US1253233A - Abdominal-massage implement. - Google Patents

Description

W. C: J.' GUILFORD. ABDOMINAL MASSAGE M'IPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIB, I915- 1,%53,233 Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

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- W. C. 3; GUiLFORD.

ABDOMINAL MASSAGE IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION. FILED MAY 18. l9l6.

Patented Jan. T55, W18.

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WILLIAM C. J. GUILFORD, 0F HARRISON, MAINE.

ABDOMINAL-MASSAGE IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. f5, rare.

Application filed May 18, 1916. Serial No. 98,353.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. J. GUIL- ronn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrison, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Abdom1- rial-Massage Implements, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for massaging, and has for its primary object the provision of a method and apparatus helpful in carrying the method into practical effect, adapted to secure a passive massaging of substantially any portion of the human body as distinguished from a mere vibration or surface agitation of the parts treated in keeping with the usual practices now in vogue. In medical circles it has long been known that many ailments may be overcome, relieved, and portions of the body otherwise benefited, if a suitable way and means could be devised to passively manipulate or exercise the parts desired to be treated. Manual massage has probably proven the most eflicacious known to science prior to the conceptions herein to be specifically disclosed, but such manual effort is limited in its operation to the capacity of physical endurance, nature of the hands and relatively slow capability of action of the masseur.

To secure the best results it is desirable to secure in man instances a substantial uni-' formity of action, in some cases by relatively slow manipulation, while in other instances by relatively rapid manipulations; and it is of material advantage to secure the manipulation of the part being treated in a to and fro fashion, that instead of relying altogether on the normal, natural restoration of the part being treated when moved by a massaging action in one direction, to supplement said action by a similar action in an opposite direction whereby the fleshy, muscular or other tissues are passively shifted back and forth regulated as to manner and time to sequence consistent with the nature of the ailment or exercising deemed expedient.

The desiderata just above outlined are obtainable by a practice of my improved method especially when carried forward through the medium of my improved apparatus, as will be more readily understood from the detailed description hereinafter given or read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention, so far as its mechanical aspects are concerned, is illustrated.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus complete;

Fig. 1 is a detail sectional view.

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation partly in section of the actuator.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the massaging implements.

Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional .view; and

Fig. 5 is an inner face view, parts being broken away.

Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like reference letters designate corresponding parts in the several views, A and B represent companion massaging elements adapted to be intimately associated to the extent that they are capable of manipulating or exercising the same portion of the body desired to be treated, for example, the abdominal region.

Each of the massage elements comprises a base or supporting member of curved contour to present a longitudinally concaved inner face conforming generally to the contour of the body. This base is represented at C and has passing therethrough preferably centrally thereof an opening D through which a pipe coupling section E may be inserted and secured as illustrated,to wit, by means of a threaded stem (Z having a transversely rounded flange or head (2 at its inner end to provide a smooth inner surface, said stem,threaded interiorly as shown, receiving the correspondingly threaded end d" of a valved nipple (la. The exterior of the stem d is also threaded as at 03* for the reception of a lock nut 61 having an integral laterally extending flange 6Z6 arranged to impinge upon the outer surface of the base member C when binding the inner flat face of the rounded head d against the innor surface of the base. This will effectively lock the parts in position and furnish an airtight joint, suitable packing being introduced between the rounded head and the surface of the base, or between the lock nut a sheet of rubber constitutingan expansible member G, the latter being secured marginally thereof over the curved inner face of the base by a clamping frame H, said frame being in thenature of a continuous, fiat spring metal strip hinged at one end asat 7r to the adjacent end of the basemember Cso asto close upon the base and be forced into binding relation with the expansible sheet around the marginal portion of the latter, or circumferentially of the frame by a latch memberJ at the opposite end of the base member The latch member comprises a rigid metal bar of suitable length approximating a J shape in cross sectio'n,the. longer. arm overlying theouter surface ofthe base and the shorter arm being adapted to engage over an outwardly offset flange or tongue 76 at the relatively freeedge. of the. clamping member. The tendency of'tlie clamping. frame is to occupy a normally straight position or plane indicated by the dotted lines in the drawing,

