US2904036A

US2904036A - Massage tables

Info

Publication number: US2904036A
Application number: US718659A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chester L Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-03-03
Filing date: 1958-03-03
Publication date: 1959-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1976-09-15

Description

Sept. 15, 1959 c. L. THOMAS MASSAGE TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed March 3, 1958 INVENTOR (fie-52w? 1. 790/145 Sept. 15, 1959 c.- L. THOMAS MASSAGE TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Filed March 3, 1958 United States Patent This invention relates to a massagetable, 'and more particularly to a massage table for use in body conditioning, figure control and selective reducing of the human body. The principal object of the invention is to provide a highly efiicient table construction which willprovide a rhythmic tilting motion in-substantial synchronism with the breathingcycle of a patient, and'which will combine with this tilting motion a rolling or kneadingaction againstjthe fiesh'of the patient. i v f 7 Another object is to provide means in a tilting roller table which will prevent the patient from rolling toward the lower extremity of the table as it tilts downwardly, and to so construct the retaining means that it will act to retain the patient approximately in the center position of the table throughout all the rhythmic tilting motions.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved massage table as it would appear ready for use;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the improved table, taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing the table in a substantially level position;

Fig. 3 is a similar longitudinal section showing the table in an inclined position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 44, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged cross-section taken on the line 55, Fig. 2.

The improved table is mounted on a supporting base or platform 10 arranged to rest upon the floor. Two spaced-apart, tilting-table sides 11 are supported above the platform 10 and arranged to .tilt in spaced, vertical, longitudinal planes. The two table sidw 11 are maintained in fixed, spaced-apart relation by means of cross plates 12 fixedly secured thereto and extending therebetween.

A plurality of freely rotatable rollers 13 are journalled in suitable bearings along the upper edges of the sides 11 and extend horizontally between the upper edges of the two sides 11 in uniformly spaced-apart relation. The rollers may have any desired construction, preferably of a resilient nature, such as of sponge rubber, and are freely rotatable.

One extremity of the tilting table is supported from a cross shaft 14 fixedly secured to and extending between the sides 11. The cross shaft 14 is supported upon two spaced-apart swinging links 15 which extend upwardly from a hinge shaft 16 mounted in suitable bearings 37 on the platform 10. The other extremity of the tilting table is supported from angle bracket members 17, there being 2,904,036 Patented Sept. 15, 1959 ice one angle bracket member secured to the inner face of each of the sides 11.

. Each of the angle bracket members 17 carries a crank bearing 18 in which a crank pin 19 is rotatably mounted. The crank pins 19 are carried on cranks 20 mounted adjacent the opposite extremities of a crank shaft 21. The crank shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 32 supported from the platform 10 upon supporting pedestals 22,-.and is driven through the medium of a conventional speed reducer 23 from an electric motor 24 mounted on the platform 10.

It can be seen that as the cranks 20 rotate, the entire table will move simultaneously longitudinally and vertically due to the arcuate movement of the crank pins 19 andto the swinging movement of the links 15, so as to -move the table back and forth longitudinally and alternately elevate the table extremities.

[The-speed of the motor 24 and the ratio of reduction through the speed reducer 23 are such as to rhythmically -tilt th e table in substantial synchronism with the normal tendency for the person to coast downwardly, first toward one extremity, thence toward the other extremity, due to the freely rotating rollers 13. To prevent this longitudinal movement of the patient, an elongated, flexible retaining sheet 25 is positioned over and longitudinally of the series of rollers. The extremities of the sheet 25 are extended downwardly and inwardly about chosen rollers adjacent each extremity of the table. These downwardly and inwardly extending extremities of the sheet 25 are connected together beneath the rollers 13 at each side of the table by means of a connected-together pair of hooked tension wires 26, in each of which a tension spring 27 is incorporated to maintain the sheet 25 longitudinally taut.

At the point where the two wires 26, at each side of the table, are connected together they are also connected to the upper extremity of a sheet-actuating lever 28. The actuating levers 28 are mounted on a horizontal lever shaft 29 mounted in bearings 33 on the platform 10.

A connecting link 30 extends from each of the crank pins 19 to a pivotal connection 31 intermediate the length of the lever so that as the cranks revolve, the upper extremities of the levers will oscillate back and forth in an arc of greater length than the diameter of the throw of the cranks 20. The oscillation of the levers will be imparted to the sheet 25 to cause the latter to travel up the incline of the table from each descending extremity thereof.

It can be seen that as the cranks 20 rotate downwardly in a clockwise direction from the position of Fig. 2 they will lower the left extremity of the table, as shown in Fig. 3, to create an incline to the left which would tend to cause the patient to gravitate toward the left extremity. However, as the cranks 20 move downwardly, they will also move toward the left so as to swing the levers 28 to the left so as to cause the sheet to travel up the incline as the left extremity of the table descends. so as to counteract the tendency of the patient to coast toward the left. The opposite is true as the cranks ascend from a horizontal position to a vertical position. This movement causes the levers to swing to the right to cause the sheet to travel to the left as the right extremity of the table rises.

Attention is called to the fact that the table moves longitudinally as well as vertically and that the direction of travel of the sheet is the exact opposite of the direction of movement of the table so the patient remains in a substantially stationary position while the table oscillates longitudinally.

The operating mechanism is concealed by a side wall 34 surrounding the platform 10. The table sides descend exteriorly of the side wall 34. The bearings for the rollers 13 are concealed by means of top rails 35, padded to prevent injury to the patient and to improve the appearance of the completed table. The appearance is also enhan'ced by placing suitably upholstered panels 36 upon elements.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A massage table comprising: a supporting base; swinging links pivotally mounted on said base and extending upwardly in parallel relation from one extremity thereof; a crank shaft rotatably supported from said base adjacent the other extremity thereof; cranks mounted on said crank shaft; means for rotating said crank shaft; a table structure extending longitudinally over said base,

the exterior surfaces to conceal the various structural said-table structure being supported at its one extremity supporting rollers extending transversely of the top of said table in spaced-apart relation; and an elongated flexible sheet extending longitudinally of said table over said rollers and means operable from said crank shaft for reciprocating said sheet longitudinally of said table in opposition to the longitudinal movements of said table.

2. A massage table as described in claim 1 in which the means for reciprocating said sheet comprises an operating lever hingedly mounted for longitudinal movement upon said base below said rollers; a connecting link extending from one of said cranks to said operating lever for reciprocating the latter, the extremities of said sheet extending downwardly through and adjacent the extremities of said plurality of rollers thence inwardly to a connection with said operating lever so that the reciprocal movements of the latter will be communicated to said sheet.

3. A massage table as described in claim 2 in which two of said operating levers are employed each connected to'one of said cranks and having resilient means connecti'ng eachlever to both extremities of said sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS