US2452798A

US2452798A - Massaging device

Info

Publication number: US2452798A
Application number: US729000A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leland H Snyder
Original assignee: Knapp Monarch Co
Current assignee: Knapp Monarch Co
Priority date: 1947-02-17
Filing date: 1947-02-17
Publication date: 1948-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1965-11-02

Description

NOV. 2, L H, SN I 2,452,798

MASSAGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1947 [EVEN/UP LELAND H. SNYDER Patented Nov. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAS SAGIN G DEVICE Leland H. Snyder, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application February 17, 1947, Serial No. 729,000

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an electromagnetic vibrator construction, and particularly to 2. vibrator construction utilized in electromagnetically operated massaging devices.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved vibrator construction characterized by the simplicity of manufacture and assembly of its components and particularly by the fact that all of the major components or" the device may be produced by low cost, high quantity production methods such as stamping and molding operations and no machining of any components is required.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for mounting the armature and magnetic core structure of a vibrator unit within a recessed casing, characterized by the utilization of a single fastener for effecting the clamping of the magnetic laminations and the rigid securing of such laminations to a unitary spring and armature member.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved vibrator construction for a hand held massaging device wherein an armature member is resiliently supported with respect to a magnetic core structure and in addition, both the core structure and armature are resiliently supported for vibratory movement with respect to the recessed casing in which they are mounted.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheet of drawings which, by way of preferred eX- ample only, illustrate one specific embodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an assembled massaging device incorporating this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane II-II of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane III-III of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the combined armature and spring member employed in the massaging device of Fig. 1.

As shown on the drawings:

A vibrator construction embodying this invention is illustrated as assembled in a massaging device of the type more particularly described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 587,179, filed April 7, 1945. Such massaging device comprises a casing I having a generally ball-shaped exterior such that it may be conveniently grasped by the hand of the operator and defining a cylindrical recess Ia which opens in one end of the casing. While not limited thereto, the casing i may be conveniently manufactured by molding of plastic or other suitable electrically insulating material.

The vibrator construction embodies a laminated magnetic core structure I0 which is of the conventional E-shape, having a base portion Illa and three pole portions lllb projecting from the base portion 1911. When assembled in the recess la of the casing, the pole portions 0b preferably lie generally parallel to the axis of the recess and project toward the open end of the casing.

In accordance with this invention, a unitary armature and spring member [2 is provided comprising a stamping of generally U shape having spaced arm portions [4 and IS. The arm portion i4 is in itself deformed into a smaller generally U-shape configuration Ma so as to snugly surround the base portion 16a of the laminated magnetic core structure and thus function as a clamp tending to secure the laminations in assembly. The arm l6 of the unitary armature and spring member I2 is formed with integral lateral extensions [6a and is arranged to be normally positioned in bridging relationship with respect to the end faces of the pole portions lb of the magnetic core structure 10, but spaced slightly therefrom. The inherent resilience of the U- shaped armature and spring member ill will, however, permit the end portions of arm [5 to be drawn into engagement with the end faces of the pole portions lllb when the magnetic core structure is magnetically excited.

The exciting coil i8 is mounted in conventional fashion surrounding the central pole portion lflb of the magnetic core structure Ill. The electric wires 26 for energizing the solenoid l8 are tied into a strain relief knot 20a. and then inserted through a hole in a depending lug M?) which may be conveniently punched out of the arm portion id of the armature and spring member I2. The wires then pass outwardly of the casing I through a suitable aperture lb therein.

The vibrator construction is supported within the casing recess la by a pair of bracket members 22. Such bracket members are of generally U- shape configuration and have one arm 22a thereof disposed adjacent diametrically separated points of the wall of easing recess la. Such arm portions 22a are provided with threaded holes which are in turn respectively engaged by screws 24 which are mounted in suitable apertures I 0 provided in the casing wall. The other arm 22b of the bracket members 22 is split at its ends into a plurality of perpendicularly separated finger portions 220 and 22d. The finger portions 220 lie adjacent and parallel to the side face of the magnetic core structure l0, while the finger portions 22d lie adjacent and parallel to the bottom face of the magnetic core structure In. A single fastener 26 may then be provided, passing respectively through suitable aligned holes in s eaves bracket fingers 22c, clamp shaped end portions [4a and the base portion lfla of the laminated magnetic structure It]. Fastener 2% may conveniently comprise a rivet and, when secured in place, this single fastener effects the rigid seourement of the magnetic laminations, the armature and spring member. and the bracket.

