US1645339A

US1645339A - Therapeutic chair

Info

Publication number: US1645339A
Application number: US142468A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward R Monroe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-10-18
Filing date: 1926-10-18
Publication date: 1927-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 1944-10-11

Description

E. R. MONROE THERAPEUTIC CHAIR Filed Ogt. 18, 1926 2 She etsSheet 1.

Patented on. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES EDWARD R. MONROE, F BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

THERAPEUTIC CHAIR.

The invention relates to an electromechancal therapeutic chair.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and comparatively inexpensive electromechanical therapeutic chair of strong and durable construction equipped with a mechanical device adapted to travel automatically from the base of the spine to the back of the head and capable of simultaneously kneading the body of the patient at opposite sides of the spine and thereby give a thorough relaxing of the tissues and a stimulation of the nerve system. It is also an object of the invention to provide means for enabling a current of electricity to be passed through the body of the patient simultaneously with the kneading operation of the mechanical device.

W'ith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of arts, hereina'fter fully described, illustratec in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificmg any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures. I I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view 'of "a therapeutic chair constructed in accordance with this invent-ion.

Fig. 2 is a detail view illustrating the construction of the split elevating nut.

Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the arrangement of the rotary electrical contact.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of the top of the device illustrating the arrangement of the top bracket, and the medical induction coil and the electrical connections for controlling the same.

Fig. 5 is a sectional viewpartly in elevation illustrating the construction of the mechanism for rotating and elevating the revolvlL therapeutic knuckles.

' "6-315 a sectional View upon the line f Fig. 5.

7 is a detail sectional view on the line 7 of Fig. 6.

a sectional view on the line '8-8 r is a detail sectional View of the drivir ig and feather key.

Application filed October 18, 1826.

Serial No. 142,468.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the motion or path of movement of the knuckles on the spine.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a main chair frame adapted to be constructed of any su-itable material or preferably made of tubular metal as shown. Mounted between the sides of the main chair frame 1 is aback frame 2 also preferably constructed of tubular metal and composed of spaced parallel sides and a to engage pins 6 projecting laterally from the outer faces of the sides of the back frame 2. The back frame 3 supportsa canvas back,

or flexiblessheet 7 secured to the sides of the back frame by means of removable pins 8, but any other suitable means, such as lacing 'may of course beemployed for attaching the side edges of the flexible sheet or backing to the sides of the back frame.

The sides of the back frame have mounted on them at their lower ends brackets 9, between which is pivoted a baseboard 10 by means of pins 11. The brackets 9 extend rearwardly from the sides of the back frame 2 and the base board or supporting member 10 is adapted to rock on the pivots to accommodate itself to the automatic adjustment of the kneading mechanism, herein afterward fully explained.

The base-board or member 10 supports a gear case 12 shown in 'sectionin Fig. 5 of the drawing andhousing a worm gear 13, which is mounted on a screw shaft 14. The worm gear 13 meshes with a worm wheel 15 which is mounted-on a driven shaft 16. The driven shaft 16 has keyed or otherwise secured to it a driven pulley 17 which is connected by a and suitably fixed to a shaft 18 of an elec ricmotor 18 which is also mounted the ease-board supporting member i belt 1'7 with a drive pulley 18 mounted "on a The screw shaft 14 which extends substan tially the length of the back frame 2 is held at its lower end in a. thrust bearing 19 mounted in the bottom of the gear casing 12, and the upper end of the screw shaft 14 is journaled in an upper bear ng 21 at the lower portion of a slide 20. The slide is mounted in a slot 23 extending rearwardly therefrom as clearly illustrated in Fig. of the drawings. The slide 20 is adapted to move backwardly and forwardly in the said slot 23 to accommodate itself to the automatic adjustmentof the kneading mechanism and is yieldably urged forward- "sides of the slide, and connected with the ly by coiled springs 24'located at opposite rear portion of the same and the front portion of the bracket 22. V

