US2766750A - Electro-mechanical apparatus for vibratory massage - Google Patents

Description

Get. 16, 1956 n Rc ss c 2,756,750

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR VIBRATORY MASSAGE Filed Sept. 11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet X gIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIII ,7

T H w V V x \i\ N IpIIIIIlIlIIIl I Illll 'INVENTOR Get. 16, 1956 M. DARCISSAC 2,766,750

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR VIBRATORY MASSAGE Filed Sept. 11,1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0a. 16, 1956 M. DARclssAc 2 9 v ELECTRO-MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR VIBRATORY MASSAGE Filed Sept. 11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FTTn/KN YS ELECTRO-MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR VBRATORY MASSAGE Marcel Darcissac, Paris, France Application September 11, 1953, Serial No. 379,711

16 Claims. (Cl. 128-242.)

The present invention relates to a small electromechanical apparatus operating on alternating current of normal frequency for the production of rapid vibrations which are used for the application of vibratory massage, in particular on the gums, the necks of the teeth, the teeth themselves or again on other parts of the body.

This apparatus essentially includes a massaging member provided with one or more pads adapted for the application in question, the said member being associated with an electro-magnetic device supplied with alternating current, in such a way that the pressure applied by means of the said member on the part to be treated starts the member vibrating.

This special feature, as well as several others, will become clear from the description which follows of an apparatus which is more specially intended for massage of the gums and teeth.

Figure la shows a cross-section of the apparatus taken through its axis of symmetry.

Figure lb shows a cross-section at right angles to that axis.

Figure 2a shows in cross-section, the position of the vibrating washer in the position of rest and Figure 2b shows the position of the same washer when a pressure is brought to bear upon a rod which is integral with it, in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 3 is a corresponding view of the vibrating head of the apparatus in perspective.

Figures 4 and 5 are particularly concerned with methods of supporting and guiding the vibrating plate (in cross-section) Figure 6 is an alternative form of the vibratory head of the apparatus having a convex vibrating plate.

Figure 7 shows one form of the member which is intended to transmit the vibration to due part to be treated (vibrating pad).

Figures 8 and 9 show respectively in elevation and in perspective view, another form of the member which comes into contact with the gums, this member having three vibrating plates by means of which vibrations are applied to the lateral faces of the teeth and internal and external gums and on the upper masticating faces of the teeth.

Figures 10 and 11 show in detail the small elastic plates which are placed in contact with the gums and teeth.

Figures 12 and 13 show methods of fixing the small elastic plates in their supports.

Figure 14 is a preferred form of the cleaning and vibratory member of elastic material, this being made in one single piece provided with three projecting pads fixed by means of a claw support.

Figure 15 is an alternative form of the method of fixmg.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the member such as is shown in Figure 14 and Figure 15 with certain variations in detail.

Figures 17 and 18 show constructional details whereby a certain mobility is given to the member which is applied to the guns, with respect to its supporting rod.

Figure 19 shows an arrangement of the apparatus for vibratory mechanical massage combined with electrical current treatment.

In Figures 1a and 1b, 2 is a tube of magnetic material such as mild steel, of high permeability, which forms the core of another tube 1 of the same material but of larger diameter with which it is co-axial. About the central tube, there is wound a coil 61 of electric wire which takes up almost all the space between the two tubes. The magnetic circuit is closed at the base by a magnetic washer 3, and at the head by a magnetic disc 4 which constitutes the vibratory portion, the said disc being rigidly fixed to a rod t of any particular crosssection, made of insulating material having sufiicient strength. The interior tube 2 is fitted with a small magnetic plug 5 in which there is formed a hollowed out portion which is engaged by a stud 10 carried by the internal portion of the plate 4 and at its centre, suflicient play being left between the stud and the hollowed out portion.

The external tube is covered by an insulating sleeve 7 in plastic, varnished, or enamel, etc. material which provides full protection against accidental contact between a wire under voltage to earth, and for the same reason, the two extremities are fitted with insulating washers 81 and 82. A small insulating washer 9 which has only a very small play, completes the electrical protective arrangement. The two output connection wires 62 of the coil end, as shown, in an ordinary electrical plug 11.

