US2232474A - Massage apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18, 1941. M, UH 2,232,474

- MASSAGE nmmwus.

Filed June 14, 1940 EIMER M HA UH INVENTOR.

' 1 M" 5%farne1 Patented Feb. 18, 1941 OFFICE 2,232,474 MASSAGE APPARATUS Elmer M. Rauh, Buffalo, N. Y. Application June 14,1940, Serial No. 340,568

7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in massaging apparatus and the object thereof is to provide a simple yet elfective and efiicient massaging device which is capable of producing a deep massage and a petrissage action on the deeper muscles and tissues of the body.

A further object is to produce a massaging device having a cup which enables the operator to act upon one particular spot to the exclusion of all others, and which also relieves the operator of the laborious task of holding and restraining the device against lateral reactions.

A further object is to provide a massage device which incorporates a cup surrounding the massage element of said device for aiding the operator to secure the proper pressure of the element on the flesh and prevent the massage element from shifting away from a zone of flesh that is being treated.

A further object is to provide a massaging device with a calibrated scale which indicates to the operator the exact depth of massage being given by determining the pressure being applied upon the massage element and thereby upon the flesh.

A further object is to provide, in a massage device, an adjustable means by which the eccentricity of the massage element may be varied and other means for varying the force of either the cup or massage element exerted against the flesh.

A further object is to provide, in a massage device, a spring element, adjustable to a plurality of degrees of compression, which functions to permit variation of the force required to move a pressure cup with respect to the massage element.

Another object is to provide a massage device which produces a pinching on the flesh between an eccentrically moving massage element thereof and a surrounding cup member, as well as a deep 1 massage on the body tissue.

From the medical standpoint and especially those skilled in the art of massage, it will appear that my device is effective as a mechanical means to simulate or approach the action of hand massage. It will produce both a superficial and deep massage of the tissues of the body. For example, it will massage muscles for the patient or increase blood circulation. Furthermore, it will relieve symptoms of other conditions and is also capable of increasing absorption.

I propose to avoid the vibrator type of treatment or frictional devices, both ofwhich are-only capable of producing a surface treatment. I also parts to be massaged. By properly adjusting the eccentricity of the massage element of my device, the skin floats or moves with the massage e1emerit and only the deeper tissues are petrissaged. w The pinching effect between the cup and the masavoid the use of powders and lubricants upon the sage element is also an important feature of my device.

Other objects, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later ap pear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

. Referring now to my drawing wherein, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a part sectional view of a massage device constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of a detail;

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of the detail of Fig. 2.

In Figure 1, a flexible shaft I is caused to rotate, by'some source of power, within the flexible casing 2. A tubular support 3 is provided with a flange member 4 at one end and an internal bearing surface to permit the rotation, within said tubular support 3, of a shaft 5 having on one end thereof a head 6, and the other end may be provided with a slot or other suitable connection for receiving a cooperating member formed on the flexible shaft I, for example, as shown in Patent No. 1,391,919, issuedto L. A. Thompson.

The shaft 5 and the tubular support 3 are respectively held in engagement with the flexible shaft I and the flexible casing 2 by means of said connection. Any suitable bearing structure such as a thrust bearing 8 may be provided for aligning the shaft member 5 within the said support 3.

The head is provided with a plurality of openings 9, such as shown in Figure 3, which are disposed at varying distances from the center thereof for obtaining eccentric motion to a variable degree of a massage element ID. If a more minute adjustment is desired, the head 6 may embody an elongated slot 9 radiating from the center of the head as shown in Figure 2. The massageelement I0 is made of rubber or other suitable material having the desired degree of stiifness and resiliency. The shank portion of the support pin I I is adapted to fit inside a sleeve embedded in'the massage element. The other end of said pin has a threaded portion adapted to be secured within any one of the openings in the head 6. To secure the support pin I I to a fixed position in the slot 9 shown in Figure 2, the pin may be inserted through the slot and secured by nuts placed about the threaded portion of the pin above and below the surface of the head 6. The massage element II) is adapted to be detachably mounted upon the pin II and is supported for free rotation thereon. Numeral II indicates a spring detent or equivalent adapted to engage a recess on the free end of the pin I I.

A cup I8 made of a resilient -material, such as rubber or any other suitable material and preferably bell-shaped, is affixed to an inner sleeve member I2. The latter is carried by and is slidably movable on the tubular support 3. at!

- lar support 3 and functions to vary the force The external sleeve may be adjusted axially.

by means of a set-screw I! or other suitable means to a plurality of positions along the tubunecessary to move the rubber cup l8 and the internal sleeve l2 to which the cup is affixed, axially of the tubular support 3. To vary tension on the spring I3, the set screw I! may be loosened to permit the sleeve [6 to be moved fore or aft along the tubular support 3.' This movement is communicated to thespring I3 by means of the flange IS The screw I1 is tightened up after the desired adjustment is made. The external" surface of the internal sleeve i2 is provided with suitable indicia i9 to indicate the various positions of the axially movable massage element with respect to the cup or the pressure exerted thereby.

My massage device operates as follows: Power is supplied for rotation of the shaft l and the massage element Ill. The mouth of the cup member is placed over the area to be massaged and the operater, gripping the external sleeve or handle I 6, exerts a compressing movement causing the cup member and internal sleeve l2 to move axially along the tubular support 3 against the biasing action of the spring l3,

thereby bringing the massage element into contact with the area of flesh to be massaged. To indicate the depth of massage, the indicia may be read on the outer surface of the internal sleeve which, as may be seen, telescopes within the external sleeve I6 as the cup member is moved axially of the tubular support 3 to bring the massage element I into massaging position.

Although a rigid metal cup has been used successfully on my massage device, it does not adapt itself and uniformly comes in contact with contour lines of the skin as is the case when a somewhat yieldable rubber cup is employed. For this reason, it has been found advisable to employ rubber for the massage element and cup to avoid any possible injuries resulting from undue force exerted in the vicinity of any boney structure such as the spine; When such obstructions are encountered, experiments show that the spring also tends to act as a shock-absorber.

As the massage element moves through its circular course, it does not twist upon the skin but produces a kneading effect over the particular area of the body to be massaged. This movement simulates hand massage and acts upon the deeper tissues. Even after or during a long treatment, no burning of the flesh'will occur since no friction is present between the cup and the massage element. This is assured by having the massage element free to rotate on its axis, otherwise a rubbing effect would occur. With this arrangement, it is even possible to massage through the clothing with nearly the same beneficial effect as though the massage element were directly applied to the skin.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and variouschanges in the shape, size and arrangement of .the parts may be resorted to w1thout departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a massage device, a massage element, a rotary shaft, means to drive said shaft, means for supporting said element on and eccentrically of said shaft, a cup member, means to support said member concentrically of said shaft in a position to surround said element whereby, when the cup member and massage element are in contact with a zone of flesh, local areas thereof may be therapeutically treated by the massage ele- 'ment within thezone encompassed by the cup of said shaft, a cup member, means to support 2 said member concentrically of said shaft in a position to surround said element whereby, when the cup member and massage element are in contact with a zone of flesh, local areas thereof may be therapeutically treated by the massage element within the zone encompassed by the cup member, a tubular support for the shaft, a sleeve surrounding said support, said cup member being supported on said sleeve, a coil spring encircling the tubular support and having one end in contact with the sleeve to permit the cup and sleeve to yield and slide rearwardly on the tubular support.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 2, an abutment for the rear end of the spring, and means for adjusting said abutment along the tubular support to vary tension of the spring.

4. In a device as set forth in claim 2, an abutment for the rear end of the spring, means for adjusting said abutment along the tubular support, and a second sleeve member connected to the abutment and being extended forwardly to surround the spring and to serve as a hand grip for the operator.

5. In a device as set forth in claim 2, an abutment on the sleeve to engage the rear end of the spring and a scale associated with the forward end of the sleeve for indicating the position of the cup Withrespect to the sleeve and the pressure of the cup on the patient.

- 6. In a massage device, a tubular support, a shaft extending 'therethrough, means for rotating said shaft, a massage element, a lateral extension on said shaft, said element being rotatably supported on said extension, a front sleeve member carried by said tubular support and movable axially thereof, a cup member carried by said sleeve, a rear sleeve member adjustable to a plurality of positions along said tubular support, a coil spring member carried by said support and arranged for compression between said sleeve members, said cup member surrounding the massage element.

7. Ina device as set forth in claim 6, indicia 7 means on the forward end of the front sleeve member for indicating positions of the cup member and pressures exerted thereby.

ELMER M. RAUH.

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