US2819714A - Massaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jam 14, 1953 B. P. LONDON 2,819,714

' MASSAGING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19, 1952 6 INVENTOR.

1966.916 filawdcvq ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1958 B. P. LONDON ,7

MASSAGING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 'INVENTdR Zasaz'eR a/mbfi ATTORNEY A f MASSAGING APPARATUS Bessie 1. London, Baltimore, Md.

Application September 19, 1952, Serial No. 310,401

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-57) The present invention relates to a new and useful massaging and exercising apparatus and comprises an improvement over my prior Patent No. 2,328,156, issued August 31, 1943.

In the patent referred to above, there is disclosed a massaging apparatus for massaging the human body to reduce and eliminate corpulency and fatty tissues as well as to promote healthy muscular development and circulation of the blood. in the massaging apparatus shown in said patent, a plurality of rollers are mounted on a frame member, said rollers being closely spaced and alternate rollers having varying diameters. The user applies the portion of the body to be massaged against the rollers and by moving the body across the rollers, at the same time pressing against said rollers, causes said rollers to rotate. Due to the difference in diameters of the rollers, a bumpy, spanking action is obtained making the massage considerably more effective than the ordinary kneading effect.

The present apparatus is constructed to operate in the same general manner but with greatly increased vibration of the apparatus. In said patent, the apparatus is shown mounted on a door and means are provided for adjusting the height of the apparatus. Similar means may be employed in the present case but for purpose of illustration, a simple supporting arrangement is shown. The novel feature in the present case resides in the provision of a plurality of spring members at the rear of the frame and adapted to bear against the supporting surface whereby to produce considerable vibration in order to increase the bumping and spanking action when the body presses against and moves across the rollers.

Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved, relatively simple construction for increasing the concussions and vibrations of the massage apparatus shown in my prior patent.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention showing the manner of mounting the apparatus on a door.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the apparatus showing the manner of mounting the springs.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail View showing the roller supporting means.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed view showing the manner of attaching the springs to the frame.

Figure 5 is a rear view of a modified manner of supporting the springs, the rollers being omitted for greater clarity in illustration.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the locking arrangement for the modification of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged end view of one of the spring mounting bars.

Figure 8 is a side view of an attachment adapted to be used with the present apparatus.

Figure 9 is a rear view of a frame member similar to in which the attachment of Figure 8 is applied to the frame member.

Figure 10 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a partial rear view of the frame member shown in Figure 5 showing the manner in which the attachment of Figure 8 is applied to the modified construction of Figure 5.

Figure 12 is a side view of a modified form of attachment and frame structure.

Referring to the first sheet of the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is shown mounted on a conventional door in the home of the user, the door being generally designated by the numeral 10. The massage apparatus, designated by numeral 11, consists of an open frame member formed of the walls 12, 13, 14 and 15. A plurality of rollers, herein shown as five in number, are designated by the numerals 16 and 17. These rollers are similar to the rollers shown in my prior patent. The alternate rollers 16 including the outside roller, are of slightly greater diameter than the remaining rollers 17, the rollers being closely spaced together.

The rollers 16 and 17 are provided With suitable pins 18 extending through openings 19 formed in the upper and lower walls 12 and 14 whereby the rollers may be freely rotatable. The pins are mounted in suitable washers 20 to insure noiseless operation.

The apparatus may be supported on the door in any suitable manner. As shown, the frame is provided with a pair of handle members 21, 22 mounted on the adjacent walls 12 and 13. A pair of hook members 23, shaped to resiliently grasp the door and through suitable straps 24, support the apparatus in operating position.

The main feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a plurality of springs to therea'r of the frame member to resiliently support the frame member against the door. The spring members are interposed between massage apparatus and the door and comprise spiral springs 25 with the smaller portion of the spring secured to the rear of the frame by suitable securing means 26. There are four springs shown although a larger number may be used if so desired. The springs may be covered with a cushioning material to prevent marring of the door.

