US1378922A - Intermittent-vacuum massage-machine - Google Patents

Description

G. A. WARD. INTERMITTENT VACUUM MASSAGE MACHINE.

,192-1, 3 SHEETS-SHEET I. A

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3|, 1919 r 1,378,922. Pat nted May 24 e. A. WARD.

INTERMITTENT VACUUM MASSAGE MACHINE.

. A-PPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1919 v Patented May 24, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 G. A. WARD.

INTERMITTENT VACUUM- MASSAGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY'I'H, 1919;

1,878,922. Patented May 24,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. I l 5/ 3 -r/fl I 0*:(0 o o E %6- I E Q/. o

PATENT OFFICE.

GEO RGE A. WARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTERMITTENT-VACUUM MASSAGE-MACHINE.

V Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1921.

Application filed May 31, 1919. Serial No. 300,827.

T 0 all whom it may canoe 1%.

.Be it known that I, GEORGE A. lVAno, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Intermit tent-Vacuum Massage-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and. to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates more particularly to an improved type of a massaging machine wherein a vacuum is intermittently applied by the machine to parts requirlng massaging. g

It is an object of this invention to provide a massaging machine adapted to produce an intermittent vacuum when operated.

It is also an object of the invention to construct a massaging device adapted to be manually or electrically operated to intermittently produce vacuums in the applicator for massaging purposes.

'A further object of the invention is the construction of a massaging machine wherein a gear operated pump is adapted to be actuated to produce intermittent vacuums in the applicator of the machine.

It is furthermor an object of this invention to provide a massaging machine having a pump mechanism adapted to be operated to alternately create and release in the applicator of the machine.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a-massaging machine of simple and effective; construction adapted to permit massaging to be done byintermittently applying and releasinga vacuum at the applicator of the machine.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in thespecification and the accompanying drawings. V

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter a vacuum more fuly described.

.On the drawings: A 7 F gure 1 is a side elevation of amassaging machine embodying the principles of this invention.

Fig.' 2" is a rear view thereof. 7 V ..Fig.'3is an enlarged longitudinal section of the machinesliowing' parts inelevation'.

modified form of the devlce.

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

of another Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the honey-combed pad'applicatorshown in Fig. 10.

As shown on the drawings: 4 The reference numeral 1, indicates a case tapered toward its outer endand having a handle2, rigidly attached axially on the opposite rounded end thereof. Journaled in one of theside walls of the casing 1, isa

stub shaft or pin 3, having a large gear wheel 4, keyed on the inner. end thereof within the casing. A crank 5, issecured to the outer end of the shaft 3, to permit rotation of the driving gear 4. Rotatably mounted on a stud or pin 6, is a small gear 7, which is in mesh with the large gear 4. Secured eccentrically in oneside of the upper gear 7 is an eccentric pin or screw 8, which projects through a slot 9, formed in a head 10. The head 10, is rigidly secured to the lower end of a plunger rod orstem 11, which projects through the upper end of the casing '1, and projects into a pump cylinder or housing .12, mounted rigidly upon the upper end ofthe casing. Secured on the upper end of the rod 11, within thecylinder '12, r

is a piston or plunger 13, suitably packed. The outerend of the pump cylinder 12, is closed bymeans of a head 14, to which one end of a curvedpipe or elbow tube 15,-is secured. The outer end of the tube 15, has a rubber cap applicator 16, attached thereto.

As clearly shown in Fig. .6, a valve cup 17 is secured. upon the cylinder head 14, and communicates with the interior of thecylin- 'der 12, through a tapered passage; Adjustably threaded into the upper end of the valve cup. 17, is a screw 18, the lower end of which is tapered tov form'a needle valve 19, adapted to fit into the tapered passage to control theentrance or escape of air from the interior of th pump cylinder 12, through an inlet opening or passage 20, provided in one side of the valve cup 17 In the modified form of the device shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the machine comprises a longitudinally passaged casing or handle 21, through which a rotatable driving rod or shaft 22, axially projects. The outer end of the shaft 22, is threaded and has a nut 23, engaged thereon for holding the shaft in posltion. A dish or plate 24 is secured or integrally formed on the inner end of the shaft 22. Secured on the end of the handle 21, is a casing or housing 25, on one end of which a passaged guide sleeve 26, is secured. Attached to the opposite end of the casing 25, is a pump cylinder 27, within which a piston or plunger 28, is disposed. Connected to the plunger 28, is one end of a rod or stem 29, the other end of which is positioned to slide in the guide sleeve 26. Integrally formed on the stem 29, intermediate the ends thereof, is a head 30, provided with a slot 31. Projecting through the slot 31, and rigidly secured eccentrically to the disk 24, is an eccentric pin or screw 32. The outer open end of the pump cylinder 27, is closed by means of a head 33, to which one end of a pipe or tube 34 is secured. Removably attached to the other end of the tube 34 is a rubber cup applicator 35. This form of massaging machine is adapted to be electrically driven by connecting the threaded end of the shaft 22 with a flexible motor driven shaft.

Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive disclose another modified form of intermittent vacuum massaging machine embracing a pump '36, having one end of an eccentric rod or shaft 37 connected to the outer end of the plunger rod or stem 38, of the pump. The other end of the eccentric rod 37, is eccentrically attached to a disk or plate 39, adapted to be rotated by a worm wheel 40, which isdriien by a worm 41, mounted on the shaft 42, of an electric motor 43. Attached to the pump cylinder 36, is one end of a pipe or tube 44, the other end of which is removably attached to a multiple cup or honey-combed paid applicator provided with attaching straps 45.

The multiple cup pad applicator oomprises a back 46, made of a flexible or semiflexible material and having the attaching straps 45, secured to the outer surface thereof, to permit the pad applicator to be conveniently applied and secured in position upon the body of a person to be massaged. Integrally formed on one margin of the applicator back 46, is a sleeve or elbow 47 into which one end of the tube 44, is secured.

The back 46, is provided with a marginal groove on the inner surface thereof. Seated in the groove of the back 46, is the peripheral flange 48, of a pad 49, which is made of rubber or any other flexible material.

The flange 48, is secured to the margin of the back 46, by washers 50 and retaining members 51. The pad is shaped to afford a chamber 52, between the back and said pad. Integrally formed on the outer surface of the pad 49, are a plurality of hexagonally shaped walls or webs 53, forming a plurality of cells or small applicator cups, the walls of which are common. Each cell is provided with an aperture or opening 54, communicating with the chamber 52. The cup walls or webs 53, are all of the same height, and as shown taper outwardly.

The operation is as follows:

In the form of intermittent vacuum massaging machine shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inelusive, the machine is operated manually by turning the crank 5. The rubber cup shaped applicator 16, is applied to the portion of the skin of a person to be massaged, and by rotating the crank5, the gears 4 and 7, are rotated. Rotationof the gear 7, serves to operate the eccentric mechanism 8-10, whereby the pump plunger 13, is reciprocated in the cylinder12. On the up stroke of the plunger the air in the cylinder 12, above the plunger 13, is forced outwardly through the tube 15, and out between the applicator 16, and the portion of the skin to which the applicator has been applied. Upon the down stroke of the pump plunger 13, the suction at the mouth of the applicator causes the skin to be drawn into the applicator thereby causing a partial vacuum to be formed in the tube 15 and in the chamber above the plunger 13. During the down stroke of the plunger the air below the plunger is permitted to escape through the opening 47, provided for the purpose. It will thus be seen that a partial vacuum is created and then released or broken with each rotation of the gear7. The intermittent vacuum produced at the mouth of the applicator 16, arts to massage the skin by alternately sucking and then releasing the skin as the machine is operated. Should the suction created by the vacuum be too strong the needle valve 19, is adjusted by turning the screw 18, thereby permitting a small quantity of air to enter the vacuum chamber during the driving stroke of the pump plunger 13. The degree of pressure reduction maythus be varied by the machine, depending upon the adjustment of the valve mechanism. If preferred the machine may be easily arranged to be power driven.

The modified form of massaging machine disclosed in Figs. 7 and ,8, is operated in a manner similar to that already described. In this case the eccentric mechanism is operated by the shaft 22, which is adaptedto be rotated by means of a motor or by any other suitable means connected to the thread ed outer'end of said shaft. The intermittent vacuumeflect is produced at the applic'ator 35, as the plunger 28,. is reciprocated. The machine is adapted to be conveniently held by the handle 21, during a massaging operation. In the modified form of the alternate vacuum massaging machine shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 11, the pad applicator is secured in place by means of the straps 45. Bystarting the motor 43, the pump 36, is operated to alternately vary the pressure at the place where the massaging face of the pad is applied to a person being massaged.

The variations in pressure at the cup applicators caused by the action of the pump, serve to thoroughly massage the skin by alternately drawing blood to the parts being massaged and then releasing the pressure. The skin tissues are thus enlivened. The

pad applicator is flexible to permit the same to conform to the portionof a body to which it is applied, and the rubber walls forming v the plurality ofcells or cups, are also adapted to so grip the skin so that communication between the various cells is obviated, thereby permitting a pluralityof small skin areas to be massaged simultaneously.

It will of course, be understood that any desired form of applicators may be used other than thoseshown, and that the intermittent vacuum effect may be produced by operating mechanisms difi'erent from. the mechanisms described.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

- I claim as my invention: 1. An intermittent vacuum massaging machine comprising a cylinder, an imperforate piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to the piston, a head integral with the piston rod having a longitudinal slot substantially perg pendicular to the axis thereof, a. circular driving plate, a stud eccentrically mounted on the driving plate and adapted to engage the slot in the head, means for'rotating the driving plate thereby actuating the piston rod and piston, a massaging applicator and a tube connecting the interior of said applicator with the cylinder whereby said applicator is directly operated by the variations of pressure produced by the reciprocation of the piston.

2. The combination with a device adapted to rapidly produce and release a pressure, of a pad applicator connected therewith and having a chamber therein, and a plurality means for securing the applicator in position, a flexible pad secured to said back and separated therefrom to afford a chamber between said back and pad, and walls integrally formed on the pad forming a plurality of hexagonal cells, each provided with an opening communicating with said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses: V

. GEORGE A. WARD.

Witnesses:

EARL M. HARDINE, CHARLns W. HILLS, Jr.

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