I The screw shaft 14 has mounted on it a slidable member 25 provided withlaterally extending housings 25 receiving bevelled gears 26 and 2? mounted on .bolts 28 and 29'1'espectively. The bolts 28 211121-29 are screwed into the slidable member 25 which also carri-es a rot-ary beveled pinion 80. The rotary beveled pinion is slidablyinterlocked i with the screw shaft 14 by 'means of a feather key 30" of the pinion and a groove 14 of the screw shaft 14, and the said pinion 30 meshes with the beveled gears 26 whereby when the screw shaft 14 is rotated,

rotary motion will be communicated. to the said

gears

26 and 27. 30 which has an extending hub or sleeve portion 30 is adapted toslide on the rotary screw 14 and it will be seen by reference to Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings that the face of the beveled gear 27 is approximately the width of'the face of the beveled gear 26,

thereby providing sufficient space to permit

ber

31, 32, which are provided at their peripheries with one or more raised portions or

knuckles

31 or 32 adapted to knead the flesh of the patient adjacent the spine as hereinafter more fully explained.

- The slidable member 25 is equipped with a rearwardly extending bracket 25 projecting from the said slidable member substantially at right angles to the same, and

'provided at its outer ends with a-slrot or recess 25 which receives and. enables the bracket to fit over a fixed guide rod 24 adapted to hold the slidable member 25 from rotary movementwhen' the screw shaft 14 is rotated.

Located dir ctly beneath the beveled pin- The beveled pinion tions of the nut, and the latter is yieldably maintained in engagement with the threads of the shaft 14 by the coiled spring 35 connected at its ends to laterally projecting arms 34 of the split nut. The grip portions 32 are adapted to be compressed as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to carry the sections of the nut out of engagement with the threads of the shaft 14, to permit the slidable member 25 to be moved upwardly or downwardly on the screw shaft to arrange the kneading mechanism in proper position with relation to the back ofthe patient.

Thechair is equipped with a medical induction coil 36 having primary and secondary windings and connected by

wire conductors

37 and 38 with a dry cell or other battery 36 i nount-ed on the base-board or supporting member 10. The conducting wires 37 and 38'are attachedto binding posts i and 40of the induction coil as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and the base of the induction coil is provided with three

binding posts

41, 42 and 43, from which either-a primary or secondary current can be transmitted in the usual manner. The medical induction coil may be of any preferred construction and is operated in the usual manner for controlling the strength of the current. 7

Leading from the binding post 43 is a conducting wire 43 extending to a metal contact plate or brush secured to a non-conducting member 45 by means'of a screw 46 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and the said member 45 whichis constructed of tiber or other non-conducting material is seated on the upper end of the guide rod 44 and is secured to the same bv thumb screw 47. Inliig. 4 of the drawings the contact plate 44 is shown in contact and electrical engagement with a rotary contact or member 48 secured to the screw shaft 14 by means of a set screw 49 and is adapted to afford a continuous current to the patient while the screw is being rotated. and when thesaid contact plate or member 44 is movedoutward and arranged in the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the current will be interrupted by the cut-away portion of the rotary member 48. In the operation of the electromechanical therapeutic chair the patient is seated in the chair, and the operator by closing in on the handles 33 and opening the split nut enables the slidable member and the pinion to slide freely on the screw 14 and be raised or lowered to any desired position along the spine of'the patient, and when the operator releases his grip on the handles 34 the spring will automatically carry the sections of the nut into engagement with the screw .14. The motor 18 which is designed to be connected with an ordinary lighting circuit is started and motion is transmitted by the driving mechanism to the screw 14 which will be continuously rotated as long as the motor is in operation. It will be readily seen that the rotation of the shaft engaging threads of the split nut will elevate the same, and the slidable member 25 and simultaneously rotate the beveled gear 30 through the interlocking of the same with the shaft 14 by the said groove 14 and theyfeather key 14 Rotary motion will thus be communicated to the beveled gear 26, and the kneading of the knuckle member 31 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow 31". The beveled gear 26 being in mesh with the other beveled gear 27, the kneading or knuckle member of the latter will be caused to rotate in the direction of the arrow 32*. hen the patient leans back against the canvas of flexible sheet, the

