US1291611A - Massage-machine. - Google Patents

Description

F. J. NILES.

MASSAGE MACHINE.

PPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11. l9l5.

1,291,611. Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. J. NILES.

MASSAGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION mgr) SEPT. 11, 1915.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.OJ I

gwucwloz Fannie amass,

ATES PATENT OFFICE.

ramvm J. NILE-S, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NILES NOBMALIZING MACHINE 00., INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MASSAGE-MACHINE.

Patented J an. 14, 1919.

Application filed September 11, 1915. Serial No, 50,148.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FANNIE J. Nines, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State. of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Massage-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in massage machines, the object of the invention being to provide a massage machine which operates upon 'the patient while in ahorizontal or inclining position, and imparts a soothing reciprocating rolling actionu on any desired part of the body so as to re uce the flesh and operate as a remedy for many diseases or disorders due to obesity.

As excessive fat is evidence of two incorrect conditions, namely, lack of exercise and improper assimilation, people who are very stout are usually weak because much of the vital energy has gone to fat instead of mus cular strength, and they require more energy to more than. others, and it is difiicult, ii not quite impossible for fat people to use ordi nary forms of exercise.

An apparatus embodying my improvements operates upon the body while the patient is lying down and no strain is upon the spinal column and without causing the patient any discomfort whatever.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character stated which can be readily adjusted for use with any size of body, and which may be used in connection with one or a plurality of massage devices and massage the portion or portions of the body desired.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character stated which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonably low price, and which will most eiiiciently perform the fun tions for which it is intended.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section through the center of the machine showing a patient in position for operation.

Fi 3 is a view in transverse section on the l1ne 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view illustrating one of the turn buttons, and

Fig. 5 is' an enlarged fragmentary detail view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating a portion of one series of rollers.

1 represents an operating table which is supported on hollow standards 2, and at one end is made with lateral extensions 3 at both sides as shown clearly in Fig. 1. These lateral extensions afi'ord a wide rest for the arms during various positions of the body on the operating table.

A longitudinal shaft 4 is positioned centrally below the operating table 1, and is supported in bearings 5- in standards 2. On

- this shaft 4. a rectangular frame 6 is secured.

The frame 6 comprises parallel side bars 7. 7 connected by arms 8 with the shaft 4, and one of these arms 8 is connected by a link 9 with a crank pin 10 on a gear wheel 11. the latter secured to a short shaft 12 mounted in one of the standards.

The shaft 12 is connected by a gear train 13 with a motor shaft 14, the latter having a fly wheel 15 thereon, and operated by an electric motor 16 supported on a bracket 17 fixed to one of the standards 2 as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

The side bars 7 of frame 6 are provided throughout their length with turnl'buttons 29.which are adapted to connect a flexible massaging device herein shown to be in the form of series of rollers 18 to the frame 6 as will hereinafter appear.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I illustrate my improved machine provided with two series of rollers 18, but it is of course to be understoodithat the invention is not limited to any particular form of flexible massaging device nor to any number of series of rollers, nor to any particular location or arrangement. and the scription hereinafter of one series of rollers- I will apply alike to both.

The rollers are each made of three sections 20, 21, and 22 respectively. The end s tions 21 and 22 are relatively short, whit-s:

the intermediate sections 20 are relatively long, and all of these sections are provided with longitudinal bores for the reception of pins 23 upon which the rollers turn or which turn with the rollers as desired.

Links24 connect the pins 23, and are located between the sections of the rollers, and give to the series of rollers the necessary flexibility to allow the same to conform to the shape of the body.

The links 24 at the ends of the series of rollers are connected by pins 25 with flexible sheets 26 preferably of heavy canvas or Other strong material having therein a plurality of eyelets 27.

It is to be understood that the eyelets 27 receive the turn buttons 29, and by providing several series of eyelets in the sheets 26 at the ends of each series of rollers, a wide range of adjustment ispcrmitted so as to give just the necessary pressure on the body, and to conform to'the shape of the body.

The rollers 18 may, of course, be made of any suitable material, but I have found that wood answers the purpose, and is preferably used, although I am not limited inthis particular.

Fig. 2 illustrates a body 28 onthe operat-' ing table 1, and across which two series of rollers 18 are positioned, the ends of the series of rollers connected to the side bars 7 of frame 6.

