polarity on either electro-magnet 11 on air foil 12 can be reversed allowing the magnetic air foil to be attracted or repelled.

Current to the electro-magnet 11 can be adjustably controlled at the adjusting current box 23.

The weight of the magnetic air foil 12 is counteracted by a lead weight 14. The electromagnetic pull is the only influence on the magnetic air foil 12, except for the lift or pull created by the air foil shape 12. The electro-magnet support 29 and the electro-magnet 11 can be placed in any position around the circumference of the electric motor 17, on the rigid sheet 31, adjacent to the magnetic air foil 12. The electro-magnet support 29 can be connected to the motor 17. Because the angle of the air foil 12 can be adjusted it gives lift or pull and smooth performance. A the current to the electro-magnet 11 can be increased or decreased, the attraction or repulsion on the magnetic air foil 12 can be varied in strength and tuned into different weights of various mattresses or various body requirements. The current box 23 controls the speed of the electric motor 17. The magnetic pull of the electro-magnet 11 can also be varied via the adjustment current box 23, by increasing or decreasing the flow of electricity to the electro-magnet 11.

To place the device between a mattress and bed base it is carried by the lifting handle 31 and inserted like a sandwich. The 13 amp plug 22 is then plugged into the supply and switched on, the user than lays on the mattress with the adjusting current box 13 in their hand controlling the device which can then be speeded up or slowed down by turning the knob 25 and the electromaget can be adjusted by turning the knob 24.

A third embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The parts shown in these drawings are listed hereunder: 51 rigid sheet 52 square section tube 53 square section sleeve for adjustable housing tube 52 54 series of holes in tube 52 55 nut and bolts for securing tube 52 in sleeve 53 56 mounting bolts for motor 57 housing washers for motor 58 mounting washers (rubber) 59 electric motor 60 weight adjusting device 61 motor housing 62 square tube cross (steel) 63 electrically heated pads Various embodiments of weighting devices are shown in Figs. 10a to 14b and the parts comprised are listed hereunder:: 64 fixing nut 65 5 mm threaded spindle 66 lock nut 67 adjustment cap 68a sliding weight 68b sliding weight 69 rod 70 link 71 socket for link 70 72 fixed weight 73 shaft pivot 74 shaft 75 cap arm 76 7 mm threaded spindle 77 adjustable fixed weight 78 nuts 79 sliding tube 80 sliding tube fixed weight 81 adjustment cap grip 82 spring 83 spring stop 84 pin 85 pin slots 86 weight stop 87 sliding tube weight stop 88 spring and adjustment cap guide rod.

The weight adjusting weight device 60 is attached to the shaft of the motor 59 which is mounted on the square tube cross 62 by mounting bolts 56 one on each side of the squaresection tube 52. The rigid sheet 51 is secured to the sleeve 53 which slides over the tube 52, the adjustment nut and bolts 55 securing it at the desired length.

When the electric motor 59 is switched on the adjusting weight device 60 rotates which casuses the sheet 51 to vibrate; the electric motor adjustable weight moves or vibrates in a circular motion in the same direction as the weight rotates as shown in Fig. 7. The sheet 51 is also influenced by the weight on the adjusting weight device 60 causing the long sides of the sheet 51 to move up and down as shown by the arrows in Fig. 9. When the weight is on a side of the tube 52, the part of the sheet 51 on the same side moves downwardly and the opposite side of the sheet 51 moves upwardly.

When the device is placed in between a mattress and bed base the electric motor 59 is switched on, the vibration and rocking is then transferred to the mattress causing it to vibrate or rock; by using the variable speed control switch, vibration is high and rocking is low.

A shaped moulding (not shown) can be attached to the rigid sheet 51 and the device is then placed on top of a bed, sofa or couch with the moulding facing upwards. The user can then lay down on the mattress with the small of their back on top of the moulding, the electric motor 59 is then switched on, the rocking and vibration of the sheet 51 and mould, massages the small of the back giving relief from back ache. This direct massage can also be used for other parts of the body without the use of the shaped mould.

Electrically heated pads 63 can be fitted on top and underneath the sheet 51, the heat output or temperature of the pads can be variably controlled by the amount of electric current supplied thereto by means of a heat setting switch (not shown); in this case the vibrating sheet 51 is placed on top of the bed, sofa, couch etc.

The device described above can be scaled down and a flexible harness or belt can be attached thereto so that it can then be strapped to a part of the body requiring treatment.