The form of revolution of the apparatus gives the maximum attractive force on the washer 4, when the internal winding is excited, with the minimum volume. It is very convenient and suitable for holding with one hand only.

This shape has, however, the drawback of setting up concentric eddy currents in the core and this reduces the efficiency and may result in heating of the magnetic carcase. For this reason, it has been arranged to construct the entire magnetic casing in a powdered iron aggregate mixed with a strong cold binder such as is used for many other applications in electrical practice.

In a more economical way, tubes of ordinary soft iron can be used with a slot along the whole of their longitudinal length, as shown in Figure lb.

The vibrating plate 4 is applied directly to the external tube without any air-gap and its slightly conical periphery fits into the corresponding conical female portion of the tube.

The operation is as follows:

When the coil is supplied with current, the magnetic plate 4 is strongly attracted towards the tubes since the flux passes in the centre tube following the axis, and in the external tube following its generator lines, passing radially through the plate 4. If a slight pressure is applied to the extremity of the rod 1, at right angles to the axis and in any radial direction at all, the plate pivots and is slightly raised at the side at which the pressure is applied. There is thus set up a small air-gap as shown in Figure 2b between the plate, looked at from the edges of the external tube, and the core 2. In these conditions, the force of attraction varies with each half-wave, being a maximum for the maximum amplitude of the current and zero at the moment when the current changes sign, which corresponds to one hundred vibrations per second with a supply frequency of fifty periods per second.

It is the pressure applied to the extremity of the rod 2 which separates the plate from the tube for each passage of the current through zero. As all the parts of the device are symmetrical and circular, this elfect is produced in every radial direction in a plane at right angles to the axis of symmetry. In order to obtain the maximum efiect, the contact with the core 2 should be broken and, for that reason, it has been thought desirable to provide a magnetic plug 5 having a smaller diameter than the tube 2 in order to ensure a complete separation.

Although the plate is already retained about its periphery of the washer 32, in accordance with Figure la, it is located centrally by means of a stud which may be carried on the core itself (see Figure 4) or by the plate as shown at in Figure 5, where it is guided by a circular orifice having sufiicient play to allow the plate 4 to have the necessary angle of inclination required to set up the vibration. A very small air-gap of the order of a few tenths of a millimeter between the plate 4 and the circular electromagnet is sufficient to create intense vibrations. Due to the fact that the relation between the length of the rod t and the radius of the plate is quite high, there are obtained at the extremity of the rod the amplitudes of the oscillations necessary to the desired object. On the other hand, the insulating cover 82 (Figure 1a) prevents the plate from becoming completely detached if the pressure applied to the extremity of the rod exceeds the restoring attraction.

In Figure 6, there has been shown an alternative shape of the vibrating head, the plate 4 having a convex shape and the extremity of the core being formed like a mushroom.

Figure 7 shows the element which is intended to be applied to the part of the gums or the teeth to be treated.

It is made up of a pad in a flexible material such as, for example, ordinary or sponge rubber 12, provided with grooves and fixed rigidly to the extremity of the rod t.

Owing to the fact that there is produced a vibratory reaction for any slight displacement of the rod t on any side of the axis of symmetry and in any direction of displacement, it is possible to carry out vibratory massage on difierent parts by pressing the extremity of the rod slightly in one direction or the other by a very slight movement of the hand.

In the case of the usual application to the massage of the necks of the teeth, it is possible to treat at the same time the external and internal parts of the upper and lower jaws, the gums and the teeth and on the upper faces of the teeth.

For this purpose, there is fitted to the extremity of the rod ta special support 13 (see Figure 8) to which rubber pads are removably attached, similar to that which is shown at 12 in Figure 7. There are three of these pads provided, in and 172 for the lateral faces of the teeth and be for the upper faces. The tooth 14 is shown in section. that they do not come in contact with the tooth at the same time and thus the desired efiect can be obtained successively by slight pressure on the on side or on the other. By lowering the support 13, the pad be comes into contact with the upper part of the tooth. In order to take account of the differences in height of the teeth with respect to the gums, the pad be is made very elastic in the direction of pressure either by mounting it on an elastic support or simply by means of hollowed out portions formed in the pad.

Figure 9 shows in perspective the vibratory support 13 provided with the three pads b1, b2 and 173.