butiits springy nature affording an adequate degree of: flexibility or deflectionenablinm the latch member J when forced homeby by thumb screws j passing freely therethrough into complemental threaded metal sockets. j in the. edge of the base member C, to not only lock the frame against opening movement'on its hinge, but, as an incident tothe pressure exerted to cause the frame to curve into its. binding and seating relation to thebase member and expansible sheet in troduced between the inner face of the base member andsaid frame. In this way by a very'simple construction the parts are fastened'in'a sealed relation to constitute an air tight space between the expansible sheet and the b'ase member permittingthe sheet to expand to the extent desired through the open interior of the frame. The device also has the characteristic of affording quick renewal off the expansible sheet when occasion may require.

The outer faces of the massage elements are grooved near the opposite ends thereof as at K to receive adjustable strap members L, confined in the grooves by detachable plates M bridging the grooves, the lower strap being adapted to play in the grooves to be self-adjustable to thewearer whereas theupper strap is positively held in ad} justed'positions by springpressed tongues 7O stlt-uting. a thumb orifinger piece adapted to 'be depressed against the pressure of the spring a" to release the tongue from the apertures Z of the strap when the latter is being" adjusted. The straps are connected 7 to a band L attheend of Which are secured hooks Z adapted to engage the perforated end portions of ;th e straps; to, r-e-tain; the* mas ege lements n Pe -t ia 011" he body,

are nin c nnecti e e hes; rom th n rrle l -hat fe iatefihe Spa e ehind.- t e flex bl he 0. 2 i ph eemzof e es a e ements. a d. nin stima ions i 01 veniently flexible and ofrubber or the'lilge leading to anactuatonsuch for example as illustrated in either of my companion applications, executed of' even date herewith respectively entitled Hand operating massaging apparatus, Serial No. 98350,, and;

ower operated, massagingapparatus, Serial No. 9835l.

The actuator is W here illustrated as com.- prising a base to which is secured an air storagetanlt- Quprojecting upwardly from the base and having therewithin a charging pump R,;theupper portion of the tanlg feeding; through branch pipes S to the corre uo d e unn lien' o milar y ppsit ne yl nd r the anc "n n a i 01 tr li was; nd the xha st al es w located between the" controlling; valves and the-cylinders. The upper ends of the cylin ders are i-n communication with the adjloiin ing'. ends of the fiexible pipe connections 0, thebot toms of, the cylinders being supported in' suitable brackets Pistons if are mountedfin' the cylinders and connected to cranks von'thecommonj shaft 4) havinga Worm wheel (receiving-motion from a com-' plemental worm uonfthe main driveshaft X from a motor Y receiviiigeits energy from any suitable electric sourceandj havingi a manual switch controlZI i T-hecranks and pistons: devoted to the cylinders are alternately disposedso thatas one piston is progressinggin its cylinder the other-is receding in its: cylinder so, that alternate pulsations arecreated or expansions' are created in the massage elementswith respect to each other," at the rapidity desired, dependent upon the speed of the motor, or other rotation of the power shaft, theresultant, effect being that the two massage elementsacting from oppo= site directions upon thesame portion of the body beingti'eated will expand and contract back and forth in unison correspondingly passively .manipulating or exercising the same member or part'under treatment, .the expansion of' one of the massage elements lse moving the tissues, muscles, or the like in one direction as the other member contracts, and said tissues, etc., being moved in the opposite direction by the subsequent expansion of the contracted massage element and contraction of the first mentioned expanded element. a a