An applicator device 28 is suitably secured to the outer face of the arm portion E5 of the armature and spring member i2. As described in detail in my above referred to copending application, such applicator preferably is provided with an arcuate exterior surface 28a which effectively constitutes a continuation of the external contours of the casing Furthermore, the peripheral dimensions of applicator 28 are selected so that the open end of recess la is substantially closed by the applicator.

. The operation of the vibrator construction embodying this invention is believed to be obvious from the foregoing detailed description of its construction. When the solenoid i8 is energized by a suitable source of alternating current, the armature arm portion iii of the unitary armature and spring member i2 i drawn into engagement with the end faces of pole portions IGb of the magnetic structure IQ each time that the energizing current approaches its maximum value in any particular half cycle. When the current falls off to zero value at the end of each half cycle, the inherent resilience of the unitary armature and spring member tel moves the armature arm portion is thereof away from the pole end faces. Thus a definite vibratory movement is imparted to the applicator 253.

In some designs, it has been found desirable to so proportion the bracket members 22 so that a slight vibratory movement of the arm portion 22b thereof with respect to the fixed arm portion 22a will occur during the operation of the vibrator. It will be noted that the U-shaped configuration of the bracket 22 will conveniently permit a slight vibratory movement of the arm portion 22b in substantially the same direction as the vibratory movement of the armature portion l6. Since the magnetic core structure id is of course subjected to equal and opposite reaction forces as are applied to the armature portion 16, the provision of a sligh resilience of the bracket 22 may substantially increase the effective vibrating force delivered 3' the massage applicator 28.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a Wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a massaging device, a casing haped to be grasped by hand, said casing defining a generally cylindrical recess opening at one end of the casing, a laminated magnetic core structure insertable in said recess through said open end, said core structure having a base portion and a plurality of pole portions projecting from said base' toward said open end of the casing, an armature member of generally U-shape, one arm of said armature member being shaped to snugly surround said base portion of said magnetic laminations to secure said laminations in assembly, the other arm of said armature mem her having laterally extended end portions norof the magnetic structure to secure said elements in assembly.

2. In a massaging device, a casing defining a recess, a laminated magnetic core structure disposed in said recess and having a base portion and a plurality of pole portions projecting from said base, a combination integral armature and spring member of generally U-shape having a clamping portion thereof disposed in partially surrounding relationship to said base portion of said magnetic laminations to secure said laminations in assembly and an armature portion disposed adjacent the ends of said pole portions and normally spaced therefrom but movable against the inherent resiliency of the armature and spring member into a bridging position against said pole ends, a bracket secured to said casing and having a portion extending into said recess and flexibly movable in substantially the same direction as the vibratory movement of said armature portion of said armature member, and common fastening means for securing said bracket portion, said clamp portion, and said magnetic core structure in rigid assembly.

3. In a massaging device, a casing defining a generally cylindrical recess open at one end, a laminated magnetic core structure insertable in said recess through said open end, said core structure having a base portion and a plurality of pole portions projecting from said base portion toward said open end of said casing, an armature member of generally U-shape, one arm of said armature member having a clamp shaped end snugly surrounding said base portion of said magnetic laminations to secure said iaminations in assembly, the other arm of said armature mem her having an end portion normally disposed adjacent the ends of said pole portion and spaced therefrom but movable against the inherent resilience of the U-shaped member into a bridging position across said pole ends, a flexible brackat of U-shaped configuration having a first arm secured to a wall of said recess and a second arm extending within said recess, said second arm being resiliently movable with respect to said first arm in substantially the same direction as the vibratory movement of said other arm of the armature member, and a single fastener traversing said second bracket arm, said clamp shaped end, and said magnetic core structure for securing such elements in rigid assembly.

LELAND H. SNYDER.

REFERENCES GETEU following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,582,479 Lanz Apr. 27, 1926 2,144,343 N ewnham Jan. 17, 1939