Figure 10 and Figure 11 show the details of the cushions, pads or small plates in plastic material, shaped with grooves of saw-toothed form, etc. or they may he in porous rubber or other material.

In Figure 12, there has been shown 58. detach-able method of fixing the three applicator plates which vibrate. The latter are made of rubber and have moulded on their reverse sides male projections 18 which are engaged by pressure in the female openings of the support 16 in the same way as press-studs. Since the pads are not subjected to any pulling effect, but are forced on the contrary against the support, a firm attachment is obtained.

The pads b1 and b2 are spaced apart sufficiently so In exactly the same way, Figure 13 shows an alternative form of detachable housing of the elastic pad in in the support 17.

A preferred arrangement consists in making the three pads of one single piece of flexible rubber, as shown in Figure 14.

Th whole member is inserted into the support 13 by closing together between the fingers the extremities b1 and b2 so as to bring them closer together until the gripping claws of the support 13 engage in. the holes formed in the pads in and be as shown in the figure. The spring of the member which tends to separate in and b2 ensures a rigid support in conjunction with the claws.

Figure 15 is an alternative shape of the arrangement shown in Figure 14. The rubber member b1, b2, be is inserted in the same way by forcing together In and be which enables the shouldered portions to be lodged Within the supporting members 13. The fixing arrangements may be completed by providing the member 13 with a stud 23, the rubber body having a blind hole in which the stud engages. A hollow oval portion 15 gives a high degree of elasticity to the pad b3.

Figure 16 shows in perspective the complete unit of the member for dental treatment, which is made of one single piece of rubber and is directly mounted on the end of the vibratory rod 2.

The difierent parts, however, do not have the same degree of elasticity. This elfect is obtained either by chemical treatment of the parts or by mechanical means, the use of spongy materials, hollowed out portions such as 15, etc. or by internal metallic ribs 20 moulded integrally with the body and intended to ensure the rigidity of the support, properly so-called, or again by making the support semi-rigid in the shape of a pointed arch with built-on pads of a very elastic type, welded to the assembly as is currently done with rubber and its derivatives.

A small elastic sleeve 24 has been provided between the rod t and the support so that the support may have slightinclinations with respect to the remainder of the apparatus.

Or again, a ball-joint member 21 may b arranged at the end of the rod 1 (Figure 17 and Figure 18) which enables the member supporting the pads to be given different angular directions with respect to the apparatus whilst at the same time the manipulation is extremely easy.

Figure 19 shows an important improvement of the apparatus by means of which the mechanical vibratory ac: tion may be combined with an electric low-voltage current treatment.

At 25, there is shown a small winding which is coaxial with the core and is wound with fine wire perfectly insulated from earth by a tube and insulating cheek, not shown.

The transformation ratio between this coil and the main winding 6 is of. the order of 100, so that there is obtained a few volts at the extremities of the winding 25 for a normal voltage of supply of volts. The entry of the winding ends in a metallic bracelet 26 which is set in the insulating case 7, and the outgoing extremity in an electrode 28 through the rod z which is of strong insulating material.

A high resistance, constituted by a small rod 27 of carbon material, graphite, etc., is included in the capacity circuit which gives a very small current practically independent of the electrical contact resistance of the pads. When the apparatus is held in the hand in contact with 26 and the electrode 28 is applied to the part to be treated, the circuit is completed through thatpart. The electrode is made up of a metallic portion covered with a moist chamois leather or by a semi-conducting material (conductive rubber, etc.)

It will be noted that the apparatus provides absolute security from the electrical point of view, in view of the fact that all the elements under the voltage of supply are carefully insulated and completely separated from the low voltage of faradisation.

Generally speaking, in the case of the apparatus having only a mechanical action, any possibility of accidental connection to earth of the wires cannot have any ill-efiects since there are no exposed metal parts, and the body of the insulating casing completely encloses the apparatus. In addition, the vibratory rod is made of insulating material having a very high resistance.

What I claim is:

1. An electro-mechanical apparatus for vibratory massage operating on alternating current, comprising in combination, a magnetic core, an electric winding around and insulated from said core, means for connecting said winding to a source of alternating current, a tubular element of magnetic material around said winding, an end element of magnetic material closing one extremity of said tubular element, a disc of magnetic material adapted to close the other extremity of said tubular element and movably associated therewith, an applicator member associated rigidly with said disc and designed to be applied on the part of the body to be treated, the arrangement being such that lateral pressure exerted on said applicator rocks said disc, thereby introducing an air gap in the formerly closed magnetic circuit, whereby vibrations are produced in said disc and are transmitted to said applicator member.

