US2661736A - Electric vibrator for massage purposes - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1953 c. SCHWARTZ ELECTRIC VIBRATOR FOR MASSAGE PURPOSES Filed Aug. 20, 1952 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY Patented @ec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE tion, New York, N. '32.

Application August 20, 1952, Serial No. 305,443

3 Claims.

This invention pertains to electric vibrators of the type used i'or medical and therapeutic massage, and more particularly to improvements in such a device which make it practical and convenient r'or use.

Electric vibrators of the type mentioned are generally designed to be held in the hand, either or the person upon whose body they are to be used, or by another person. inasmuch these devices, by their nature, depend upon relative movement between the body oi the device itself and a resilient or other applicator (which transmits vibration to the part being treated), it follows that considerable vibration occurs between tne body of such device and the hand in which it is held. One undesirable result or this construction is that the users grip upon the device is quite insecure, and becomes secure as the device continues to vibrate during an application period. Consequently, it is necessary for the user continually to readjust his grip upon the device, and where the handle is cylindrical, use of the device may become quite uncomfortable, the hand loses its grip, and the device may be allowed to fall, with injury to itself or undesired effects upon the patient, or both.

Inasmuch as the relatively stationary mass (with respect to which the vibrations are gen erated) is constituted by the mass of the body portion or the device plus the eilective mass of the users hand, it is desirable that the center or gravity of the device be disposed as closely as possible at the center of the users list, when the latter is in the relatively unclenched (or partially clenched) position in which it holds the device. This close mechanical coupling between the device and the hand also lessens the paralyzing effect or" the vibrator upon the wrist muscles, and of course the close contact between palm, fingers and the device also minimizes the chance that the device will slip out of the users grip.

It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide an electric vibrator whose design permits extremely close coupling between the device and the users hand; that is, one in which the effective mass is concentrated in the center of the users fist.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which has a pal1n-engaging portion comprising a section of an ovoid shape, having transverse ribs of generally semi-cylindrical configuration, so as to provide maximum contact with the fingers and palm of the users hand.

An additional object of the invention is to iii) 2 provide such a device with a securing strap adapted to be adjusted for tight encirclement of the 030K of the users hand, whereby to ensure intimate contact between the hand and the vibrator device.

Inasmuch as the use of a securing strap oi the above type renders it diiiicult to disengage the hand for operation or" a control or on-oii' switch, still another obyect of the invention is to provide a disposition of the control switch such that it can readily be operated on and off positions by the fingertips of the same hand which holds the vibrator; i. e., without removal of the securing strap or change of position of the hand.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will best be understood by study of the following detailed specification of a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with the appended drawings, in which:

Figure l is a vertical elevation front view of the device; and

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the side elevation of the device, as it appears in use held in the users hand.

The electric vibrator of the invention, as shown in the drawings, comprises a main casing ll! which is of generally oval shape in horizontal section, and has a flat, truncated top surface indicated by the numeral ii. The casing it is closed at its lower end by a cover plate it, through an aperture it of which passes the oscillating vibrator shaft it, and to which is secured the resilient massage cup is shown by Way of example as a hollow cup of rubber or the like. It is this cup 2:51 which is applied to the body of the patient under treatment.

While the details or" the electrical arrangement for producing vibration of the cup 23 with respect to the main casing to are oi no significance with respect to the present invention, a conventional electric vibrator motor desig nated by numeral 22 and shown in dotte" lines in Figure 1, it being understood that this motor is fixed with respect to the casing ZChe mo tor may, for example, comprise a stack oi shaped laminations upon which is wound an electric coil, together with a suitable armature mounted for movement under the influence oi the electromagnetic field of the laminations, and said armature being connected to the connecting rod or shaft l8. In such a machine, connection of the coil to the usual source of alterhating current will produce the vibrations, and

3 a power cord is indicated at 24 for this connec tion.

The flat upper surface I? of easing it has secured thereto in any convenient manner a rounded grip or hand-piece 25, corresponding in its oval horizontal profile to the upper portion of casing Iii, and provided with a plurality of generally semi-cylindrical ribs 21? extending in one direction along its upper surface. These ribs provide a very intimate contact with the palm and fingers of the hand which holds the device in use, as shown in Figure 2, and prevent any slipping or loosening of the grip on the device.

A strap 3%}, of leather or other flexible material, is secured to a suitable clip 32 at one side of casing 10, and extends over the gri portion 26 and is adjustably received in a locking clip 34 at the opposite side of the device.

the strap may be pulled down tight upon the back of that hand and secured in this adjustment by means of locking clip When so disposed, the fingers of the hand are in position to operate the electric on-off switch which is mounted in casing it with its sliding operating button 36 located to permit such operation. Thus, it is unnecessary for the user to employ his other hand for the purpose of temporarily de energizing the device during one session of: use, which is a decided convenience in practical use.

The use of the strap 30 in combination with the rounded, ribbed grip 26 makes it unnecessary for the user to continuously apply suflicient finger pressure to ensure his grip on the device, as is the case where a handle or the like is merely held in the fist, and this has been found to reduce in great measure the muscular fatigue which is generally produced when extensive periods of use of the device are necessary. Sufiicient pressure to Thus, when the hand is in position to grip the device,

4 ensure transmission of the vibrations to the patient can be obtained merely by pressing down upon the unit, with the fingers relatively relaxed, and yet good position control of the device is maintained.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with a single preferred embodiment, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications therein can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as delined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric vibrator for massage purposes and the like, comprising a casing of generally rounded horizontal profile and having fiat upper and lower surfaces, a vibrator motor in said casing, a massage applicator beneath said casing, a vibratable shaft connecting said applicator with said motor, a grip element of generally convex profile secured to the upper surface of said casing and substantially covering the flat upper surface thereof, and a hand-engaging strap extending across the top of said grip element and secured at opposite ends to opposite side walls of said casing.

2. The combination of claim 1, in which said grip element is provided with a plurality of parallel, hemi-cylindrical ribs extending across the upper convex surface thereof and extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said strap.

3. The combination of claim 1, and a switch.

CHARLES SCHWARTZ.

No references cited.

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