US2228676A - Massaging device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, F RENGA MASSAGING DEVICE Fil ed March 5, 1959 3 SheetsSheet 1 .16 1 I 10 43 j/Z. 5. 54 .55 44 34 96 J0 J5 INVENTOR.

a @y/ M A TTORNEYJ F. L. RENGA Jan. 14, 1941,.

MAS SAGING DEVICE Filed March ,3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. jzer yw ATTORNEYS F. L. RENGA Jan. 14, 1941.

MASSAGING DEVICE Filed March 3, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fi/cfjfi. 1E2 154 .114

INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAS SAGIN G DEVICE Fernando L. Renga,

Chicago Electric Chicago, Ill., assignor to Manufacturing Company,

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to a vibrating device suitable for massaging and treatment purposes.

The present invention is a continuation in part of my previously filed application, Serial No. 253,565, copending herewith, which application describes and claims an improved vibrator control construction. The present application contemplates more particularly the provision of a combination control means for both initiating theaction of the vibration, as well as controlling theintensity or degree of. vibration. To this end thepresent invention co-mprehends the provision of a magnetic vibrator, together with an adjustment member movable to restrict or mechanically dampen the vibrations producible by magnetic action, the supply of electric current to the vibrator, as Well as the movable restricting member being operative from a single manual control means. Heretofore the intensity of vibration has been controlled according to one known method by varying the available magnetic effort. Such a construction, however, involves What are in effeet a plurality of electrical controls, subject to electrical failure after continued use. In accordance with the present invention only a single circuit-making device is necessitated, adjustments of intensity being effected positively and mechanically.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide in combination an electric vibrator and mechanical control element adapted to operate an electrical switch for controlling the initiation and vibration and thereafter actuable for mechanically varying the intensity of the vibrational effect produced.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a construction as above, in which the degree of intensity of vibration is subject to an extremely fine control by virtue of mechanical restriction of the vibration between the maximum and minimum values attainable with the available magnetic energy.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a combined mechanical and electrical vibrator control device, as above, which may be located at any conveniently accessible place on the vibrator assembly for facilitating adjustment by obviating any necessity for special manipulation.

Among other objects of the present invention are. to provide an improved vibrator bracket construction; and to provide an adjustable vibrator assembly, as above, which may be readily assembledto provide a sturdy construction capable taken centrally of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a vibrator supporting bracket shown in separate relationship;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a vibrator control member shown in separate relationship;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the parts forming the control switch, the several parts being shown in disassembled relationshipin order to clearly illustrate their relative arrangement;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of a slightly modifled construction embodying the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view taken centrally through the construction shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is adetail perspective view of the forward portions of the vibrator shown in Fig. 1, parts of the cover having been removed in order to show the internal cooperating construction;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view taken on the line l5-|5 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional View taken on the line lG-IG in Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings wherein one illustrative form of the present invention is disclosed, Figs. 1 to 8 show a vibrator construction comprising an outer shell or casing ID of generally parabolic form, closed by a removable cover l2 at its open end. The instant cover comprises a circular wall l4 extending laterally across the end of the parabolic shell l0 and having an axially extending flange l6 terminating in a shell embracing flange [8 which is releasably secured to the shell by means of fasteners 20.

The aforementioned casing or shell encloses an interior mechanism comprising a magnetic actuator 22 and a resiliently supported armature assembly 24, these assemblies being mounted upon and supported by opposed brackets 26, shown in separate detail in Fig. 9, and illustrated in assembled position in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6. Each of the present brackets comprises an arm 28 extending axially and rearwardly from the front wall l4 of the cover member and being secured thereto by lateral flanges 32] which are secured flatwise to the inner face of the cover by means of fasteners 32. A pair of opposed flanges 34 extending longitudinally of the rearwardly projecting arm 28 serves to embrace the core of the magnetic actuator, as will hereinafter more fully appear. Laterally upwardly and downwardly extending arms 36 adjacent the forward part of the brackets are adapted to support the armature assembly and to this end are provided along their rearward edges with lateral flanges 38, terminating in tab portions 40. When assembled in position as shown in the figures, the brackets oppositely embrace the laminated core of the magnetic coil 42, and are secured therewith through the agency of machine bolts 44.