knuckle projections

31 and 32 will contact with and knead the fleshy part of the back on each side of the spine, the direction of this action being clearly indicated in Fig. 11 of the drawings. By the angular position of the kneading or

knuckle members

31 and 32 it will be clear that the knuckles 51 and 32 will have an upward and slightly outward movement while in contact with the back, the force or harshness of the rub being regu lated by the pressure which the patient exerts against the canvas sheet or backing 7. As the base or supporting member 10 is pivotally mounted between the brackets 9, and the slide 20 is movable backwardly and forwardly in the slot .43 of the bracket 22 and is yieldably urged forward by the coiled springs 24, the shaft 14 is adapted to swing backwardly and forwardly and the knuckle members are adapted-to adjust themselves automatically to the contour of the spine of the patient. Furthermore the pivotal and yieldable mounting of the mechanism absorbs sudden shocks that would result from a rigid mounting of the shaft. 7

The handles 34 are located at opposite sides of the guide rod 24 and they operate to prevent rotary movement of the split nut when the screw shaft 14 is rotated by the driving mechanism and the said shaft 14 will thereby operate to elevate the nut and the slidable member and rotary gear 30 carried by and supported upon the said split nut.

Thus it will be seen that while the kneading or knuckle members are operating on the back of the patient, the slidable member 25 is continuously and automatically traveling upward and it continues its upward movement until the nut comes in contact with a turned down portion 14 of the screw shaft 14. The'reduced or turned downportion 14 is cut to a depth of the bottom of the threads and when the nut moves into the reduced or cut away portion 14 its upward movement and the upward movement of the slidable member and the rotary gear 30 will cease. The slot or keyway 14 is of greater depth than the threads and the reduced portion 14 so that the said gear 30 will continue its rotary movement as long as the screw shaft is rotated by the operation of the motor,

It will be readily seen that the adjustment 'of the split nut will enablethe slidable member 25 to be raised and lowered freely on the screw shaft and placed in any position with relation to the spine of the patent, and when it is desired to give a combined electric and.

form one pole of the circuit, and by dampening the canvas or by placing a damp towel thereon, the current will pass through the body of the patient to a foot plate which is connected with'the terminal 42; A foot bath may be arranged in the circuit if desired or the terminals 42 may be attached to hand electrodes or a'sponge and applied to any part of the body. By means of the current illustrated in dotted lines 41 and 41' the primary or galvanic current may be passed through the body, the current flowing in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3 and passing from the spine to the footv plate or foot bath and back to the terminal 41 by means of a suitable electrical connection.

The wiring from the battery to the coil is so arranged that the primary current alone flows in the direction shown by the arrow,

the strength of the current bein controlled by means of the pulling out anc f moving in of the core 51 which is held in place in the bracket 52 by means of notches cut in the bar 58. The bracket 52 is mounted at the top of the back frame and extends upwardly from the bracket 22, and is provided in its including a chair frame, a back" the kneading mechanism.

nally of the back frame, a slidable member provided with a nut engaged by the screw whereby theslidable. member 15 moved along theiscrew when the latter is rotated, kneading mechanism carried by the slidable member and means for operating the screw and 2. A; therapeutic chair of the class described, includingachair frame, a back frame, a support pivotally mounted on the back frame at :the lower portion thereof, a slidable bearing arranged at the top of the back frame. a screw shaft extending longitudinally' of the back frame and mounted .upon the shaft support and in the said slidable bearing, means" mounted on the support for rotatingthe screw shaft,a slidable member mounted on the screw. shaft and having a nut engaging the threads thereof whereby the slidable member is moved. along the screw shaft when the latter is rotated, and kneading mechanism carried by the sliding member and actuated by the screw shaft.