When the sheet 51 is under a - mattress a short length of tube can be placed under the tube 53 so as to intersect it. This causes causes a forward rocking motion of the sheet 51 in a seesaw manner, as the motor is thrown up and down by the rotation of the weight device when the weight device is set on heavy vibration and rotating at 300 r.p.m The rocking of the sheet 51 causes the mattress to rock.

One form of weighting device is shown in Figs. 10a and 10b. By slackening off the locknut 66 and by turning the adjustment cap 67 the two sliding weights 68a and 68b can be moved along the rod 69. The fixed weight 72 is secured on to the end of one of the rods 69. When the sliding weight 68b is at the end of its rod and the sliding weight 68a is at the beginning of its rod, the sliding weight 68b counteracts the fixed weight 72, giving the lightest vibration or movement of the rigid sheet 51. When the sliding weight 68b is at the beginning of its rod and sliding weight 68a is at the end of its rod next to the fixed weight 72, the vibration of the rigid sheet 51 is at its most heavy or maximum.The degree of heavy or light movement or vibration of the rigid sheet 51 required can be achieved by moving the sliding weights 68a and 68b along the rods 69; these are held in position by tightening down the lock nut 66 on to the adjustment cap 67.

The weighting device shown in Fig. 11 is different from the one shown in Figs. 10a and 10b in that it has one adjustable fixed weight 77 and a sliding weight 68b the adjustable fixed weight 77 can be moved along the threaded spindle 76 and locked in position by nuts 78. The sliding weight 68b counteracts the weight of the fixed weight 77 when the sliding weight 68b is in the same position along its rod as the adjustable fixed weight 77 is along the spindle 76. In this position the vibration or movement is at its lightest. The amount of movement or vibration of the rigid sheet 51 between heavy or light required can be achieved by moving the sliding weight 68b along the rod 69 and can then be fixed in position by tightening the lock nut 66 on to the adjustment cap 67.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 12 has one sliding weight 68b the amount of movement or vibration of the rigid sheet 51 between heavy or light required can be achieved by moving the sliding weight 68b along the rod 69 and can be fixed in position by tightening down the lock nut 66 on the adjustment cap 67.

Another embodiment of weighting device is shown in Figs. 14a and 14b. By pulling and turning the adjustment cap 67 one of the pin slots 85 can be placed over the pin 84. The spring 82 urges the pin slot 85 on to the pin 84 holding it in position. Turning the adjustment cap 67 moves the weights 68a and 68b along the rod 69. Sliding the tube 79 along the rod 69 moves the fixed weight 80 attached thereto along the rod 69. These weights 68a, 68b and 80 are fixed in position by the pin 84 and pin slots 85. As the weight 68b is moving towards one end of the rod 69, the sliding weight 68a moves along the sliding tube 79 towards the other end of the rod 69.

When the sliding weight device attached to the electric motor 59 turns, the fixed weight 80, secured to the sliding tube 79, is thrown outwardly towards the weight stop 86. When the sliding weight 68a moves towards one outer end of the rod 69, along the sliding tube 79 it contacts the sliding tube weight stop 87, the weight 68a then pulls the sliding tube 79, with the fixed weight 80 attached thereto towards it along the rod 69. When the weight 68b is at the other end of the rod 69 and the fixed weight 80 and weight 68a are at the end of the rod 69, the vibration of the rigid sheet 51 is at its heaviest.

When the sliding weight 68a and fixed weight 80 are as close as possible to the one outer end of the rod 69, the vibration of the sheet 51 is at its lightest. The degree of heavy or light movement or vibration of the sheet 51 required, can be achieved by moving the sliding weights 68a and 68b along the rod 69 and holding them in position with the pin 84 and pin slots 85.

The links 70 connect the adjustment cap 67 to the weights 68a and 68b.

Claims

1. A portable vibratory massage device comprising a rigid sheet connected to a vibratory prime mover.

2. A massage device as claimed in claim 1, in which the rigid sheet overlays a cushioned resilient pad.

3. A massage device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the prime mover is a variable speed electric motor.

4. A massage device as claimed in claim 3, in which the electric motor has a shaft on which at least one adjustable eccentric weight is positioned to provide vibration.

5. A massage device as claimed in claim 4, in which a switching system is provided which is adapted to be programmed to alter the speed of the prime mover and/or the position of the or each eccentric weight.

6. A massage device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the electric motor and eccentric weight are mounted in a housing having air vents.

7. A massage device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a heatable pad is provided on the rigid sheet.

8. A massage device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a carrying handle is provided.

9. A portable vibratory massage device constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.