Through the medium of the gears above,

. tion, it is of course to be understood that the patient may be turned-to any position desired and the rollers operate upon any part of the body.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limitmyself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

I. In a massage machine, the combination with anoperating table, of a flexible massagmg device movable transversely of the table, and means for reciprocating the. said device, substantially 'asdescri.

racism 2. In a massage machine, the combination with an operating table, of a flexible massaging device movable transversel of the table, and means below the table a apted to reciprocate the said device, substantially as with an operating table, of a massagin de-.

vice movable transversely of the table a ove the same, a horizontal oscillating frame below the'table, and said massaging device having means vat its ends whereby it is adjustably connected to the frame, substantially as described.

5. In a massage machine, the combination with an operating table, standards supportin the'table in horizontal position, an osci atin frame supported in the standards below t e table, and a massaging device connected to the frame and extending transversely over the table, substantially as'described. 1

6. In a massage machine, the combination with an operating table, standards supporting the table in horizontal position, an oscillatin frame supported in the standards below 516 table, a massaging device connected to the frame and extending transversely over the table, said frame havin a series of turn buttons at its side edges, an said massaging device having flexible perforated sheets at its ends to receive the turn buttons, substantially as described.

Z...In a massage machine, the combination with .a horizontal table, standards supporting the table, a shaft mounted to turn in the standards, a frame secured to the shaft, means for oscillating the frame, and a massaging device positioned transversely over the table and connected at its ends to the frame, substantially as described.

8. In a massage machine, thecombination with a horizontal table, standards supporting the table, a shaft mounted to turn in the standards, a frame secured to the shaft, means supported by one of said standards for transmitting motion to the frame, and a plurality of massagin devices positioned transversely over the ta 1e and at their ends adjustably connected to the sides of the frame, substantially as described.

9. A massage machine, comprising standards, a horizontal operating table supported over the table and connected to the frame, a

train of gearing supported by one of the standards, means connecting the train of gearing with the frame, whereby the latter -is oscillated, and amotor for driving the gear train, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus for massaging surfaces of a patients body, the combination of a flexible massaging device movable in contact with the surface to be treated, means for supporting the patient in a reclining position engaged by said flexible massaging device and mechanism for moving said massaging device across the surface to be treated while the patient is reclining.

11. A massaging apparatus comprising a supporting table, a plurality of spaced apart massaging straps passing over said table, and adapted to engage different portions of a person-resting on said table and means for moving said straps across said portions.

12. A massaging apparatus comprising a supporting table, a plurality of massagmg straps passing over said table, means engaging the straps for moving the same back and forth over a portion of a person on the table, certain of said. straps being relatively adjustable.

13. In a massage or body treatment machine, the combination with means for supporting the person to be treated in a horizontal position, of a series of elongated horizontally arranged massage devices, a flexible support for said devices, adapted to conform tothe outline of the body of the person when in horizontal position, whereby a plurality of said massage devices will be brought into --ngagement with the upper portion of the body simultaneously, and means for moving said support to and fro to actuate said massage devices.

14. In a massage machine, the combination of two series of massage devices for engagement with the body of a person when in horizontal position, flexible carriers for carrying the massage devices of each of said series, means for adjusting said carriers to bring a plurality of the massage devices of each series into engagement with the body, and means for actuating said carriers.

versely of the person, and means for reciprocating said device.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of a table for supporting a body in a substantially horizontal position, a shaft positioned below the table, a rocking frame secured to the shaft, means carried by the frame for securing a body engaging member thereto, and means for rocking said frame.

17. In a massage apparatus, the combination of a table for supporting a body in a horizontal position, supports for said table, a shaft positioned below the table extending lengthwise thereof and carried by said supports, a rocking member carried by said shaft and extending laterally from opposite sides thereof, the outer ends of said member being provided with turn buttons thereby to connect opposite ends of a body engag: ing member thereto, a rotary power member carried by said supports and positioned below said rocking member and a link connection between said power member and said rocking member whereby the rotary movement of the power member is transformed into a rocking movement of said member.

18. In the art of treating a persons body,

the method which consists, in causing thepatient to assume a horizontal resting position with the muscles relaxed and when so positioned to subject a portion of the surface of the body to'the massaging action incidental to the reciprocating of a flexible massaging device back and forth across the surface supporting the device. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FANNIE J. NILES. Witnesses:

C. E. Po'rrs, MARIE JACKSON.

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