The armature assembly comprises a magnetic actuator bar or plate 46, and it will be noted that this bar extends transversely, opposite to the free extremities of the magnetic core, which in the coil construction shown is of generally E-shaped configuration. The armature member is resiliently mounted in position opposite the coil through the agency of pairs of leaf springs 48, secured adjacent either extremity of the armature by means of rivets 50. The pair of leaf springs are supported at either end by the brackets, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6, where it will be noted that the lugs or tabs 40 have been bent over to clampingly engage the extremity of the leaf springs.

Figs. 3, 5 and 6 illustrate how the supporting arms 36 of the brackets, as well as the flanges 38, are bent slightly to permit lateral yielding movement of the spring leaves so that the armature may reciprocate with respect to the magnetic coil 42. Spacing washers 52 between each pair of leaf springs and between the springs and the armature enhance the spring action. The vibrational actuation of the armature 46 is transmitted to a shaft 54, rigidly secured to the armature, as at 56, for transmission in turn to an applicator 51.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a means for mechanically damping or modifying the vibrational movement of the armature and operated from a rotatable control member 58, rotatably mounted on a pivot 60, which pivot is fixedly supported in a pair of brackets 62. Attention is directed to the fact that the two brackets 62 (Figs. 3 and 8) are configurated, as at 64, to oppositely embrace the rear central portion of the core of the magnetic coil 42, and are fastened by a rivet 66.

As clearly shown in the figures, the control rotor 58 is so mounted that a portion of its periphery extends outwardly of and beyond the rearward extremity or apex of the parabolic shell, the material of the shell being slotted to permit passage of the rotor so that it is manually engageable, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 to 4. The periphery of the rotor 58 is provided with fluted, serrated or ridged portions 68 which cooperate with a resilient strip of spring metal mounted adjacent the rear portion of the magnetic coil for the purpose of tensioning the rotor, and normally holding it in any adjusted position. In accordance with the particular embodiment disclosed it will be obvious that the ridged portions 68 are so arranged as to provide for positioning the rotor yieldably in any of eight rotational positions. The strip of spring material 10 is held in place by virtue of the fact that its laterally extending extremities engage between the opposite bracket members and the adjacent surfaces of the magnetic core.

A damping member 12, shown in separate relationship in Fig. 10, comprises a plate or flange 14 which normally extends laterally across the front of the armature plate 46 and is rovided with a relatively large aperture 18 to embrace the shaft 54, but permitting the shaft to pass freely therethrough. The flange or plate 14 is integral at one side with a rearwardly extending leg 18, which in operative position extends alongside the magnetic control coil and to the rear thereof, wherein it is bent inwardly, as at 80, to provide a flange lying against one of the rotor supporting brackets 62, as at 82. The damping bracket 12 is supported for limited reciprocation transversely of the armature by virtue of an elongated slot or groove 84 in the portion 82, which slot embraces the pin to prevent lateral movement with respect to the slot. The opposite extremity of the damping control bracket 12 is slidably supported by a pin 86 rigidly mounted in the Wall I4 of the shell cover, as at 88, and being arranged slidably in an aperture 89 in the plate 14.

Movement of the vibration control bracket in its reciprocating path is effected by means of a cam-shaped embossment 90 formed on the upper side of the rotor 58, as viewed in Fig. 3. It should be particularly noted that the end of the damping control bracket is provided with a lug 91 which extends laterally to a point opposite the cam 90 to coact therewith as a cam follower. Rotation of the cam, accordingly, can be utilized to positively move the control bracket rearwardly for restricting the available vibrational movement of the armature, it being understood that in operation the vibrational impacts of the armature are sufhcient to force the control bracket in the opposite direction when the cam is appropriately r positioned. A rubber washer 92 embraces the shaft 54 between the armature 46-and the plate 14 to cushion the impacts. Assuming the magnetic coil to be supplied with alternating electricity and the armature therefore set in vibration, maximum intensity of vibration will occur when the follower lug 9! is opposite a low portion of the cam. As the cam is rotated, however, to bring higher points opposite the follower lug 9|, the bracket, and accordingly the damping plate 14, moves rearwardly and toward the armature 16 to decrease the amplitude of vibrational movement.