As a result of the spring means between the massage apparatus and the door, when the hips of the user are moved across the rollers, the bumping action normally obtained is greatly increased by the additional vibrations caused by the spring suspension of the frame causing it to move towards and away from the user during the massaging apparatus.

In Figures 5, 6 and 7, a modified supporting structure for the springs 25' is shown. Instead of mounting the springs on the frame directly, the springs are mounted on a pair of bars 27 disposed on opposite sides of the frame member 11. Each bar is shown as being square in cross-section and is provided with pivot pins 28 extending through openings in the upper and lower walls of the frame member. As seen in Figure 7, the upper ends of each bar are provided with openings 29 and 30 positioned apart. A sliding latch member 31 extends through an opening 32 in the top wall of the frame and cooperates with the bar 27 to hold the bar in either of two locked positions. Referring to Figure 5, when the spring members are disposed in operative position to engage the door, the latch 31 extends into opening 29 to lock the bar in such position. When the apparatus is not being used, in order to facilitate storing of the unit, the latch member is removed from opening 29, and the bar rotated 90 with the springs in the dotted line position Patented Jan. 14, 19 58 shown at the left "of Figure 5. The latch member may then be lowered into the opening 30, thus locking the bar with the springs directed inwardly. To bring the springsinto operative position, the above procedure is vered-t.

Refeirihg to the second 'sliet bf the drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form of apparatus. The apparatus is substantially the same as the constructions shown onthe first sheet except that the frame 11a includesfslightly thicker walls 130:. and 15a in order to accommo'datefcylindrical coil springs 32 instead of the spiral sp rit igs 25. The springs '32 are suitably secured to the walls by fasteners 33. In certain cases, it is desirable to prevent 'mari'ing (if the supporting surface by the springs and toalso increase the vibratory action or the "springs and this is "accoinplished by providing an attaclihi'ent that may be interposed between the springs and itue subpsnffig surface. I v

RefdrriiigtojFig'ures 8, 9 and 10, "the attachment comprises fa slat 34 having inserts 35 secured at each end thereof' as shown Figure 8. I The inserts may be formed of wearer-k, 'rubber'orthe 'likeiind are of such'diameter as to be "snugly "received in one "end of the cylindrical coiled spring 32. ,On the opposite face of the slat, adjaceiit the inserts 35, suction clips 36 are suitably secured to the 'sl a't. Thus, when using 'the attachment, the two slats are positioned at therear of the frame with each of the 'fourinserts snugly received in each of the springs and the suction cups bearing against the supporting surface. This prevents shifting of the frame against the supporting surface andinsures a proper vibration of the ll s- H In Figurell, the attachment is shown applied to the modified form of frame shown in Figure 5. It will be obviousjthatthe slats will be of shorter length to accommodate the shorter distance between the members 27.

In Figure-I2, 'a slightlymodified form of construction is shown. In this form of the invention, the inserts 35 are attached to the frame and the springs 32' are mounted on the slats.

From the above description, it is readily apparent that the present apparatus is well designed to accomplish the objects and advantages set forth. It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is:

1. Massaging apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of rollers revolubly mounted on said frame with the axes of the rollers substantially parallel to each other, said rollers being closely adjacent to each other, the diameter of adjacent rollers varying in size to give a bumping action to a body rubbing against them, a pair of bars pivotally supported at the rear of said frame, and a plurality of resilient members mounted on said bars for engaging a supporting surface.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, said ba'r's being movable to a position whereby the springs are housed within the frame member.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, and means mounted on the frame member for locking the bars with the springs in operative position.

'4. A device as claimed in claimed 3, said means comprising a latch member slidable in an opening formed in one end of each bar.

References Cited in the file of "this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,257,957 Kost Feb. 26, 1918 1,509,750 Campbell Sept. 23, 1924 1,546,739 LeLande July 21, 1925 2,007,737 Anderson July '9, 1935 2,175,614 Redfield; Oct. 10, 1939 2,328,156 London Aug. 31, 1943

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