US1569426A - Massaging device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 12 ,'1926.

C. R. KRAUTHOFF IASSAGING DEVICE Filed May 23, 1925 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1926,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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Application filed M8323, 1925. Serial No. 32,497.

To allcvhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. KRAUT- HOFF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of 'Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Massaging Device, of which the following discription, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. I

This invention relates to a massaging device and consists in certain peculiarities of construction, novel arrangement and operation of the various parts thereof, as Wlll be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

' The principal object of the invention is to provide a massaging device which shall be of simple, durable and inexpensive 'construction, easily manipulated, eflicient in o eration and which adjusts itself to most e ectively massage any part of the body.

A further object is to rovide a massaging device which thoroug ly kneads or manipulates the flesh by a combined opposite lateral movement and cupping thereof, thus giving the flesh a succession of undulations in opposite directions and at the same time depressing and'raising the flesh at certain intervals all of which will be brought out further in the following description.

Briefly stated this invention comprises a massaging device consisting of a frame or holder on which is pivotally mounted. a plurality of helically grooved friction rollers, having a spirally arranged series of suction openings, the rollers being mounted to assume various positions depending on the contour of the surface over which they are passed.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated by similar reference characters:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing the rollers with their longitudinal axes lying within the same plane.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showingv the rollers with their longitudinal axes lying in different plane and :Fig. 3 is a perspective of the frame with the rollers removed.

In the familiar types of massaging devices now in use the limited movement of the flesh under the action of the rollers and lack of adjustability reduces the ef'fi- 66 cienoy of said devices.

It is therefore the aim and purpose of this invention to effect a massaging device which owing to its simplicity and adjustabihty provides a most efficient and inexpen- 0 sive means for'thoroughly massaging any portion of the body.

In the illustrated embodiment characterlzlng this invention (1) indicates a yoke shaped supporting frame fastened centrally to a handle (2) either end of said oke being bent at (3) to form clamping orks (4), the extremities of said forks being bent inwardly and rounded or knobbed to form trunnions (5). Fastened permanently to 7 the supporting frame (1) at the bent portion (3). ,and positioned normally to the frame are segmental sleeves (6), in which are slidably mounted semicircular guides (7). These semicircular guides (7) are also 7 bent normally at their extremities and rounded or knobbed to form trunnions (8) and (9). The trunnions (5) which are located at the extremities of the clamping forks (4) have adjacently'mounted flanges 3o (10). On these trunnions are pivotally mounted cross-arms (11).

These cross-arms contain circular openings located centrally at (12) and at either end at (13) and (14).- The trunnions (5) 5 of the clamping forks (4) project through the openings (12) and thus form a pivotal connection for the cross-arms (11), whereas in the case of the'trunnions (8) and (9) which project through the openings (13) 9 and (14), they are held rigidly in lace in the cross-arm, since the cross-arms 11) are rigidly fastened to the semicircular guides (7) at either end.

The friction rollers (16), (17) and (18) are grooved spirally'as shown in Fig. 1, the grooves and corresponding mounds being indicated by (19) and (20) respectively.

At suitable intervals along the crest of the mounds throughout the entire axial length of the rollers are suitably shaped depressions or vacuum cups (21). These depressions are of sufficient depth to cause a suckingor cupping of the flesh as the roller is passed over the same.

At the ends of the rollers (16), (17) and (18) are located journals which are composed of a flange (22) and a bearin portion (23) mounted in cylindrically rilled holes (24). In these journals are mounted the trunnions (5) of the clamping forks (4) and trunnions (8) and (9) of the semicircular guides Since the diameter of the holes (24) into which the journals are fitted are larger than the diameter of the knobbed trunnions the clearance thus provided permits a swivelling action of the rollers, thus ermitting the rollers to assume a variety 0 positions in relation to one another and to thereb conform to the contour of the body as they are passed over the same.

In the operation of this device as the rollers are passed over the body the move the flesh from side to side in opposite undulations or Waves which are produced by the alternate oppositely spiraled surfaces of the rollers, and as cups 21 are brought into and out of firm contact with the flesh as the device is moved along they raise the same and release it thus producing a cupping effect.

In conclusion it is evident this invention provides a massaging device which if regularly applied will stimulate the action of the skin, increase circulation of the blood and afford general body development dependent on the requirements of the patient.

Although in the foregoing certain components have been definedas best adapted to. perform the functions allotted to them, nevertheless it is to be understood that various minor changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having described my invention, what it claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A massaging device comprising a plurality of normally parallel rollers having spirally formed surfaces, the spirals of the respective rollers being inversely arranged, a mounting journalling the extremities of the rollers and means in connection with such mounting to permit relative angular movement of the rollers so that they will conformto the contour of the surface over which they are caused to travel.

2. A massaging device comprising a plurality of normally parallel rollers having their surfaces spirally formed and provided with a series of cupping openings the spirals of the respective rollers being inversely arranged, a mounting journalling the extremities of the rollers and means in connection with such mounting to permit relative angular roller adjustment to the contour of the surface over which they are caused to travel.

3. A massaging device comprising a plurality of normally parallel rollers having spirally formed surfaces, the spirals of the respective rollers proceeding in o osite directions and the surfaces of the roll rs being formed with a spiralling series of cupping openings, a mounting for the rollers journalling their extremities and means in connection with such mounting to permit relative angular movement of the rollers so that they will conform to the contour of the surface over which they are caused to travel.

4. A massaging device comprising a trio of normally parallel rollers having spirally formed surfaces and provided with a plurality of cupping openings, the spiral of the y innermost roller being inverse to that of the outermost rollers, a mounting journalling the extremities of the rollers and means in connection with such mounting to permit angular movement of the outermost rollerswith respect to the innermost roller to maintain the rollers in contact with the surface over which they are caused to travel, regardless of the contour of said surface.

5. A massaging device comprisin a frame, a roller supporting cross-arm swivelly mounted at each end of the. frame, a trio of normally parallel rollers arranged between the cross-arms, the outermost rollers being rotatably connected to the extremities and the intermediate roller to the pivotal point of the cross-arms to permit angular movement of the outermost rollers with respect to the intermediate roller to maintain said rollers in contact with the surface over which they are caused to pass regardless of the contour of said surface.

6. A massaging device comprising a frame, cross-arms swivelly mounted at each end of the frame, a trio of normally parallel rollers situated between the cross-arms, the outermost rollers of the trio being rotatably connected to the extremities of the crossarms, the intermediate roller being connected to the pivotal point of said cross-arms to permit relative angular movement of the outermost rollers with respect to the innermost roller, said rollers having a series of cupping openings and being spirally formed, the spiral of the intermediate roller being inverse to that of the outermost rollers.

massaging device comprising a mounting, a plurality of oppositely spiralled rollers rotatably supported in said mounting, and means in connection with the said mounting-to permit angular movement of said rollers in such a manner that they will conform to the contour of the surfaces over which they are passed.

8. A massaging device comprising a ing, the rollers being normally disposed in frame, including oppositely disposed end parallelrelation, but susceptible of relative pieces, roller mountings carried in said end angular movement dependent upon the con 10 pieces and movable through an arc vertical tour of the' surface over which they are 5 with respect to the longitudinal axes of the caused to travel.

frame, a plurality of rollers swivelly connected at their extremities to the mount- CHARLES R. KRAUTHOFF.

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