The supply of electric energy to the magnetic coil is controlled through a switching device mounted upon an insulating control panel 93 bolted to the lower side of the magnetic core, as viewed in Fig. 3. The panel shown more in detail in Fig. 11 has mounted thereon a fixed con tact member 94 and a laterally extending resilient contact arm 95 fixed adjacent one end by a fastener 96. The resilient contacting arm 95 has a contact point 91 normally urged yieldably into conducting relationship with the contact member 94. It will be understood that the aforesaid contact members are arrangedin series with the electrical conduits, such as I02 and I04, supplying,

the magnet 42.

Interruption of the electrical circuit is eifected,

rotor 58 by impingement of a projecting lug 98' upon an actuating block 99" (see Fig. 8). It

should be noted that the projecting lug 98 ismounted on the side of the rotor opposite from.

the cam 90. The actuating block 99 is fixedly secured to the free end of the resilient member 95 and extends laterally thereof through a suit" able aperture in the insulating panel 93'and into position opposite the side face of the rotor. Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the surface of the actuating block 99 is curved to facilitate coaction with the projection 98.

The present device is provided with ahandle I00 through which, for convenience, may extend the. electrical supply conduits. plated, preferably, in accordance with the present invention, that the location of the switch actuating lug 98 be such as to release the switch arm 95. to circuit-making position, while the restricting bracket I2 is held at the point of maximum armature restriction. As the control member 58. is rotated progressively from this point the restricti-on of the armature decreases to increase the vigor of vibration to the required degree- From the foregoing it will be apparent that in opera-tion the rotor is normally located in a rotational position wherein the electrical circuit is inoperative. As the rotor moves away from this limiting position, as shown in the figures, the

switch is closed and the vibration commences with the restricting bracket inits right-handmost position, as viewed in Fig. 3, and held there by the coaction of the cam follower lug 9| and a high portion of the cam'90. As rotation of, the rotor continues, the cam surface continually lowers, permitting the bracket I2 and restriction plate to move in the left-hand direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, and progressively relieving the, restriction of the armature.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the control member 58 is located in a position where it is readily accessible by the thumb whenremoving the hand from the control handle 7 I00. The operator can accordingly adjust the device while manipulating it for massaging purposes, for example. This construction is of great practical advantage, as opposed to constructions where it. is necessary for the operator to release his grasp and specially manipulate the control elements.

Reference is now had to Figs. 12 to 16 of the drawings, wherein a modified preferred construction is disclosed. In accordance with this construction the casing or shell is provided with a cap or cover IOI which overlies the inner cover 42 andis provided'with a knurled or milled flange I03. In accordance with the instant embodiment, the outer cap or cover I 0| is rotatable relatively to the vibrator enclosing shell or housing and about the axis of" the shaft 54 for determining the intensity of vibrational movement, in accordance with the principles'set out in my aforementioned copending application, Serial No. 253,565. Since the detailed construction and arrangement of the control cap'is completely dis closed in my aforesaid copending application, a* repetition of these details will be omitted here.

Suflice it to say that the rotation of the control ,cap results in rotational adjustment of a sleeve.

It is contemthreadedlyengaged in the vibrator housing, causingrelative movement of the sleeve in a, direction toward or away from the armature.

In accordance with this construction the current control conduits are carried, as indicated by the. reference numerals I02 and I04, to a switch mounted on the inner surface of the forward wall M of the shell. The switch comprises an insula ting block I06, which is fastened by grommets I08 to a resilient spring arm III). It should be noted that the spring arm has its lower end secured flatwise against the insulating block, as viewed inFig. 13, and therea'bove is spaced from the block, its upper end being bent over and secured rigidly to an insulating actuating member I I2 by means of rivets I I4.