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the operation of my method will be understood without further discussion, but it may be added that, as shown, it is carried into practical effect by subjecting the parts to be treated to pulsating pressures, preferably in rapid succession, from adjacent but opposite points of application, and alternating the pressure so that by such alternation the fleshy, muscular or other anatomical part will be passively manipulated or exercised in a back and forth direction. The operation of the apparatus assisting in the foregoing end is obtained by initially filling the cylinders and conducting pipes behind the expansible elements, cutting off the air supply from the tank to the cylinders so as to confine the air in the latter to constitute what may be termed air pistons or columns, and then operating the motor to reciprocate the pistons in the cylinders and coincidentally therewith the columns of air, the displacement of which columns of air will correspondingly expand and contract the expansible elements, and in the alternating relation set forth, at a speed or sequence determined by the speed of rotation of the motor.

lVhile I have herein disclosed one embodiment of the mechanical phase of my invention, capable of enabling satisfactory performance of my improved method, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that various changes and embodiments may be resorted to as may be within the scope of the hereto appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A massaging device of the character described comprising an expansible member having a base part, a flexible sheet on said base, the base having an air passage leading behind the sheet, and means for confining the sheet to the base comprising an open frame hinged to the base at one edge and provided with a latch therefor at the opposite edge of the base, substantially as described,

2. A massaging device of the character described comprising an expansible member having a curved base part, a flexible sheet on said base, the base having an air passage leading behind the sheet, and means for confining the sheet to the base comprising an open frame hinged to the base at one edge and provided with a latch therefor at the opposite edge of the base, substantially as described.

3. A massaging device of the character described comprising a curved base, an expansible sheet thereon, the base having an opening leading behind said sheet, and means for retaining the sheet on the base including a flexible frame and means engaging the opposite edges of the frame to deflect the same, to conform to the curvature of the base, substantially as described.

4-. A massaging device of the character describedcomprising a curved base, an expansible sheet thereon, the base having an opening leading behind said sheet, and means for retaining the sheet on the base including a flexible frame and means engaging the opposite edges of the frame to deflect the same to conform to the curvature of the base, said last mentioned means including a hinged connection at one edge of the frame and an adjustable pressure and latch device at the other edge thereof, substantially as described.

5. A massaging device of the character described comprising two associated expansible elements adapted to operate from opposite directions on approximately the same anatomical part, and flexible strap connections between the massage elements extending thereacross and adapted to be fastened around the body, means for confining one of the straps to the base members for permitting freedom of movement thereof, and means for fastening the other strap member against movement relative to the base members, substantially as described.

6. A massaging device of the character described, comprising two associated expansible elements adapted to operate from opposite directions on approximately the same anatomical part, and means for flexibly connecting the massage elements including a pair of connections one capable of relatively free movement with reference to the expansible elements and the other having provision for securing the same against movement with reference to the expansible elements, substantially as described.

7. In a massaging apparatus, a pair of pneumatic massage devices provided with flexible faces adapted to engage the part to be treated and substantially rigid backings for said flexible faces, means for securing said backings against the part to be treated with the flexible faces therebetween, and preventing the backings from yielding when the flexible faces are working, said flexible faces being disposed to contact opposite portions of said part to be treated so that the rigid backing of one may oppose the movement of the flexible face of the other, and means for causing relatively alternating expansive and contractive actions of the flexible faces so that one face will contract toward its fixed backing when the other face expands without shifting its fixed backing.

8. The method of massaging which conposite portions of the part to be treated, inat the opposite side thereo'f I troducing between said fixed backings and In testimoriywhereof I hereur'iftd afiix my the part to be treated pulsating passive p1 essignature in the presence of two witnesses;-

sists in applying fixed backings against 0pfrona one-side is resi'ste'd by -thefixedbakin sure; and alternating said pressure on the WILLIAM G." J; GUILFORD."

opposite sides of said part to be treated'so Witnesses: that the movement of the tissue of the part CHARLES A. LEA ITT, to be treated under the pulsating pressure JOHN WV." SHIELDS} co 'p ies of thi s patent array be obtained fer fire gents eacli byzaddressiiig; the flo fiis s ib l rer*eicfdtentfl washin wn, n; c.-

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