2. An electromechanical apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said magnetic material is composed of a powdered iron aggregate to reduce eddy-current losses.

3. An electro-mechanical apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said disc has bevelled edges, the corresponding extremity of said tubular element being bevelled too.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said bevelled disc is provided with a stud at the center of its internal face, said core having a circular cavity in its corresponding extremity.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said disc is of convex shape, the corresponding extermity of said core being shaped like a mushroom.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said core is constituted by a tube of magnetic material.

7. An electro-rnechanical apparatus for vibratory massage operating on alternating current, comprising in combination, a magnetic core, an electrical winding around and insulated from said core, means for connecting said winding to a source of alternating current, a tubular element of magnetic material around said winding, an end plate of magnetic material closing one extremity of said tubular element, a disc of magnetic material adapted to close the other extremity of said tubular element and movably associated therewith, a casing of insulating material enclosing the apparatus herein before specified, an applicatorrod rigidly fixed centrally of said disc by one of its extremities and projecting through said casing, and an applicator head mounted on the other extremity of said rod, the arrangement being such that lateral pressure applied to said applicator rod rocks the said disc, thereby introducing a small air-gap in the formerly closed magnetic circuit, whereby vibrations at twice the frequency of the alternating supply source are produced in said disc and are transmitted to said applicator.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein an insulating washer is mounted on said rod adjacent said casing.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said applicator head comprises an arch-shaped member, a plurality of massaging pads of elastic material and means for detachably securing said pads to said arch member.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said means for detachably securing said massaging pads comprises male projections formed on the rear faces of said pads and adapted to be engaged by pressure in hollowed out portions formed in said arch member.

11. The combination of claim 7 wherein said applicator head comprises an arch-shaped member of plastic material, projections formed inwardly of the extremities of said arch-member, a plurality of massaging pads of elastic material, said pads being formed from and constituting one piece of said elastic material, said piece of elastic material being adapted to be removably engaged in said arch-member and provided with recesses adapted to receive said projections.

12. The combination of claim 7 wherein said applicator head comprises an arch-shaped member of resilient material integrally molded with a plurality of metallic reinforcement members and a pluraity of elastic massaging pads located on the internal face of said arch-shaped member.

13. The combination of claim 7 wherein said applicator rod includes a portion made of elastic material.

14. The combination of claim 7 wherein said applicator head is fixed to said applicator rod by means of a universal joint.

15. An electro-mechanical apparatus for vibratory massage and low-voltage electrical treatment (faradisation) comprising a magnetic core, a main electrical winding around and insulated from said core, a second small electrical winding around said core adjacent and insulated from said main winding and said core, a tubular element of magnetic material surrounding said two windings, an end-plate of magnetic material closing one extremity of said tubular element, a disc adapted to close the other extremity of said tubular element, and movably associated therewith, a tubular casing of insulating material arranged to enclose the apparatus hereinbefore specified, a hollow applicator-rod fixed centrally of said bevelled disc and an applicator-head of semi-conducting material mounted on said rod, a circular metallic band inset in the external face of said insulating casing, said band being connected to one side of said second small electrical wind ing, a connection from the other side of said small winding to said applicator-head through said hollow rod, a sol-id resistor in said connection, means for applying mains alternating voltage to said first main winding, whereby a current of very low voltage may be applied to the parts of the body between said metallic band and said applicator-head, mechanical vibrations being also applied to said applicator-head at will by means of a lateral pressure applied to said applicator in any lateral direction.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said disc has bevelled edges, the corresponding extremity of said tubular element being bevelled too.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 320,436 Hock June 16, 1885 1,002,468 Strangm-an Sept. 5, 1911 1,137,916 Simmons May 4, 1915 1,687,079 Barker Oct. 9, 1928 1,707,118 Goldberg Mar. 26, 1929 2,021,968 Scheidegger Nov. 26, 1935 2,319,205 Buck May 18, 1943

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