.3. A therapeutic chair of the class de scribed including a chair frame, a back frame, a screw shaft extending along the back frame,'means,for mounting the screw shaft to permit the same to swing toward and from the back frame, a'slidable member mounted on the screw shaft an d having a nut engaging the threads thereof and kneading mechanism carried by the slidable member and actuated by, the screw shaft.

4-. A'therapeutic chair ofthe class described, including a chair frame, a back frame, a screw shaft extending along the back frame, means for mounting the screw shaft to permit the same to swing toward and from the back frame, a slidable member mounted on the screw shaft and having a nut engaging the threads thereof and kneading mechanism comprising a rotary kneading or knuckle member, a gear connected with the same and mounted on the sliclable .member and a slidable gear interlocked with and actuated by the'screw shaft and gscribed, including a chair frame, a back frame. a screw shaft extending aloiig'the meshing with the said gear for rotating the knuckle or kneadlng member.

'5. A therapeutic chair of the class doscribed, provided at the back with a screw shaft, a slidable member having a sectional nut engaging the threads of the screw shaft, and provided with mechanically separable meansfor opening'thenut to slide thesaid member along the screw shaft and kneading mechanism earned by the slldable member and actuated by the screw shaft.

jshaft,-a slidable member movable along the screw shaft having a nut for engaging the threads thereof, kneading mechanism mounted on the slidable member and actuated by the screw shaft, a guide rod ext-ending longitudinally of the said shaft andmeans projecting from the slidable member for engaging'the guide rod to prevent rotary movement of the said member. v

9. A therapeutic chair of the class described, provided with a screw shaft extending along the back of the chair, a slidable member movable along the screw shaft and having a sectional nut engaging the threads of the shaft, said nut being provided with spaced handles for opening the sections of the nut, a guide rod extending longitudinally of the screw shaft and passing between the said handles for holding the nut against rotary movement, a slottedbracket extending from the sliolable member and engaging the screw shaft for holding the said member against slidable movement and kneading mechanism carried by the slidable member.

10. A therapeutic chair oftheclass described, having a pivotal support mounted at the lower portion of the chair at the back thereof, a. bracket extending from the upper portion at the back of the ehair'and provided with a guide, a slide operating in the guide, a screw shaftjournaled at its lower end in the said support and at its upper end in the said slide, means connected with the bracket and the slide for urging the screw shaft forwardly, a slidable member movable along the screw shaft and having a nut for engaging the threads thereof, kneading mechanism mounted on the slidable member and actuated by a screw shaft, a guide rod connected with the support and the. slide, means carried by the slidable member and the nut for engaging the slide rod and mechanism for actuating the screw.

11. A. therapeutic chair of the class described, including a chair frame, a pivotedback frame, a support pivotally mounted on the back frame at the bottom thereof, a

bracket extending from the upper portion of the back frame, a slide operating in the bracket, a screw shaft journaled in its upper end in the slide and in its lower end upon the pivoted support, a motor mounted on the pivoted support, driving mechanism for transmitting motion from the motor to the screw shaft, a guide rod connected with the pivoted support and with the slide, a slidable member movable along the screw shaft and provided with means for engaging the guide rod, a sectional nut supporting the slidable member, and having operating handles located at opposite sides of the guide rod, and kneading mechanism mounted on the slidable member and actuated by the screw shaft.

12. A therapeutic chair of the class dea reduced portion, a slidable member m0v-.

able along the screw shaft and provided with v a nut engaging the threads thereof and movable into the reduced portion of the screw shaft and kneading mechanism mounted on the slidable member, and having a' gear provided with a key engaging the said groove of the screw shaft.

In testimony signature.

EDWARD R. MONROE.

whereof I hereunto affix my