The spring arm I I0carries a con-tact point II6 which is adapted to cooperate with an opposing contact point I I8 mounted on a suitable conduct.- ing base I20 and similarly secured to the insulating block I06. As clearly shown in Fig. 14, portions of the forward wall I4 of the shell are cut away to retain the rivets in relatively insulated relationship, and furthermore to permit free passage of the actuating insulating block I'IZ' through the wall I4. Accordingly, and since the control'conduits I 02and I04 are connected, respectively, to the two contact points I I6 and II 8, the circuit is normally closed.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact n control cap IOI is provided with an inwardly 2 struck-outportion I24, cooperating with the portion I22, other words, the struck-out or inwardly offset portion I24'on. the cap provides in effect a cam actuator which is secured along one end portion only to the sheet material of the cap. When the parts-are assembled in normal position the inwardly offset portion I24 is adapted to pass underneath, the struck-out portion I22, as clearly shown in Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive, movement being limited whenthe adiacentside or end edges of the'struck-out portions come into abutment.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that when the cap is rotated'so that the cam .portion I24 extends under the struck-out member I22, its inner surface contacts the actuatin'ginsulating block I I2 on the switch construction (see Figs. Band 16), forcing the resilient switch arm rearwardly'and' breaking the circuit between the contacts. As shown in Fig. 16, the corner of the control block II2 is rounded to facilitate the coaotionoof the parts. On the other hand, if the cap is rotated in a left-hand direction, as viewed in the figures, the inwardly offset or cam portion I24 iscarried from beneath the overlying struckout portion on the shell wall I4, permitting the switch to close and start actuation of the device.

It" will be obvious from the above that further rotation of the cap in a left-hand direction will serve to vary the intensity of the vibrations produced in accordance with the action described above: The present device, therefore, provides a single control means adapted to perform the dual function of actuating the switch and varying the intensity of vibration.

as clearly shown in Figs. 13' and 14. In

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the inwardly offset or cam member [24 is provided with indicia indicating the On position of the switch, which is visible through the adjacent aperture at all times when this member is at a point remote from the struck-out portion 122. At other times, however, the latter struckout portion overlies the cam portion I24 so that the indicia Off is visible in the aperture, indicating that the switch is in Off position.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein described being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An electric massaging device of the class described, comprising a vibrator unit and a housing for said unit, a vibrator member connected to the vibrator unit and extending outwardly of the housing, a substantially circular cap member located adjacent the said end of said housing and being rotatable with respect to said housing to control the degree of vibration of said vibrator member, switch means operatively supported by said housing and being operatively associated with said rotatable cap member for actuation upon rotation of said cap whereby rotatable actuation of the cap member controls the current supply to the vibrator as well as the degree of vibration.

2. In an article of the class described, comprising a vibrator unit and a housing, a control switch for said unit, said switch having relatively movable contact portions normally in contacting relationship, cap means adjacent one end of said housing and relatively rotatable with respect thereto, and cam means operatively supported by said cap and being adapted to operatively actuate said relatively movable switch means in one rotational position for separating said contacts whereby to cause selective actuation of the switch.

3. In an article of the class described, an electric vibrator comprising a magnetic coil, an armature adapted to be vibrated upon energization of the coil, means for mechanically damping the vibrations produced in said armature comprising a member movable relatively to said armature to restrict the movement thereof, and means for controlling the relative position of said restricting member comprising a rotatable member operatively located at the rear of said magnet coil, cam means operatively associated with said rotatable member for relatively positioning said restriction member with respect to the armature, and means on said rotatable member for controlling energization of said magnet.

4. In an article of the class described, an electric vibrator comprising a magnetic coil, an armature adjacent the front portion of said mag netic coil for vibrational reciprocation by said coil, a control bracket having a portion extending adjacent said armature to mechanically restrict vibration thereof, said bracket having a portion extending rearwardly of said magnet, and cam means operatively mounted on the rear of said magnet and being operatively associated with said bracket for moving said bracket laterally of the armature into armature restricting position.

5. An electric massaging device of the class described comprising a. housing, a vibrator unit in the housing having an armature adapted to be reciprocated and a shaft connected with said armature and extending outwardly of said housing, a manually actuable member extending from said housing, a member shiftable laterally of said armature for damping the vibration of said armature by mechanically restricting the movement thereof, means operatively associating the manually actuable member and the vibration damping member for progressively varying the axial position of said last named member in response to actuation of said manually actuable member, a circuit making means in circuit with the vibrator unit for controlling supply of actuating electric current to the said unit, means on the said manually actuable member and mechanically associated with said circuit making means for opening said circuit in one position of the man- 0 ually actuable member and for maintaining the circuit continuously closed in other positions of said manually actuable member.

6. An electric massaging device of the class described comprising a housing, a vibrator unit in the housing having an armature adapted to be reciprocated and a shaft connected with said armature and extending outwardly of one extremity of said housing, a rotatable control member extending from the opposite extremity of said housing, a member shiftable laterally of said armature for damping the vibration of said armature by mechanically restricting the movement thereof, means operatively associating the rotatable control member and the vibration damping member for progressively varying the axial position of said last named member in response to rotation of said rotatable control member, a circuit making means in circuit with the vibrator unit for controlling supply of actuating electric current to the said unit, means on the said rotatable control member and mechanically associated with said circuit making means for opening said circuit in one rotational position of the rotatable control member and for maintaining the circuit continuously closed in other rotational positions of the said rotatable control member.

7. An electric massaging device as defined in claim 5 wherein said rotatable control member is disposed for rotation about an axis transverse to said shaft and has its periphery projecting from the rear of said housing.

8. An electric massaging device as defined in claim 5 wherein said manually actuable member comprises a cap embracing the first named extremity of said housing and having a peripheral flange portion adjacent the side portions of said housing for relative rotational adjustment.

9. An electric massaging device as defined in claim 5 wherein said manually actuable member comprises a cap rotatable about the axis of said shaft and having a peripheral flange portion adjacent the side portions of said housing for relative rotational adjustment.

10. In an electric massaging device of the class described, comprising a vibrator unit and a housing, a control switch for said unit, said switch having relatively movable contact portions normally in contacting relationship, rotor means adjacent one end of said housing and relatively rotatable with respect thereto, and cam means operatively supported by said rotor and being adapted to operatively actuate said relatively movable switch means in one rotational position for separating said contacts whereby to cause selective actuation of the switch.

11. In an electric massaging device of the class described, comprising a vibrator unit and a housing, a control switch for said unit, said switch having relatively movable contact portions normally in contacting relationship, rotor means adjacent one end of said housing and relatively rotatable with respect thereto, and cam means operatively supported by said rotor and being adapted to operatively actuate said relatively movable switch means in one rotational position for separating said contacts whereby to cause selective actuation of the switch,'shiftable means movable with respect to the vibrator for damping vibration movement thereof, said shiitable means being operatively connected to said rotor for shifting movement in response to further rotation of the rotor.

12. In an electric massaging device of the class described, comprising a housing, a vibrator unit within said housing, and a member rotatable adjacent one side of said housing for controlling the actuation of said vibrator unit, a portion of said housing being outwardly struck-out beneath said rotatable member, said rotatable member having an inwardly struck-out portion radially opposite said outwardly struck-out portion, said inwardly struck-out portion providing an aperture through which the inwardly struck-out portion is normally visible and said inwardly struckout portion residing inwardly of said outwardly struck-out portion in one rotational position of said rotatable member with said outwardly struck-out portion visible through said aperture.

13. In an electric massaging device of the class described comprising a housing having an electric vibrator unit therein, said housing comprising a generally annular wall enclosing the vibrator unit and tapering toward an apex at one extremity located on the axis of the housing, an axially reciprocating shaft connected to said vibrator unit and extending outwardly from said housing at the opposite axial extremity of said housing, a manually actuable rotatable control member whose axis is disposed adjacent said first named extremity at said apex and being rotatable about pivot means extending generally transversely to the axis of said housing and operative to control said vibrator unit, said rotatable member having its periphery projecting from said extremity of the housing and means operatively shiftable in response to rotation of said rotatable member to restrict vibration of the axially reciprocating shaft.

FERNANDO L. RENGA.

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